The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-05-11
(Continued.)

lie 6uUIlldIlue UOdl Hdu SoHiC
ashore in the night, and her crew
werar waiting, with many curses,
no doubt, a sea in which they could
reembark The one man was sleep,
ing away the absence of his mate.
But why was this of interest to
Wilmer? Unless he were revenue
spy, they were apt to be people OF
whom it was better to know little
than much.
At the desk of the hotel Wilmer
got paper, envelopes and a bit OF
coEying carbon, sat down, wrote a
letter, and addressed it to himself
in care of the chief of police of Mo
bile, to be turned over to the col
lector Of the port, and by him open
ed if not called for by certain
date. He carefully copied the ad
dress of the original upon the en-
velop of the carbon copy, took
them both to the clerk, handed him
a fine cigar, and asked him as a
favor to certify on the back Of the
copy that he, the clerk. had per
sonally placed in the mail the orig
iual, addressed precisely as was
COPY.
Don't know what your game is
old man." said the clerk, "but
hope you get away with 1t all
right"
Mr.. Wilmer rowed straight back
and made his way to the boat under
the bushes The man was sitting
up, now, smoking. Wilmer walked
into camp jauntily.
Hello, Faville," said he; "ain't
you pretty near lost?"
Faville started and dropped his
hand to his hip; but changed his
attitude and shook hands cordially
mo" said he, "but you are,
should think. Where'd you DROP
from?"
You're ashore at bad time,
said Wilmer. where's the Sickle
back?"
"Oh,' replied Faville, I'm not on
her any longer"
Funny you brought away her
boat" said Wilmer. And her cap
tain, tool"
This latter remark was evoked
by the arrival of third person
wiry, smooth-shaven, with a dark
face, a dead-black eye, a straight
line of mouth three fingers missing
from his right hand. giving the i'm
preston that he was perpetually
pointing at something, and thin. pal
pitant nostrls, like those of trap
ped rabbit. He came lazily in, and
dropped to the ground.
Hello, Winner" said he.
"Hello, Captain Reagan replied
Wilmer. Can you give me a snack.
Sure" said Reagan. Lets eat
Faville; I've got grobeck for din
ner."
The "grobeck" was big, tooth
some bird, like bittern, in appear
ance. While the meal was cooking
Wilmer sat joking, like a man en-
joying himself, while the Others
grew more and more taciturn. A
couple of bottles of excellent wine
washed down the meal, and the
men sat looking at one another and
smoking, in an atmosphere tense
with misunderstanding.
(Which way you going, Wilmer?
finally asked Reagan.
II thought I'd go aboard the
Stickleback, replied Wilmer.
"The hell you did," replied Rea
gan, with an easy laugh. well
you've got another guess"
"You think Faville can handle
the engineers berth?' queried Wiz
aner. with covert sneer.
"The surf don't roar like 1t did
said Reagan. THE winds off shore
It's quieting down. Stick up that
signal, Faville."
Faville departed and Reagan, sit
ting up, spoke in the manner of one
who scents a conflict.
whatever it is. Winner" said
he, "out with it. I'm not safe tc
fool with"
Il want the Stickleback for a
while" said Wilmer.
What for?" asked Reagan.
"To stand off and on, do as | say
ask no questions and to tell nc
tales"
Feeling mystery in this demand
Reagan controlled his temper. and
let the case develop.
and if this modest request Is
refused?" he queried.
Why" said Wiener slowly. 81
may let the authorities know that
instead of saving mahogany. the
Stickleback is prowling around off
Harrod's."
Reagan lay gently back, this time
on one arm. The other slid slowly
to his hip pocket. He was the pic
ture of slOthful ease.
Well" he said slowly. chat
might interest them, but what Is
there in it,"
mot much" said Wilmer. "But