The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-14


SILLY OF you" he remarked cooIly.
Coast came out of his abstraction
with q start. What's that3s he de-
manded sharply.
II said: Silly of you"
What d'you mean by that7"
'T mean" drawled the little man,
that you're wasting valuable time
standing there with your hands idle
and trying to make up your mind
what's best to be done about It II
we were only bit better acquainted.
or II you had grain of perspicuity
In your makeup, you'd have realised
long ago that you'd better leave it all
to me-"
WHAT" stammered Coast. What
IN thunder are you talking about?"
Appleyard removed the pipe from
his mouth and waved It comprehen-
sively toward the island. That" he
said, sententious. smiling sweetly up
into the amazed face Of his companion.
"Your predicament," he added. "If
you'd only stayed put, I'd have had
everything fixed. but Of course you
had to butt in and complicate matters
Not that I'm at all dismayed: can
still arrange everything satisfactorily,
I think. But you oughtn't to inter
fere. II didn't IKE you 20 much I'd
be awful vexed. honest I would"
Coast sat down and gasped with
| estnnishment and Irrational resent
nent. Either you're madi" he said
( --@raving-or-
You lose your first guess" the 1T
tie man interrupted calmly. I'm talk
ing sense, and I'll prove IT, Listen:
you're cudgelling your - hmmi -
brains for an excuse TO go back and
establish yourself ON No Mans Land
| persona grata to the inhabitants,
temporarily at least. Aren't your
Coasts Jaw dropped How do you
know thatf" he breathed. thunder
struck
I'm the best little guesser You even
met," replied Appleyard complaoent.
". take It from me. I'm wise to q
lot more than you ever dreamed.
furthermore. I'm for you. Now, with
that entente clearly established, are
you willing to put yourself In my
hands and rest easy In my assurance
that you'n win cut, or do you prefer
to blunder on IN your infatuated, bull
headed way and take your chances7'
"But-but-who are you? What Do
you knowr'
Tn the man IN the know In this
case. all right But that's not the
poin4 IN explain. and to your salts
faction. later. For the present. the
questions IL: WEI you or won't you
trust mar"
Coast made a helpless gesture. co
on" he Said
Good enough. Now" continued
Appieyard. rising, "the first thing to
DO Ia to clear out OF this. You get the
anchor up and III start the maehin-
cry"
But"
4 Tut, tuti Leave it to me; I'm the
doctor. and I'm handing you the only
| possible prescription, based ON an en-
haustiye diagnosis Of the symptoms
ct eetera. And you'd better hump
4 yourself. As things stand" the little
man paused to explain with trace
II impotence. seeing that Coast made
no move and was on the point Of IN
terposing further objections, I'VE have
| the advantage Of our friends ashore
We know who they are, but they don't
know US. But If we stick round here
IT'S only q question Of time before
we're discovered Whereas. Il we fold
| our tent and silently beat it, we Car
return anon (get that 'anon?O and
they'll have less excuse for identity
ing Us with the first rash intruders
Moreover, We shall hGve had time
to study the situation IN detail and
plan our campaign accordingly.
/. Now viii you get that mud-hook
upT
He turned his back to Coast and
prepared to uncover the motor, while
his putative employer, mysttfed and
talked into q condition Of semihypno
sis, silently rose and clambered for
ward.
BY the time he had weighed in the
light anchor and returned to the
cockpit. the little engine was trob
biug busily and the Echo had begun
TO move. Appleyard at the wheel, i'm
perturbable. steering by the compass
on the seat at his side. He nodded sat
isfaction as Coast began to coil the
cable, sti1 dased and almost inclined
to credit the prsposterous situation
to waking dream.
"Goodi" said the little man. Nov
get below and change-you can't az
ford to catch your death, standing
round In those dripping rags-and re
heve me, that / may do the same,
Furthermore. I'd be glad Of drop Of
gTog. Wen talk later"
do you mind telling me where
we're bound7" Coast inquired with
mild sarcasm.
Not IT all. This course ought to
take us clear Of Devils Bridge" re
turned the little man heipfuIly.
Coast was In q more cheerful mood
too when he returned. the confidence
and courage Of his manner bearing
witness to the restorative power Of