Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-29

some | can trust little Crittenden.
here-him and me are about the only
square men aboard the boat
You're embarrassing him terribly in
terposed madame
And Youngling's all right when he's
SOBER" Rhode continued. with a logged
shake of his head: but you can't de-
pend on him. And that little steward.
Acklin-he acts like he's on the level: it
was him told me about this thing bein'
the talk of the ship.
mo one else You can trust?' Crit
tenden suggested. Bergen. Griscom.
Greenaway-"
Man. snarled Rhode in disgust.
They'd be for me in any ordinary show
down. but L couldn't count on 'em IL
themselves than they'd been lookin' to
get-lke a fat share in this jewel loot
Surely Senior Perez" protested
Nine. Savaran. in shocked voice.
''Gwan." said Rhode. YEARLY. You're
losing your grip if you've been lettin'
him come the soft-soap game with you
Why. he wouldn't think anything of
dumpin' US all into the drink il he
thought he saw a chance to get away
with the bulk of the graft. He's all there
with the glad class. and everything like
that, but show him a dollar and he'll
suck eggs and hide the shells
This being. apparently. the nadir of de-
pravity in Mr.. Rhodes data of ethics
But Capt Lobb and Mr.. Claret-
madame pursued. insistently.
You just gotta know the worst all at
once, haven't you?" inquired Rhode, sui
lenly. We'll, Lobb's one OF these jolly
tars with wife in every port-waitin'
for him with an ak He's jumped bail
on bigamy indictment, and / don't
think the United States is liable to be
bothered with him for some years to
come. Claret's ex-tirst officer of a South
seas tramp. where HAHN s the fashion:
he's wanted for manslaughter- Thurlow
used to be the noble wireless boy on one
of the transatlantic boats, but got TO
maxim too much profit out of the infor-
nation he picked up that way. Muir
rays - But what's the use? None of
'em has got anythin' on any of the
others
"But-great heavens.'' gasped madame.
why did you ship such a rabble? How
dared you bring US into the clutches of
such thugs?"
You can't forget that engraved invita-
ton to come to our party that l sent you
by special messenger. can you?" coun-
tered Rhode, glumly sarcastic. Il done
the best l could: 1 had to take 'em as
they come. You can't demand references
when you're signin' on men to loot
Lloyds. Besides, Perez had to have his
say: I didn't dare turn down his men.
Nope. Rhode summed up, Sourly.
when you come down to cases you'll
find there's only me and Crittenden YOU
can tie to-
And why yourself?" demanded Nine.
Savaran. What makes YOU SO concern
ed to protect me and my jewels. if you
please?''
Rhode looked up with stare OF as
constituent. say" he expostulated,
you don't seem wise to the fact that il
those pikers annex that load of junk
they're just naturally going to chuck
this job and queer the frame for all of
us. And then where'll your blessed fif-
teen thousand be? And my stake? You
invested in this business. If l let it be
ditched, where'll 1 get OFF,
Doesn't the same argument apply to
Perez Won't the same interest hold
him to us?'
That's what I'm rootin' for: but II
amt bankin on Perez. not SOS anybody'd
notice it. If l did I'd be as big a mutt
to put this show on the blink-just be-
cause you threatened to blow if you
didn't get your fool way
well, you have this satisfaction
George Rhode; for once you We're right"
Shattered seif-esteem favored the ac-
cents of madame with bitterness pass
ing the bitterness of remorse. I'm an
old fool: but I'm too old to change my
ways. The question is: What's to be
done? What have you to propose?"
Rhode wagged his head dismally
There's only one sensible thing said
he. "And | think l can see YOU falling
for it-nof."
you take care of my jewels"
That's what you ought to do Ne and
Crittenden can shove 'em i'm the safe in
the purser's office
Thank you: I don't intend TO shirk
the responsibility a. this stage. ma