The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21

He thrust his plate away and shifted
sidewise in his chair. Il uz just Won
derin'," he pursued. picking his teeth
meditatively with a penknife, low they
feeds you in them as-ylums. 'Avin'
never been inside one myself, it's on'y
natural I'd be Gurus. There
was one of them institootions near
where I was borned-Birming am, that
is. I used to see the loonies playin' in
the grounds. I remember just as welll
One of 'em and me struck up
quite an acquaintance'-
Naturally. he'd take to you on sight
''Ow? Strynge ow we it it off, eigh
You myke we think of i'm.
Young chap. e was. the livin' spit-'n-
himage of you. 1t don't happen, does
it, you're the same man?'
'Oh. go to the devi1,''
Naughty" said the captain serenely,
wagging a reproving forehnger. Bad.
naughty word. You'll be sorry when
you find out wot 1t means Only
e was allus plannin' to run awe and
drownd is-self"
He wore the joke threadbare. even
to his own taste and In the end got
heavily to his feet, starting for the
companionway. Land you this arter-
noon.' he remarked casually. come
o'clock or thereabouts. Per'aps later.
I don't know. though, as 1 'ad ought
to let you loose"
Kirkwood made no answer. Chuck
ling. Stryker went on deck.
In the course of an hour the Ameri-
can followed him.
Wind and sea alike had gone down
wonderfully since daybreak-a cir
cumstance undoubtedly in great part
due to the fact that they had won in
under the lee Of the mainland and were
traversing shallower waters. On either
hand. like mist upon the horizon. lay
a streak of gray, a shade darker than
the gray of the waters. The AIethea
was within the wide jaws of the West
ern Scheldt. As for the wind. it had
shifted several points to the north
ward; the brigantine had 1t abeam and
was lying down to II and racing to
port with slanting deck and singing
cordage.
Kirkwood approached the captain.
who. acting as his own pilot, was stand
ing by the wfeel and barking sharp
orders to the helmsman.
Have you a Bradshaw on board?'
asked the young man.
Steady" This to the man at the
wheel; then to Kirkwood: ''Wot's that.
me 1ud2''
Kirkwood repeated his question.
Stryker eyed him suspiciously for q
thought.
s'Wot dyou want II Tor!
Il want to see when I can get a
boat back to England"
Hmm. -. Yes. you'll find a
Bradshaw in the port locker, near the
forard bulk cad. Run along now and
pry-and mind you don't go tearin' out
the pyges TO myke pyper boatses to
go sylin' In
Kirkwood went below. Like its ad-
jacent rooms. the cabin was untenanted;
the watch was the mates, and Stryker
a martinez. Kirkwood found the desig-
mated locker and, opening it. saw first
to his hand the familiar bulky red
volume with its red garter. Taking it
out he carried It to a chair near the
companionway. for better reading
light: the skylight being till bat
tened down.
The strap removed. the book opened
the precise table he had wished
to consult; some previous client had
left a marker between the pages
and not an ordinary bookmark,
by any manner Of means. Kirkwood
gave utterance to a little gasp of
amazement, and instinctively glanced
up at the companionway to see If he
were observed.
He was not but for safety's sake he
moved farther back into the cabin and
out of the range Of vision Of any one
on deck, a precaution which was al
most Immediately justified by the
clumping of heavy feet upon the steps
as Stryker. descended in pursuit Of the
ever essential drink.
Find it7" he demanded, staring
blindly-with eyes not yet focused TO
the change from light to gloom-at
the young man, who was sitting with