The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-12-12
By
<. J. RATH

Hello. SAM" he said.
Anything GOMEZ asked tho
boatman abruptly.
For answer the man In the apron
began search OF his pockets.
finally producing n folded yellow
envelope. The boatmAn reached
for II quickly and ran his finger
under the flap OF the envelope.
Ginger ale" hs said briefly.
without looking up.
The bearer Of the message went
back TO the barroom 10 I'll the
order.
The boatman drank HIS ginger
ale hastily. threw n quarter on the
table. and went out.
Sam made his way directly TO the
wharf where no had moored his
launch, stepped aboard and made
ready 10 cast off. Then he be-
thought himself of his engine.
Needs oil. guess"
Forward under the half-deck he
kept gallon can. Now he got
upon his hands and knees and
crawled part way into the dark
hole. cropping ahead OF him as he
went.
Then. as he was Backing from
his cramped quarters, a scraping
sound attracted his attention. An.
other launch had touched the
wharf
Something impelled the boatman
10 remain quietly where he lay In
the bottom OF his craft Perhaps
Il was the guarded note in the
voice OF a man who was talking.
Il knew II wouldn't do any good
TO 10 out tonight" said the voice.
You're dead sure Washington's
not just guessing about thih7' OBJ
served second speaker.
They've got TO do a certain
amount OF guessing. OF course
said the other. But the things
ciphering down 10 this part OF the
river. We know mighty well that
Canada isn't beginning 10 use, not
by half. the diamonds that have
been shipped In from Antwerp.
They're getting across the line. to
a certainty. There vas a bunch OF
stuff got into New York last week,
and the man who brought II had a
railroad ticket that read from
Clayton. We're still holding the
stuff. but we can't prove anything
yet"
Maybe there's a halfway Joint
out here"
You mean on one OF the islands?
I've had that in mind That's one
reason I hired the boat Well do
little sightseeing tomorrow and
get some new bearings"
The takers were on the little
wharf now.
We'll. I'm tired" said one
Let's 20 on up TO bed. It's all
right to leave the boat here, Is
IT,"
That's wha, the man said. IT'S
his dock"
Sam lay motionless until they
were gone. then cautiously rose to
his knees.
From n small locker AT his hand
he took a copy OF Hamersly's 80
cial Register and tore out a fly
leaf. A stub OF lead-pencil APP
peared from one OF his pockets.
Using the book as desk, the boat
man began TO write.
When he had come to the end
OF his sheet OF paper he stopped
writing. and climbed back to
where the second launch lay.
There was canvas cover that
fitted neatly over the engine. He
stepped into the cockpit, lifted one
side OF the canvas and thrust his
note underneath II.
II was late when the dingy
launch rested once more in the
rock.bound cove and the boatman
walked up to his cabin.
Entering the cabin and closing
the door behind him. he drew the
chair up TO the table, fshed the
Social Register out OF his pocket,
and began another absorbed study
OF the C's.
That's some family. believe
me-" he grinned at the Chalmers
page. All Lady Rosallnd, They
don't tell ages in this BOOK. do
they"
The boatman bethought himself
OF the telegram slowed away in his
pocket. Now he examined IL again.
lie sat back in his chair and