The Tupelo journal., 1912-11-15

With q note Of impatisncs, Il though
I'd remove ut least n burden from
your already overturned intelli-
gence."
His insolencs famed TO q nams
the smoldering resentment In Coasts
bosom. What the devil are you get
ting att" he demanded hotly.
"You," returned Blackstock. un-
moved. II had an idea you were max
ing Sleeps eyes at my little boat. 20
decided to deliver you from tempta-
ton, and sent Chang out to scuttle
her. A simple matter-watch her set
ting now!-just a strong twist OF the
wrist and out comes u bilge plug
and in comes the water midtown
she goes!"
Coast, choking with despair and
rage. in silence saw the prediction YER
flied to It's bitterest letter. Then he
swung back to his tormentor, culver
lng with indignation even as the dog
he held quivered and strained against
restraint.
Damn you!" he cried despite him.
self.
Blackstock laughed again, by all
tokens enjoying himself immensely.
But why?" he asked lightly. why
damn me for taking . simple meas
ure toward self OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Natures first law. and all that sort OF
thing? | want you to stick here I'M
ell tomorrow morning, at the earliest;
that gives me q chance to make .
clean getaway. Why should | leave
you the means to gum up my plans?
Thanks, I'm many kinds OF = fool, l
know, but MOI that bad"
You'll never leave this island free"
Coast muttered.
"Eh, what's that? Oh, you think
not-so? Believe me, my gay gallant,
I'm wise to all you're banking on. It's
true you had me guessing for q time
Il wasn't sure about you at first;
that immature beard you've been grow
ing recently is quite some disguise,
and besides you'd changed your way
of talking; his lordship's languid
drawl was missing; and you look like
any other ordinary mutt, out of your
pretty clothes-but l got your num-
Der in due course of time. That
break you made about the gun when
I was pulling my bluff about knowing
people by the feel of their faces
you forgot yourself then, and hadn't
any more doubts. / did some tall fig
uring before l got completely hep, but
a little work with wireless rounded
the story out. You see, you had the
yarn of the Corsair's trouble down too
pat and glib for 1t to be without a
grain Of truth; you gave me that
much to 60 on. And hen
well, we knew n man certainly. and
probably two, had been on the island
in the fog yesterday morning and
butted in on the funeral o~bsequies OF
my ill-advised young assistant, Power,
and it didn't seem in reason they'd
be content to let the matter rest at
that-'specially after going to the
trouble of breaking Chang's head In
return for being shot at. So l
got busy, al l say, and the fog help
Ing l fixed things up very prettily.
Il warned voorhis-he's sloping for
safety now; sent the tug after the
Corsair, ~unhappily too late-it's evil
dent your friend, the Secret Service
Sleuth@"
How did you guess that?" Coast
demanded huskily.
Considering what I've been up to,
what was the likeliest guess? l
wasn't sure until you gave 1t ava
just now-merely satisfied such was
the case. Well, as | was saying,
/ worked the wireless pretty stead
ily-was happy enough to pick up 9
message to the Scylla- revenue cut
ter, l take bordering her here to
bust up a nest of smugglers; and
spiked that gun with another mes
sage, a couple of hours later, revoking
the order as being based on false in
formation. And, finally, l got my
friends on the mainland to make up a
little party to fetch me OF. So, all
things being pleasant as afternoon
tea, / came down to gloat over you a
little. Hope you don't mind"
Why" said Coast-"since you'd
made up your mind about newly
did you hold of this long? To laugh
ut me-"
Partly, Mr.. Coast, partly. There
were other reasons. One was I don't
bear you any ill-will; which you'll
allow IL pretty decent Of me. consid-
ering the rotten way I've treated you.
/ don't kill In cold blood without =
pretty good reason Van Tuyls
mouth had to be shut. you know-or
rather, you don't know why, and
likely never will; and Power wal
threatening to split on the game here,
so he had to be taken care Of. But
You I'll be candid: to begin
with your life wasn't worth q tallow-
dip; I made up my mind to eliminate
you with neatness and Dispatch
when your back was turned. for
choice. But then I began to think
the game was about up, SO far as No
Mans Land was concerned. So, what
was the use Of making a bad matter
uneasy? You were harmless, and
r xra-sx- - 49, $500 - -AAk