The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-11

and when that concern wa.
squelched. he lost it. He hat
been a slave runner, privateer
grambler, whatnot-but why
now, he was retired to the abys.
ami forest of Isle Bonne-ah,
that he did not tell us!
The baron was gratified that
we had come-we gentlemen OF
the great world. He would put
us up-we must stay a week, q
month"; year! There as an
amazing deal to talk of.
Virgil suddenly pushed back
his chair. well, we 60 to shag
along, Doctor Dick. The new
man he looked easily at Clell:
Big Jim Is waitin' fo' to organ
ize his new crew."
The baron followed us to the
edge OF his platform with many
protests-yet | was sure he was
pleased that we were gone. He
waved his pipe airiiy: "Adieu,
messieurs,"
And his proteges shook her
head. "All a-time when honey
bees run away, they make so
much trouble.
we very busy. messieurs."
Clell came back to her sud
denly and took her hands: "Ah,
but Mademoiselle Laure, it is
going to be lonesome here
very; and could l come to see
you sometime?"
He was eager and like his old
self Of the years gone, and my
heart stirred to see them laugh
ing together. The girl was con-
fused by him a bit, and then
blithe with new adventure.
"M'sieu, you may. Only, please,
not here at John-the-Fool. But
around my island where the lilies
are, and the shell beaches. Oh,
there | might show you many
things. And M'sieu de Doctor,
also"
She had no word for Virgil. He
waited gravely at the launch's
engine, and when we were in,
sent it out of the forest cove into
the hot glitter of the salt marsh
without word. IFo
1t must have been two miles
down that monotonous ditch that
we came to the black dredge that
filled the end. A tall man came
out of the cavernous depths from
the engines, wiping his hands.
We'll, they got another. Hog
jawRtook to the swamp"
The Texans level glance went
to the boiler room. who's
FIRM"
Nobody. Brinton went out
with a fever. Weed broke his
arm last Tuesday. And now,
Hogjaw-he was my last ma
tive"
The boss regarded his engineer
quizzically. II told you to cut
loose at any native that comes
near the drege without ordehs."
Il never saw 'em. They must
have sneaked out of Isle Bonnie
and give Hogjaw his sign. Any
how, he blew this morning."
Well" Virgil turned aside ir-
relevantly, this dredge has got
to work. We CANT lay up
day"
II know. NANCY and tried
to run her this morning-us two.
| put NANCY to firing, but he had
to quit and cook dinner. You'd
better send out front for a white
fireman"
II brought a man." The boss
indicated .Clell, indifferently.
The big engineer was reading
my young friend with pitiless de-
liberation. 1--WE can bust him in,
maybe"
1--WE got to. I'll take the crane
myself. NANCY will stick. You'd
stick, Jim?"
You bet. Say, you know what
chases our men away. It's the
old yarns about Isle Bonnie and
how old Armand used to run his
slave ship into this cove back
here and slit their necks If he
had to, to keep 'em from fallin'
into Isle Bonne woods on a bet
they don't see nothin' but pi-
rates and slavers and ghosts
and let he tell you who's dom
it-iL's the baron"
The Texan was still silently
contemplating the latest failure
on the mans size job.
We'll, l can't stop TO- ghosts.
It's costin' ninety dollehs a day
to lay up. and" he broke off
and was looking at Clell, the
white-handed and immaculate
young man who had this stony
hatred for him. / had figured
his personal resources to the last
precious penny-that two thou
sand dollars he had paid out to
save Clell's name for Mary's
sake-had been his last gamble.
And Clell did not know! Nor
Mary; but l had guessed Alright.
! saw 1t in his worn eyes when
they fixed on the other mans
disdain OF him; then quietly, he
addressed the first word to him
that either had spoken directly
since that night when Mary had
stood by them, watching, listen
ing, to the test. y -
Il thought, when I brought
you down-they'd be a clerks
Job holdin' time on the men"
II don't want a clerks, Job. I
want what men do-and alone"