CHAPTER VII.--MABEL SHOWS HER COURAGE.
"By the way," said Shirley as they walked along, "how is your wound? Isee you have removed the bandage."
A startled expression flitted across the young man's face, but neithergirl perceived it.
"It's much better," he made answer. "Not even a scar left. It didn'tamount to much, after all."
Fifteen minutes later they were back aboard the _Yucatan_, where Shirleyrelated their experiences to others of their party.
"I'll have to keep a closer watch on you two," declared Mr. Willing."Every time you get away by yourselves you run into trouble. And youwon't always come out of it so easily."
Several hours later the big steamship moved majestically out of theharbor and soon was headed down the coast once more. She came to anchoragain the following morning at Jacksonville, the last American port atwhich she would touch until she reached San Diego, California. TheWilling party went ashore again, but this time, true to his word, Mr.Willing would not permit the girls to wander away by themselves.
As they strolled about, Shirley became suddenly ill. She knew it wasnothing serious, brought on probably by the excessive heat. Thereforeshe informed the others that she was going back aboard the ship, as shewished to lie down. Mabel agreed to go with her.
The fathers saw the two girls into a taxicab, which soon dropped them atthe pier, where they immediately went to their suite.
Shirley felt much better now that she was out of the sun, and lying downon the sofa picked up a book and commenced to read. Mabel sat down at alittle desk to write a letter.
In spite of the cooling breeze made by the electric fan in the room, itwas still rather warm, and Mabel left the outer door open to get whatbreeze they could from over the water. Mabel was in the first room, andShirley in the one beyond.
Suddenly Mabel heard footsteps running down the deck toward their suite.She glanced up idly, wondering why any one should put himself to so muchexertion on such a hot day, and even as she looked up a figure dartedinto the room and closed the door behind him.
Mabel jumped quickly to her feet and faced the newcomer, who, she nowperceived, held a revolver in his hand.
Mabel was not frightened by the sight of the weapon, for she was notunacquainted with the use of firearms and had faced more than onedangerous situation; but as the man turned and faced her, she uttered acry of amazement.
The man was Henry Bristow.
Bristow, who had not perceived that the room was occupied, turned at thesound of Mabel's voice, his revolver half raised. At sight of Mabel hedropped his arm, and removed his cap.
"Please pardon me for this intrusion," he said quietly. "I did not knowthe cabin was occupied nor whose it was. I just happened to see the dooropen, and I slipped in."
"What is the matter?" asked Mabel, who realized that something must bewrong.
"Oh, nothing," was the reply.
Before Mabel could utter another word, there was a loud knock on theclosed door.
Shirley, in response to the knock, came in from the next room. She tookin the situation at a glance, but did not betray her surprise by so muchas an exclamation. She advanced quickly toward Mabel and young Bristow.
"What is wrong?" she asked in a low voice.
Bristow waved his revolver toward the door.
"They want me," he said. "I can't allow you girls to be drawn into this,so I shall go out."
A dark expression passed over his face, and his hand tightened on therevolver. Shirley became alarmed.
She motioned him to the room beyond.
"You go in there," she said. "No one will bother you."
For a moment Bristow hesitated, then he bowed and passed in. As he wentby her, Mabel reached out and relieved him of his revolver. Bristowstarted to protest, then changed his mind and said nothing.
Mabel motioned to Shirley.
"You go in too," she said. "I'll stay here."
Shirley obeyed without a word. Then Mabel walked to the little centertable, and put the revolver in the drawer.
Came another sharp knock on the door. Mabel advanced and threw it open.
Three men stood in the doorway, and all removed their hats at sight ofher.
"What is it?" demanded Mabel.
"We are searching for a man named Von Blusen, who is aboard this ship.We trailed him down the deck here, and he disappeared. Have you seenhim?"
"I know no one by that name," returned Mabel.
"He's a young fellow," went on the spokesman of the three, "and a verysmooth-spoken chap. All the other cabins are locked but this one. Ihappen to know that this door was open a few minutes ago. I thought hemight possibly have come in here?"
He looked at Mabel inquiringly.
"I know no one by that name," declared the girl again.
"Perhaps you know him by some other name, then?"
Mabel did not reply.
The man became suspicious.
"I am afraid we shall have to search this cabin, miss," he said. "I amnot convinced he is not in here."
"What is it you want with this man?" asked Mabel, her curiosity gettingthe better of her.
"Well, I don't mind telling you. Von Blusen is a German and I have beentipped off that he is up to some mischief, I don't know just what. Myorders are to take him ashore and turn him over to the U. S.authorities."
"And who are you?" demanded Mabel.
"Me? Why, I'm a United States special officer."
He threw back his coat and exposed a badge, which he covered hurriedly.Mabel, therefore, did not see it clearly. Something seemed to tell her,however, that the man was not telling the truth.
She stepped back quickly to the little center table, and as the firstman advanced after her, she quickly opened the drawer and producedBristow's revolver, which she levelled at the three men.
"You can't come in here," she said quietly.
The foremost man drew back, as did the others.
"But, miss," said the spokesman, "we must search the cabin. I am sureVon Blusen came in here. Will you deny it?"
"I don't have to deny it," declared Mabel angrily. "If you are UnitedStates officers, as you claim, you will have some means ofidentification."
"I showed you my badge," said the man.
"Yes, and you were careful that I didn't get a good look at it."
"But we must make the search."
"Then you must have an order. I know that much. I know you have to havea piece of paper, or something--a warrant I believe it is called."
"I haven't any warrant now," was the reply, "but I am going to make thesearch just the same."
He stepped forward, but Mabel covered him with her revolver.
"You have come in here against my command," she said quietly, "and Ishould be perfectly justified in shooting you, as I would a burglar."
The man sought to temporize.
"Now, see here miss--" he began.
Mabel took a step forward. She was growing angry.
"You just get right out of here," she exclaimed.
The man drew back a step and scratched his head perplexedly.
"Miss," he said, "you are making a big mistake to shield this man. Itell you he is plotting mischief which may involve the United States inwar. We must have him before the ship sails."
"Well, you won't get him in here," declared the girl.
Again the man hesitated, then seemed on the point of moving forwardagain.
"I warn you for the last time to get out of here," said Mabel veryquietly.
Once more her revolver came to bear on the man, and he drew back,throwing up his hands with a gesture of dismay. Then he turned to hiscompanions.
"What can we do against that?" he asked. "We can't use a girl roughly,and if the ship gets beyond the three-mile limit, we can't get him tillwe reach Colon."
"Guess we'll have to wait then," said one of the others.
"Yep, guess we will."
The leader turned to Mabel and made her a low bow.
"I'm sorry you interfered with us," he said. "You'll find before longthat you have done wrong."
"Perhaps I shall," said Mabel; "but I couldn't permit you to invade mycabin."
"Tell you what, Tim," said one of the men, "we'll just camp out here andget him when he comes out. He's likely to come out before we sail."
"Good idea," agreed the leader. "We'll do it."
Again he made a low bow to Mabel and followed his men out.
"Sorry to have troubled you," he muttered as he took his departure.
Shirley and Bristow now came in from the other room.
"You did splendidly, Miss Ashton," declared Bristow warmly. "I wasafraid you would allow them to enter."
Before Mabel could reply there came the sound of voices outside. One,raised in anger, was that of Mr. Willing. A moment later, followed byColonel Ashton and Dick, he entered the room.
His gaze fell upon Henry Bristow.
"So," he growled, "it's you they're after, eh?"
"Yes, sir," returned Bristow quietly.
"Well, you sit down over there, young man," said Mr. Willing, pointingto a chair. "I'm going to tell you a few things, and I don't carewhether you like them or not."