The Tupelo journal., 1912-10-25

twisting the ring upon his finger.
He schooled himself to resignation.
very we'll" he said in q ~passionless
voice. You've got your W way OF
making q civil request, and | don't
pretend to like 1t; but I'll be grateful II
you'll instruct this Chinese giant to let
me CO."
What! are you there. Change
B~lackstock's stimulation of surprise
was a~dmirable-if it were stimulation.
You may release Mr.. Handyside," he
] continued; The has promised to be
good"
without q word the Chinaman
dropped his arms and stepped aside.
His face, when Coast saw 1t, was as
stolid as always; only the yellow eyes,
glinting like q cats through their
heavy, half CLOSED lids, seemed to hold
a hint OF derision.
Coast lifted his shoulders in a shrug
not of bravado but of endurance,
turned to the tool bench by the motor
and replaced the wrench. His
thoughts were all confusion; again an
incident Knocked him with hidden
meaning. What was he to understand
that Blackstock recognized his voice
and knew him for himself, Garrett
Coast? That be suspected him Of be-
ing another than Handyside-a spy OF
the Treasury Department, in short
and had determined to disarm him as
a matter of common precaution, sus-
pending sentence until he had deter
mined precisely who he was?
You're wondering" said Black
stock, why l didn't demand this gun
before taking it by force. Aren't
you?"
Il am" Coast assented bluntly.
For one reason, because wouldn't
We got 1t. Would n"
Certainly not. What right"
One moment: l m coming to that"
Blackstock smiled his secret smile,
weighing the weapon refectively be-
fore bestowing it securely in a hip
pocket. 1T was a matter of discipline
morale is the better word. You
had to be made to understand that on
this island l am dictator, my word law,
my wishes laws equivalent. Your
personal independence doesn't amount
to a row of tacks, SO longs you're
on No Mans Land; I'm boss, and
you've got to come to me. don't al
low anybody but myself to tote a gun
here, and since l knew you'd refuse a
request, l took this spectacular means
of making our relations clear as day
light. The main trouble with Power
was his exaggerated conception of the
Importance of his blessed ego; when
/ gave him a practical demonstration
of its relative insignificance in the
cosmic scheme, he got peevish. Don't
you make the same mistake"
I'm surprised" retorted Coast, de-
l~iberately offensive, that Power didn't
beg to be allowed to stay and lick
your boots"
That" said Blackstock, with an
open grin, sounds suspicionsly like
mutiny, Mr.. Handyside."
Call it any name you like. Pos
sibly you may find somebody to
knuckle under to such treatment for
the privilege of earning a bare living
on this God-forsaken island, but
~. Well, it wasn't Power and it won't
be me. I've had enough of you and
I'm finished. Get Voohhis to send you
another man as o o as you like: |
leave, the first chance that turns up"
Then the sooner you get that mo
tor running. the quicker you'll be
suited" returned Blackstock. You'd
better get busy"
Go to the devil" said Coast coolly.
IF you send out any messages from
this station, some n else will hav
repaired your MOTOR shan't. Good.
night"
! Goodnight. Mr.. Handyside," rang
In his ears accompanied by a jeering
laugh, as he swung on his heel and
through the door to the open; but he
paid no attention.
Lacking any excuse to linger in the
vicinity of the bungalow, he contin-
ued at leisure toward the farmhouse,
consistently at every step more
troubled with doubts, anxieties, fore
bodings. 1t a all very we'll che
thought) to make the best of a bad
business! but-Appleyard was not to
return until nightfall. 1t was now
] half-past four of a sultry, overcast
n misty afternoon. In the two and
a half or three hours of daylight to fol
low, what might not happen? What If
Blackstock purposed leaving No Mans
Land in the little catboat within that
interim? What could possibly be
contrived to stop him by n man, un-
friended and unarmed?
Pausing at the farmhouse only brief
ly to make sure Katherine was not
there, without purpose, in weary des-
%pondency he wandered on, down
through the Cold LARS toward the
beach.
AS he drew near the spot where he
collie kept its vigil, the animal, ap-
parently recognizing his footsteps,