The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-01

then smiled. That's TO. I'm try.
Ing 10 be- polite"
In fact. you'fo keeping your
strongest arguments tn reserve. TN.
less We agree To your proposition.
there's not much chance Of our re-
covering anything from the wreck -
You're pretty near the mark.
Clay answered. smiling confidently
The odds seemed against us.
Perhaps I'd better be candid, The
truth is. We have already recov.
cred something Of Importance
Ciays expression became inteat
What have you got7"
Rethuna took out his notebook.
To begin WITH. two bags of gold !.
tho weight and marks, 80 far as We
could make tho latter out"
"shuckA. interrupted Clay.
They don't count You can keep
Your share OF their salvage. Come
To the point"
One iron-tlamped. sealed case.
The stencil marks. aitho partly oh
liberated. appear to be %. O. c. in
a circle. Contents Bethune
paused and looked steadily at Clay
~ dare say YOU Snow what these
arsT'
DO YOU" CLAY astsd sharply.
we opened the case"
There vas silence for a few
moments and all were very stlll
Gays voice VAS not 80 steady
when he spoke again.
Where Is the cnse7''
Not here" sgid Bcthuns dryiy.
III we don't turn up 10 claim II
within a fixed time. or II any at
tempt is made TO obtain possession
OF Il IN our absence II will be
handed 20 the underwriters
You seem TO have taken pre-
cautions" Clry remarked.
we did the beat We could.
Bethune admitted with modest,
air.
Imagining that you might sell
the box TO me-"
"No!" Jimmy interposed stern.
~. That WAS not our plan. When
my partner let you make an offer
for tho wreck"
Clay stopped him with gesture.
ct was to lead rue on-~you
needn't explain. Very well. Now
III tell you something YOU don't
suspect There's a duplicate case
OF that box on board and Il con.
talns the gold"
Jimmy started, Moran gazed at
Clay with knitted brows. and Be
thyme looked frankly puzzled. Clay
seemed quietly amused at their sur.
prise.
You don't understand" he said
After all. there's no reason why
you should do so: but the truth of
my statement is easily tested. Now
I'll ask you a question TO which I
want a straight answer. What are
you going TO do with the gold YOU
get2"
Deliver II to the underwriters
and claim salvage said Jimmy
promptly.
That's all? You have no other
pians?"
nat IL al.
Then I'll exchange the case
which holds the gold for the one
you have. You can't recover II
without my help"
For q time no one spoke. The
three partners looked at one an.
other in per?lexed indecision. while
Clay would obviously not supply IL.
They did not know what TO think.
do you know whore to find this
case?" Bcthune asked
II believe so. | suggest that one
OF you come down to help me: Mr..
Farquhar for preference"
Then you think OF going down."
Jimmy exclaimed.
II am going down the first thing
tomorrow. whether you come or not.
But what about my offer7"
"Wo can't answer yet" said 30.
ihune. 1T needs some thought
Very WE'LL" Clay agreed. For
al that. must make start In the
morning. If you prefer, we can let
the matter stand over until we find
the case" He paused and smiled
at Jimmy. You don't look a nerv.
ous man and you needn't hesitate.
I've never put on a diving dress and
YOU have had some experience; and
m willing to use your boat and
let your friends control tho pumps"
I'm not afraid" retorted Jimmy.
The difficulty Is that the way into
the strongroom is not yet open. 1t
will take at least day to remove
the sand that has banked UP against