The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-04-09

NV"
sleepy, Mr.. Stehbins. Don't let me
keep you up. Eve had disagrecablc
nciyhbors. Wanted to lind out solne
thing about them"
Explanation was wasted on Aris-
tides. Into his drowsy brain there had
come no desire to know anything about
the nocturnal loings OF the queer Mr..
Marsh. Bed was his prime object,
and, having been dismissed 10y Il o
from his patron, he sought that haven
with nlacrity.
Left together, the two men looked at
each other 4 moment in silence. Marsh
was tho first to speak.
"Do YOU know Spnnish::
"lll own UP to the 'carramba, re-
turned Brill, with Il smile. 1.-The cal
lacy is just Il few steps ahead of me.
"Wlla1 that man %sai1,' observed
Marsh, was, Carramba, callese'--
Curse you, hold your tongue l as
sumo it was tie fellow with the cut
forehead, for, although saw him go
into 3 again, he wasn't there when
went in"
Well into the morning hours the W
men, companions in arms now, sat in
the stateroom and talked Of the curious
conditions of affairs they had found in
their section of the ship. Finally
Marsl, stuck his thumbs into the aper-
lures of his Waistcoat and scoWled
good naturally at his host.
Now, after we've thrashed out talk
here like a couple of monographs,
Overflow he said, what is your
theory of the racket out my way:'
Brill vcntured the first thought that
came to his mind.
".rhe only thing that seems plausible
to me is that the men are aiding some
friend to get across the ocean passage
free
Marsh laughed unfcclingly.
"Rest assured that there's nothing
going on that Benedict doesn't know
/ about and countenance,' he declared.
Hes got a pair of fcrret's eyes behind
those queer glasses of his. Wouldn't
he in such a scheme himself, for
passage money wouldn't trouble him.
He's free with his money. Gets it too
easily to worry
"Well," returned his companion, tax
ing the offensive, what is your the
ory"
Marsh's fat face grew serious, and
he pursed his lips.
Its a puzzlc,' he replied. eff that
Mexican with tho cut in his head didn't
give it to himself. there must have
been IL struggle. That would prove
resistance by whocycr's there. Yet
how could they have brought an UNI
willing person aboard without attract
ing attentions:
Used drugs, possibly"
sit may be none of my business, but
Id give my commission on the sales
of this trip if | could get the better OF
H%cncdict.'
Brill rondcred we'll these pregnant
words before ,e resumed the talk.
Then he spoke in a hating and rather
uittiuent way.
"N'hy are YOU S,,-Well. to use Il com
mon expression, so down on Benedlct:'
IL don't like snakes" answered Marsh
quietly. respectfully when n of en-
crossing the path of a man | want as :;
friend
The ring of honesty was in the
words. and Brill's heart felt a warmth
that few men had ever lighted there
But with the splendid .Anglo-SaXon re
serve that keeps in the soul all the emo
!, tons that might be poured out ant
lost. he merely bowed his head with {;
smile that was vital with meaning
Marsh rose. graspeu Brill's hand ant
held it tightly Il moment.
I'm off to bed he said. Lost my
beauty sleep already. Must get N,
wits in order, for I'm going to solv.
this conundrum before we're twenty
, four hours older. May be the simpless
thing IN the world. or Benedict ma,
| have .Jnlln y. KockrfclIcr held up fo
i ransom. Whatever it is, it'll do me II.
, harm to find out
Brill sought his berth and slumbcr
but the latter was in no humOr to h,
wooed. With staring eyes the youn:
Q man lay tossing to and fro. his min,
crowded with h%obgoblins of his owl
q creation. all revolving around Benc
: diet The follow had threatened him
and there was precious little doubt a
c to what he meant. He intended to sep
aratc him from Marion Jennison 70
the rest of the voyage. How he vas f
accomplish that highly undesirable cir
$ cumstancc was not quite as clear. TIL
e ! voyage would end by Thursday nigh