The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-01-30
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Tempter's Voice.


bered on deck and bustle'
about giving orders to the sailor WHIT
was slowing the lunch and ammuni
ton.
When Stuart stopped the tender a
the first blind. about 500 yards away
Bivens protested
Here, herel I'm no mollycoddle !!
have been sick. | can throw "A stone
to this blind. This isn't the one
want There 1t is down yonder to-
ward the end OF that marsh. ! saw
thousands OF ducks circllng around Ii
yesterday I've given in TO you every
day we've been down here. I'm going
TO have my way this time"
He turned TO the sailor who was
running the tenders engine and spoke
sharply.
$50 to that other bllndw
The sailor sprang TO the wheel, and
the tender shot ahead Stuart settled
back In his seat with angry disgust.
and Bivens laughed.
"Cheer up; it's no use to give orders
for a funeral yet. II we can't get
back TO that yacht i'm fifteen minutes
against any wind that blows today I'll
eat my hat I'm feeling better than
have for months I'm in for good
time, Don't be a piker."
Stuart determined to make the best
OF IT
"All right" he answered cheerfully.
"Good Lord. man. ! could walk back
10 the yacht at low water--it all goes
bare"
yes. unless the wind hauls in to
the northeast and rolls In big tide
through that inlet"
"All right: let her roll The tender
Will come beck and pull us in"
BY the time the decoys were out II
began TO spit snow. and the wind had
freshened
AS the sailor was about 10 start
back Stuart spoke sharply:
Listen to me now. Niels Keep
sharp watch on this weather II you
see the wind haul to the north put n
compass in your tender. take your
bearing from the yacht to this blind
In case It should shut in thick and !
come after us in double quick time.
You understand"
Eyes, sir"
IF II looks bad don't wait too long IL |
1t should be blowing a gale you'd bet
ter bring the cook along to steer while |
you watch your engine. Have him Tx
light supper before be starts"
Bivens was vastly amused at Stu
arts orders
Stuart scanned the horizon. watch
ing q flock OF ducks working their way
northward. The sign was ominous
Birds know which way the wind is
going to blow before II comes. and If
gale is on the way they always work
into the teeth OF II.
II was useless to tell this TO Bivens
He didn't have sense enough to under
stand IT, But stuart quietly made up
his mind to tDke up the decoys and
row In as soon as the tide ebbed down
TO two feet OF water.
la the meantime he would make the
best OF tho situation. The ducks BE-
gan to come In and decoy like chick
ems. He killed half dozen and In the
excitement began TO forget the fool
hardness OF the trip.
Bivens shot a dozen times. missed,
got Disguised and began to fret and
complain. He said:
Jim. would you mind telling me the
mental process by which you rejected
my offer? You're the only man I've
struck on this earth that didn't have
his price"
Perhaps we have different ways OF
fixing values You are not yet fifty
years old and a wreck What's the ,
use? What can you do with your
money now?'
1T brings luxury. ease. indulgence,
power. admiration. wonder and the
envy of the world"
whats the good OF luxury IL you
can't enjoy il, ease IL you never take +,
It, indulgence when you have lost the (,
capacity to play, power If you're too
busy getting more TO stop and WELD !"
III"
Jim. you're the biggest fool ever
knew, without single exception"
Stuart glanced anxiously toward the
yacht. 1t was O'clock The tide had d
ebbed half ont and there was barely
enough water on the flats now for the 0
tender TO cross. 1t was showing hard
er and the wind had begun to inch in
toward the north. &
NO more ducks today, CAL" Stuart v
said briskly. returning to his tone of q
friendly comradeship. We've got to a
get away from here. It's getting colder
every minute. 1t will be freezing be- E
fore night" d
well, let 1t freeze" Bivens cried
what do we care? It's e
just ten minutes run when the tender p
comes"
To Stuart's JOY he saw the men start t
the tender. b
IT'S all right; they're coming nowr'