Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-10-24

Dlt OF money In her, but more'n half
OF her longs to me; forty sixty-fourths
Is my share, Joe Playle. and I'm regis
tered as her master, I am, and l give
orders, not you
"That'll do" interrupted Tankerlane
as he saw the dangerous light IN
Playle's dark eyes. T don't care
who's master of this ship, but I'm the
man that's going to draw the cheque,
and not farthing do either of you get
II you don't have try to reach Coma
sea Island. That's my last word on
the matter"
Mr.. Shil has money too,' retorted
Yardley: "a heap Of money, If report
be true, and he'll pay handsome for us
to carry out his orders. Don't you be
afraid, mate, as We'll lose by goin'
back to Gore'ven, If Mr., Shil wishes
It,"
"Mr. Shil won't wish it," said Tank.
erlane quietly. I'll go down and-hav
a talk with him."
Don't you wake him." said Yardley.
Sleeps life to him just now"
Il won't wake him till we're af1oat,"
Tankerlane replied, "'and then the mat
ter must be settled. I won't wake
him then if you'll agree to go to Coma
sea-"
Well go ahead" said Yardley sui
lenly, "but II ne wakes, and want to
turn back, arter he knows, you under
stand, why then we'll turn back"
Tankerlane smiled, and thrust his
hand into the pocket of his coat. Then
he turned on his heel and made his
way down into the cabin.
For half an hour he sat there in
silence and looked 1T the face of the
sleeping man. The cash across the
temple had been bathed and bandaged
and the features were calm and peace
| full.
Then Tankerlane, impatient of the
delay placed his hand on John Shirs
shoulder. To do him justice, he had
no particular relish for the task that
lay before him, and he wished to get
1t over as soon as possible.
AS he shook the sleeper gently, ] Ohm
Shil opened his eyes and looked ut
him
Feel better, sir" said Tankerlane,
initiating as far as he was able the
| rough voice and accent Of the fisher
| man.
y.
''Is it still dark?"
cay, sir, it's still dark"
"Who are you? l seem to know
your voice.
Doubt If you ever heard it afora,
sir. be part owner of the Hope and
Glory.
How many hours to daylight"
asked Shil. I'm tired of this Internal
darkness"
"I'll strike a light, sir" said Tank
erlane. He wanted to put an end TO
this ghastly farce, and he also wished
to avoid detection by speaking as little
as possible. He went through the pro-
cess of striking a match
"Try again." said Shil, with a fee
BILE smile. 81 reckon they're damp
'Tis lit, sure 'nuff," said Tanker
lane, holding up the blazing match.
which seemed mere ghost of a flame
in the daylight
"Lit?" queried shil angrily, as he
stared at Tankerlane with wide-opnn
eyes. Don't be fool, man. 'Tis
dark as night"
Match be lit, sir!'
"'Tis dark cried Shil. 81 can't
see. What's happened? Oh, Heaven,
l understand
He burned his face in his hands
and lay very still.
'Somethln's wrong with your sight,
SIR said Tankerlane, after a long
pause. "Mebbe we'd better go back
to Gore'ven and take zee to doctor
No said Shil, in a low voice
Take me on to Conasea, to Dowsett's )
farm, at once, directly we're afloat.
YOU'D better go back to Gore'ven,' -
said Tankerlane with smile.
mo, damn you," cried Shi. "TaSe
me on to Conasea. I'll give you a
hundred pounds If you'll get me 10
Conasea within the next six hours
I'll ask my mate,' aid Tankerlane.
"Mebbe we can do It,"
"Mr. Shil will give you hundred
pounds if you'll get him to Conasea
| within the next six hours" said Tank
erlane as he returned to the two men
on deck, "and as am going to give
you fifty, you'll do well enough over
this trip"
Does he know" asked Yardley,
with suspicious glance at Tanker
lanes face.
Yes, he knows, poor chap"
| And he took 1t well, did he?"
"Yes," said Tankerlane, "he took il
we'll. suggested that we should re-
turn to Gorehaven and get doctor
But he wouldn't listen to me- He in
sisted on being .aken to Conasea-tc
Dowsett's farm, whoever Dowsett MAY
be-and he's offered you a hundred
pounds If you'll get him there in sis
hours"
I'D like to hear that offer repeated, ;
said Yardley bluntly.
Tankerlane flushed, hut he kept con
troll of his temper.
go down and see him yourself,
he replied quietly 81 passed myself
off as part owner of the boat when
made the bargain. must ask you t.
The foods we eat furnish energy