Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-16

~
60 and look after the dinner, and will turn in
till you come on board. Goodnight"
Goodnight, Mr.. Holme," Jordison replied
with sadness in his voice. This rough bearded
young fellow had brought with him the breath Of
the salt seas To Jordison il brought back the
days OF his own youth, and the young mans
voice touched some hidden chord In bis hard,
callous heart
Then a sudden idea seized him, and hurrying
after Holmes retreating figure he came up to
him as he was untying the dinghey's painter.
Mr.. Holme," he said quietly, EXCUSE me ask
ing you question, but you might be able to give
me some information"
Certainly" Holme replied. with smile. eff
am able to do so"
ou have been sailor and mixed with sea-
taring folk Have you ever come across a young
fellow of the name Of Richard Behag?"
Arthur Holme did not answer His back was
to the west, where faint glow of crimson still
fingered. His face was In shadow, but to Jordi-
son 1T seemed as II the young man remembered
the name and was trying to recall the owner of
it.
DO you happen to recollect the name, Mr.
Holme?" Jordison continued.
es, the young man replied, "I certainly
recoilect the name But for the moment--ahl 1
have it. OF course. I remember now"
IF you know anything of him." said Jordison,
Il should be much obliged by the information
| mean him no harm.
1t would not be much good Il you did,"
Holme answered, "for Richard Behag Is dead"
Dead" repeated Jordison in low voice.
are you sureH Have you proof?" And he
caught the young man by the arm and peered
anxiously into his shadowed face
Il am sure" Holme replied. "He died in
valparaiso. ] remember the story now. It
made something Of stir. He was drowned
Drowned" cried Jordison. care you sure?"
Holme shrugged his shoulders.
Vnct hn II
off Valparaiso. I should not inquire too closely
if you are friend of Behag's. The whole story
is not very creditable to him. You will excuse
me now, Mr.. Jordison. am hungry. I will
see you later" and stepping into the dinghey, he
put the rowlocks in place and loosed the painter
Jordison had taken a keen look at the man s
eyes, and they had fallen guilty from his glance
He turned back and walked slowly to the house.
"Dickie dead" he kept on repeating to him
self. well, Briggs & Warlock will soon find
out for me in Valparaiso, and if it is true shall
not lose sight of you, my young man. You know
more of my boys death than you have told me-
will find out the truth if it costs me every penny
fist at the yacht in the stream
Then he went in and stumbled UP TO the small
room that looked to the east, cropping his wav
as though he could not see.
When he reached the table by the window he
sank down in the chair, and buried his face in
MS nands For ten minutes he did not move.
His mind went back through all the years of
agony and despair to the morning when he had
last seen his son.
He could almost hear his own feeble limitations
of the birds and animals of farmyard.
What do the fowls say, papa? Ize forgot"
"Cluck cluck, cluck, and cocla-doodle.doo'
The wretched man rose to his feet and clenched
his hands
eff Dickie is Dead" he murmlred to himself.
there is only one thing left to me in life"
He sat down at the table and draughted a long
telegram to Briggs & Warlock to be dispatched
first thing in the morning. The burden Of it all
that expense was to be spared to find
proof of Richard Behag's death
At midnight, Jordison and his three servants
went down to the creek. 1t was a dark night,
but there was sufficient light to see that the
yacht had moved from her anchorage
The two cases lay half dozen yards from the
bank. 1t clear that for some reason or other
Arthur Holme had taken advantage Of the fall
ing tide to haul up his anchor and drift down the
channel.
William Jordson toiled furiously, and did as
much work as the other three men combined.
He had an idea that severe physical exertion
would distract his thoughts. But he found it
impossible to get rid of the subject that was up
permost in his mind.
And all the time he was going to and fro
through the mud black to his knees, sweating
with the burden of some great piece of iron, he
wondering why Arthur Holme had left SO
suddenly. By the time the work was over he
decided that the young man had shrked another
meeting and further questions.