Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16
THE MYSTERY
STEWART EDWARD WHITE ADAMS.
Copyright by Mcclure Phillips 4 co..

BILE. Go out and buy me those things-in
abundance Those were my directions
He pulled.
What does he pay you?" he asked
Enough l replied.
more than enough. by a good deal, I'll
bet" he rejoined. THE old fool! He
ought to have left it to me. What is this
craft? Have you ever sailed on her be-
fore?'
NO"
Have any Of the crew."
l replied that believed all Of them were
Selover's men. He threw the cigarette butt
into the sea and turned back.
We'll. / wish you joy of your double
wages" he Knocked.
So he knew that. after all! How much
more of his ignorance was pretended I had
no means of guessing. His eye cleaned
sarcastically as he sauntered toward the
companion-way. Handy Solomon was at
the wheel steering easily with one foot and
an elbow. His steel hook lay fully ex-
posed. glittering in the sunlight barrow
glanced at it curiously, and at the man 5
headGear.
We'll. my genial pirate he drawled. eff
you had line to fit that hook, you'd be
equipped for fishing" The mans teeth
barred like an animals. but barrow went
Offense. If | were You, I'd have 1t ar
ranged so the hook would turn backward as
we'll as forward. 1t would be handler for
some DEMONSTRATING, for instance
He passed on down the companion. Handy
Solomon glared after him, then down at
his hook. He bent his arm this way and
that. drawing the hook toward him softly,
cat does her claws. His eyes cleared
and look of admiration crept into them.
by -, he's right" he muttered, and
after a moment: i've wore that ten year
and never thought of it. The little son of
a gum
He remained staring for moment at the
hook. Then he looked up and caught my
eye. His own turned quizzical. He shifted
his quid and began to hum:
The hos n laid aloft aloft laid he
Blow high, blow low what we?
the lee
Down the coast of the high Barbare-e-e."
We had entered the trades and were max
ing good time. l was content to stay on
deck, even in my watch below. The wind
was strong, the waves dashing, the sky
very blue. From under our forefoot the
flying fish sped, the monsters pursued them
A tingle of spray was in the air. 1t was
all very pleasant The red handkerchief
around Solomon's head made a pretty spot
of color against the blue OF the sky and
the darker blue of the sea. Silhouetted over
the 1awless white of the deck house was
the sullen. polished profile of the Niger
Beneath me the ship swerved and leaped
yielded and recovered. l breathed deep, and
saw cutlasses in harmless shadows. 1t was
two years ago. l was young-then-
At the mess hour l stood in doubt How
ever. I was informed by the captains fall
Setto that was TO eat IN the cabin. AS the
only other officer. / ate alone. after the
others had finished helping myself from
the dishes left on the table. 1t was hand
some cabin. well kept. with white wood
work spotlessly clean. leather cushions
much better than one would expect. l aft
erward found that the neatness of this
cabin and of the three staterooms was
maintained by the Nigger-at peril of his
neck A rack held a dozen rines. five re-
volvers. and-at last-my cutlasses. | ex-
amined the lot with interest. They were
modern weapons-tlhe new high power 30 40
box-magazne rifle, shooting government
committeeman had been used. The re-
volvers were of course the old 40 Colts
This was an extraordinary armament for a
peaceable schooner of $50 tons burden
The rest of the cabins fittings were not
remarkable. By the configuration of the
ship / guessed that two of the staterooms
must be rather large. 1 could make out
voices within.
On deck talked with Capt. Selover
she's a snug craft 1 approached nlm
He nodded.
"Y.u have armed her WE'LL
He muttered something of pirates and
the China seas
1 laughed.
You have arms enough to give your crew