Evening star., 1913-01-19
THE WHITE >BLACKBIRD
HUDSON DOUGLAS.


much better temper now that he had
turned the tables so neatly on nearly all
of those who had thought him utterly in
their power. 1t seemed to amuse him to
hear Jasper Slyne in the role of mentor.
None at ALL" he answered, amiably.
"And how about your
ing after this Slyne declared, the more
morose since he knew very we'll what
good grounds the other had for that
taunt. I'm going ashore just as soon
eyes on me again. know when I've had
enough. and I've had enough now
Not you." Capt. Dove contradicted
him. blandly. Say when.' He had
whisked a bottle of champagne out from
a locker under the settee. knocked its
wired head neatly off on the table edge.
and was pouring the creamy wine out
into glass with hospitable but steady
hand. When the glass was full he stop
ped, but not till then, since Slyne had
said nothing.
He filled another for himself and drank
it's contents off in a couple OF gulps. pro-
duced a box Of cigars and lighted one
clumsily. Slyne followed his example in
both respects. but more deliberately, and
the heady liquor was not without its
prompt effect on him.
What l mean, Dove said he. pres
emily, in that grandiose, patronizing man.
wrong way; what l mean is that I've
had far more than enough of this rough
andtumble work. 1t isn't the sort Of
sport at all that appeals to a gentleman.
And. what's more, l haven't made a
penny out of it ALL"
Capt. Doves eyes began to kindle. Slyne
had succeeded, as usual, in touching him
on the raw.
| fierce cath. i've barely enough left to
| pay the port dues in Genoa and take my
| ship through the canal: you know very
well. too. that 1 won't be safe till see
some temporary repairs I'll have to trust
! to my wits. I'm worse off than | was
| when l picked you up in New York. with
| your precious scheme for making our for
| tunes in Central America
| The fragrant injustice of that reproac CHI
was so obvious that Slyne kept his self
control. Whose fault was it that you
were SO soft with Sallie as to let her spoil
all our plans?' he asked. equally, and
| did not wait for an answer. And. you're
far better off at the finish thar I am,'
| said he. "Your foolishness has cost us
both our chance of big haul-but you've
! still got her.
i've still got her., the old man admit
still got her. And she'll have to pay
pretty high, perhaps. for all she's cost
| me of late. You wouldn't believe, Slyne.
how well I've always treated that girl I
had been my own daughter. And |
wouldn't have believed she'd ever go back
| on me as she's done of late"
| You don't know how to handle her at
| ALL Slyne asserted, bluntly. You're get
ting into your dotage. She's outgrown
you. And what'll happen in the end will
be that you'll lose her. too. You're far
| too grasping."
| cunning grin. 'If don't know how to
handle her there's nothing you can teach
me-" he commented. rand yet you'd give
1 your very eye teeth for herr
49,
| you've done for long," Slyne affirmed.
She's cost you far more already than
| you'll ever make again; and me, too. for
that matter. Look what hoodoo she's
| been to us all this trip We might both
have been millionaires at this minute but
| for her interfering with
"Avast there, now. the old man grow1-
| ed. savasey. Don't keep harping on
that string. curse you! l know when I've
had enough. too. So just keep your head
shut about it. And bear in mind, Slyne
| that what say goes on the Olive Branch,
| or-it'll maybe be 'Hobson's choice for
you. too, before We make Genoa
Slyne gave him back glance for virulent
glance. but kept silence and showed his
| wisdom thereby. For Capt Dove, in that
/ frame of mind, might very easily have
been moved to some insane act of vfo-
lence. The old man had never before
| gone far as actually to threaten his
casual accOmplice. And even Siyne, who
did not fear death itself, did not desire
! to die in a more unpleasant manner than
need be. He sat quiet. searching his nm-
BILE brain for some more soothing speech.
What makes me so hot he explained,
| relaxing his scowl as he held out his
empty glass. lis that haven't the money
you want for her. You've no idea, Dove,
! how we'll could do with a wife like that.
| And how
"Sallie wouldn't whistle to your teach
ings now any more than she will to mine
not SO well. in fact Capt. Dove de-
clared. accepting the friendly hint and
reaching for the bottle. Il wish to blazes
this lame fipper Of mine was fit for duty
| again. See If you can find fresh bottle
| below you. Slyne. And. for heavens sake
! talk sense You haven't the money and
| that's the end Of the matter
10 he continued tnnaorcnM