The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-22

oars, drove the dory swiftly toward
the Echo.
"Blackstock,- said Appleyard, iruuic.
''what you got in that neat little baa
between your feet3 The conventional
pyjamAs and toothbrush. whRtT"
The tormented man at his side grurD.
bled something inarticulAte-
Did understand you to ir1ply ft'u
none Of my business7 How extraorit-
narily rude, Mr.. BlackstockI Besides
being untrue-Quite a naughty hb. In
addition to which liza uncalled nors
/ know"
You knowr" Blackstock turned 10
him with a scovl
Sure. I can put two and q NH
stone together and make a hole In a
ladder Just as easy as take q sink
purse out of a souse's ear. II wouldn't
be you, Mr.. BIackstock." Appleyard
continued without giving his Victim
time to analyEe this astonishing state.
ment-"it just wouldn't be you II you
didn't try to hand your friends the
double-cross. That bags stuffed with
loot-the best part OF the truck they
y
dollar. And that's why, you see,
they're 90 infatuated with the idea Of
shaking your hand and wringing your
neck before you get away; they've
just discovered your perfidy. But
don't you fret Here we are and long
before they can drive that seine-boat
this far We'll be sailing merrily away
With this assurance Appleyard rose,
catching the Echo's side as Coast
shipped his oars and the dory glided
smoothly alongside the larger vessel
Steady oni" he said. Coast, you
first and give Q hand 10 Mrs. BlAclE
stock. Now, you'-to Blaokstock.
when Coast had helped Katherine into
the oockpit-"and step nvelyi Your
companions in crime arc q bit too
close for comfort. Coast rd
suggest that Mrs. Blackstook step be-.
low until we get under way; there's
apt to be bit Of shooting. I'm AFRAID
If we don't look sharp"
Katherine sought Coasts eyes; be
nodded a grave Affirmation into hera.
'Only q few Moments" he said. Of
fering her his hand. Without a word
she accepted It and Let herself down
into the dark interior Of the cabin.
Nov. Coast, the anchor-Avelyt-
Coast Strengthened up hastily.
Blackstock was In his way, standing
in the corner Of the cockpit between
the oabin-trunk and the coaming.
while Appleyard was hurTiedly taking
up the engine-pit hatch. So the young
or man stepped unsuspiciously 20 STAR
board across the center-board trunk
into the very arms of calamity.
What followed fell like a bolt from
the blue and passed with its rapAdity.
AppleyRrd stood TO port with his
back to Blackstock, IN the act Of put
ting the hatch aside. Coast on the
seward side was on the point Of Int
ing himself 70 the top Of the cabin,
with intent to go forward and cast on
the anchor. There was crossing hia
mind the veriest hint Of a suspicion
that the blAokness In the shadow OF
the unfuried canvas, above the cabin.
was more dense and tangible than 10
should be, when this shadow, seeming
ly with a single movement, rose above
him like a cloud, towering az huge
and terrifying. its black human bulk
plotting out the blazing stars. a. the
tabled jinnee Of the hsherman'a bottle;
doomed msnacingly above him in the
enormous naksdnesa Of Chang. and
fell upon him with the fury and TO
rocity Of a panther
For a few chaotic seconds he 10.
NAMED conscious, feeling himself
crushed and borne down irrssistibly
to the deck, then lifted like a bag OF
grain and hurled directly into the
black, gaping NAV Of the companion
way.
Something came In painful contact
with his skull, and the world went IN
In a blaze OF crimson fame.
NTHn--