Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-18
TILE \ 1CKER By EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
IL NlOA\<lNL1C Author Of the TARTAN and MARS STORIES

/ TO the fore an opportunity to satisfy the
| vengeance he had inwardly sworn against
| the sailor who had so roughly manhandled
| him few weeks past-Therere had not
| been In error in his estimate of his fellow
officer.
Billy Byrne, hfArduous labor Of making
| sail over for the time, was devotng his
| energies to the task of piecng out from
what Therere had told him and what he
had overheard outside the skippers cabin
some sort of explanation of the work ahead
As he pondered Therieres proposition
| he saw the wisdom Of II. 1t would give
those interested a larger amount Of booty
for their share Another feature Of IL was
that II was underhand and that appealed
strongly to the mucker.
Now, IL he could but devise some scheme
for doube-crossng Theriere the pleasure
and profit of the adventure would be
trlpled
1t was this proposition that was occupying
his attention when he caught sight Of
"Bony" Sawyer and "Red" Sanders emerg-
ing from the forecastle Billy Byrne hailed
them.
When the mucler had explained the pos
sibiltles of profit that were TO be had by
entering the conspiracy aimed at Slmms
and Ward, the two seamen were enthus-
iastically for It.
Bony Sawyer suggested that the black
cook. Blanco, was about the only other
member of the crew upon whom they could
depend, and at BSrne's request Bony prom-
ised to enlist the cooperation Of the giant
Ethiopian.
From early morning Of the second day
out of Honolulu keen eyes scan ed the
eastern horizon through powerful glasses.
About two bells of the afternoon watch
n slight smudge became visible about two
points north of east.
Immediately the course of the Halfmoon
was altered so that she bore almost directly
north by west In an effort to come safely
into the course of the steamer which was
soon rising rapidly above the horizon.
The new course of the brlgantlne was
held as long as II seemed reasonably safe
without danger Of being sighted under full
sail by TIE oncoming vessel, then her head
was brought into the wind. One by one
her sails were lowered and furled, as the
keen eyes of Second Office Therere showed
him that there was no question but that
the white hull In the distance was that of
the steam pleasure yacht Lotus
Upon the deck of the unsuspecting vessel
merry party laughed and chatted In
happy ignorance of the plotters In their
path 1t was nearly half an hour after
the Halfmoon had come to rest drifting idly
under bare poles, that the lookout upon the
Lotus sighted her.
"sailin' vessel lyin' to, west half SOUTH"
he shouted. flying distress slgnas!"
In an instant guests and crew had hur
red to points of vantage where they might
obtain an unobstructed view of the stranger
and take advantage of this break in the
monotony of long sea voyage.
Anthony Harding was on the bridge with
Captain Norris, and both men had leveled
their glasses upon the distant ship.
Can you make her out?" asked the owner.
she's a brlgantine," replied the officer;
"and all that Il can make out from here
would indicate that everything was ship
shape about her Her canvas is neatly
furled, and she is evidently we'll manned. for
can see a number of figures above deck.
apparently engaged in watching us I'll
alter our course and speak to her-we1l see
what's wrong, and give her a hand IL we
can"
That's right" replied Harding; do any
thing you can for them"
A moment later he Joined his daughter
and their guests to report the meager inror-
nation he had.
How exciting" exclaimed Barbara
Harding. "Of course It's not a real ship
wreck. but maybe it's the next thing to 1t.
The poor souls may have been drifting
about here in the centre of the Pacific with.
out food or water for goodness knows how
many weeks, and now just think how they
must be lifting their voices in thanks TO God