Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-02-07

w ! M-
"l'll Brain the First Man Who At.
'tempts to Lay Hands on Me-"
rumpled blankets, and l had a glimpse
Of the inflamed c~ountenance of Liver
pool just beyond his shoulder.
BLOW mel" he circulated in star.
tied voice. THE fellows not here;
he's got away!'
Red laughed, and pushed past, but
still blocked the door with his great
body.
"Got away! Where could he have
got to with the door locked? He's
here all right"
] stood up and faced the two, the
desk still between us, but took the
precaution to grip the stool by one
leg.
Il am certainly present." I said cold
ly, IF your reference is to me; but
l advise you both to keep your dis
lance. I'll brain the first man who
attempts to lay hand son me-"
Red must have felt the challenge of
my words, and I could tell he was in
liquor by the vivid flame of his face.
An oath broke from his lips.
"You tried that before; twill pay
yer to be civil now"
"There were some of your ragamuf-
fins who tasted the weight Of my
blow" I answered, "and I only hope
it may be your turn next, you dirty
dog of a mutineer."
you'll git no chance to ever break
your stool on me, d-yer," he roared,
jerking a revolver from his jacket.
do you see that? Well, we've got
the ship"
Mccain grasped his sleeve.
Let up on that, Red" he said short
~, his voice having a tone of COM
mand in it, which surprised me. 1--WE
didn't come here to beat Hollis up,
but to talk with him. This is my
game"
The other did not resist, only to
mutter behind his teeth. The gun still
glistened in his hand, but 1 felt no
ZEAL of the fellow, and returned the
stool to the deck.
Tell me what you mean, and be
brief about it."
| McCann's eyes met mine, and I read
In them uncertainty. He was not vet
quite sure that he had my ;
how far l would resist, or what form
my opposition would take. Perhaps
for a moment money did not seem to
him quite so important a a p as
he had found it elsewhere.
"I'm sorry the crew beat you up
the way they did," he began apologet-
ically. "They are a rather rough
set"
Don't waste your time over that"
l interrupted in disgust. II can deal
with an %out-and-out fighter, and still
respect him, but your kind only en-
genders disgust. There is no love
lost between us, Fergus Mccain. so
state your purpose plainly, and With
out lying"
by God! 1 WILL" he snapped, "and
III put 1t straight enough this time
to- satisfy you. The only reason /
don't let Liverpool kill you is that you
are more valuable to me alive. rye
mated some III my time, but there never
was a cur I despised worse than I do
you"
Thanks" I said quietly, II am hon.
ored."
And more than that, I pay nv
qeots," his temper now entirely ruined
by my pretense Of Indifference. $50
advise you to keep a civil tongue in
your ~head-you're no longer in COM
mand Of this ship"
l smiled at the two of them. calmly
slttlng down on the stool. / was not
certain yet what hand I held. but
determined to play the cards coolly.
so you fellows are In control: and
you come to me now with some sort
OF proposition. All right; what is it?"
I'VE need a navigator for a few
days; one who will lay out the course
we decide on"
And l am the only one on board"
You are by far the most compe-
tent" he confessed. "But YOU need
not hin from. that we are helpless
wlthout you. l have no doubt I could
hgure the matter u fairly well IL 1
a to, and I am perfectly aware that
MISS Darlington possesses some knowl-
eage or navigation. I imagine you
might prefer doing this yourself, rather
tnan having her compelled to show her
efficiency"
Where Is Miss Carrington?"
In her own stateroom: I have not