The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-07-27
XIII
The Listener In the Dark,

AS soon as he had a chance Hemen-
way took the skipper aside and told
his story, or at least that part of 1t
that related to the stealing Of the
yacht by Tyler and the subsequent ad-
ventures Of Lent and himself.
"Tyler, eh?" snorted the skipper.
"Well, you ran afoul of the lowest
down cutthroat in the South Seas.
Now, then, my names Bailey-Cap'n
Ebenezer Bailey-what's your?
Archer" replied Hemenway with
out hesitation. ~'~. ~-~ss.~ssi ss".s"sA'.A.s7
"Well, sir, l know John Morgan's
island, and l guess I a take you
there providin' you pay me for my
trouble, and if you can't I'll take you
there anyhow and we'll pick up your
friends. That's my way Of doin' bus,
mess. &:ss&$1ssa R4nasT's4~a~
Il got a little stuff to bring ashore
and some stuff to load on board, and
that'll take me till afternoon. You
just stand by and go aboard as soon
as I finish my business here"
They got away sooner than expect
ed. with the launch in tow, the o.
Bailey-for that was the name of the
v~essel-filled away before the frs,
dog-watch with Hemenway and Lent
on boards, also Lent's two suit cases
and his bundle. A wholesale breeze
was blowing, and the o. Bailey soon
put the island under the horizon.
After a very satisfying supper Hem
enway felt in better mood than he had
for many a day. Captain Bailey was
a laxative old fellow, disposed to ask
many questions but Hemenway adroit-
ly turned them off and came back
with so many questions of his Owl
that the skipper did most of the talk
ing. An instance:
How did you boys ever happen to
land on John Morgan's island?" asked
Captain Bailey.
"That reminds me Captain Bailey, ]
want to ask you before l forget it
who is John Morgan anyway"
John Morgan replied the skipper,
taking a puff at his pipe and settling
oONA ~ q 1oAS OAgAeAoSAoA" OoA1.
Morgan comes from the same part OF
the world hat I do, and that is good
old New England; only I'm a regular
d~own-easter, and he halls from Ros-
ton.
give been knocking around these
waters for thirty years or more, and
I'VE known John Morgan close on to
ten years. He's some kind of a sci.
entific man-coalects rocks and fauna,
he calls it. Got plenty of money, too,
I callate, but all he cares about is
cruising around these islands collect
ing things. Sends 'em back home and
writes all about 'em.
"He owns that island but dou't gc
there very often. The first time l evel
sxw John Morgan" And the skip
per went on to tell of the idiosyucra
sizes peculiar to that individual.
Hemenway didn't interrupt, but fec
him with more questions until the
skipper suddenly broke short one 81
his long winded anecdotes and ex
claimed:
- SAoNhyS WV ouSAS " NC k4OIIy
close to where we're bound for. Tor
'ard there! keep a sharp lookout 3eae
ahead"
Night had long since fallen, but s
bright, full moo was in the heavens
In less than half an hour there was
the cry of Land, ho!"
The O. Bailey worked UP TO within
q third of a mile from shore, which
was as close as her owner cared IL
go, and Vie boat that had swung fron
the davits was lowered. Into it Wen,
the mate, two of the Kanaka sailors
! Hemenway and Lent
They showed off and TDwed for the
island.
Guided by Hemenway they steered
for the mouth of the inlet and entered
it. A few minutes later they rounded
the last bend and came TIC the lagoon
At that instant a startled cry from
Lent caused the sailors to cease row
ing. .
Dead ahead, riding quietly at an
Choir, was a black hulled schooner Of
the size and appearance of the Wanna
WELL, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed
Hemenway. what do fou think OF
the nerve Of Tyler! That looks like
our yachts
He held a whispered conference
with the mate, after which the boat
was backed out of the lagoon and run
up on shore around the bend and out
Of sight of the schooner.
Hemenway stepped ashore and,
drawing his revolver he cautiously
made his way toward the bungalow,
Within five minutes he was close
enough to hear the sound Of voices.
Creeping behind trees and keeping In
the shadow OF the moon. he reached
the back of the house and edged hfa
way along until he came to the porch.
There he received a distinct shock.
Seated on the porch with his back
against the house, was Mcdonald,
smoking q pipe. Hemenway knew it
was the gum shoe man by the peculiar
----- a. -A W."