The Monticellonian., 1919-10-03

fused to meet ones own. who was
tramping nervouSly now up and down
little cabin on rusty tramp
steamer here in the lava sea. ut the
other end of the world, know of his
father, who never left the four wallis
Of that lonely gray stone house in Cal
ifornia?
What do you know about my fa-
ther?'-he found himself speaking in
Il quiet voice
Captain Laynton stopped impul-
siyely in front of his table. pulled the
drawer open took out sheet of pa
per and handed it to Wallen.
You'll get the drift of this Your
self, | guess, he ventured.
Wallen stared M The paper ut first
with curious bewilderment-and then,
with the sudden flash of comprehen-
sion, he was on his feet. Il WAS list
OF the ports Of call scheduled for the
Inflated Upolo ON her last voyage
ports of call that she had never made
What does this mean?a he de-
manded in Il low voice How did you
come by this?"
"Your father gave it to me- the
captain answered. And now. if you'll
just listen for minute. I'll give
you the whole story, and You'll see
for yourself. First [ might as we'll
tell you, though, that | own this ship.
Well, l was in Honolulu-light, You
understand-when your father came
aboard one evening and offered 10
charter me for three months cruise
down here He made the price right
paid the money down in advance. and
| closed with him
He gave me the list Of ports. and
said his son was on a trading bark
called the rpalo, and that he wanted
10 get track Of him a. soon rs pos
sihle, and offered an extra bonus for
all hands If we made quick job of
| it. That's all | know about the rea-
son for the cruise. Well, to cut a long
story short, we started away. and
We're down just south of the line when
the accident happened.
Your father WAS alone down in his
cabin. We heard Il shot rushed he
low, and. thinking it strange that he
didn't show up in the excitement,
called TO him-but got no answer.
Well, We burst in his cabin door and
found him dead across the bunk
you mean.a said Wallen through
tight lips, That he committed sui
cide?s
No. Watt Captain Laynton
shook his head. 1T wasn't that. God
knows how it happened. The thing
went ofT-that's all. He was cleaning
one of those patent automatic pistols.
There was a bottle of oil. clean
ing rag, and wire swabbing brush
on the floor And"=Laynton poured
himself another glass from the bottle,
gulped il down. and wiped his lips
with the back of his hand-"Well, I'm
trying 10 give it to you in ii few
words-we buried him at sea of
course"
Nallen turned his back and stared
out of one of the forward portfolios
down onto the dirty foredeck. Was
the man lying? Was he telling the
truth? That his father had chartered
the Monleigh and sailed with her
yes.
But that his death was accidental
the background Of his fathers life
the recent attempt upon his own life !!
His brain was working in flashes. This
man Eaynton repealed him.
An aceident-neverl There was no
room for doubt-'never 90 to the
East'-it was not an accident-his ia
Their had been murdered on this ship.
And then suddenly he swallowed
hard.
1t was to save him that his father
had chartered the Monleigh and come
East; for, according to that list of
ports, his father somehow had been
in touch with his movements. some
how had known the danger he WAS in.
and, trying to avert ii, had been muir
dered himself
\ cold. mereiless passion swept upon
him. Someone on this ship was the
murderer. Was it this man here?
What was at the bottom of it all?
II was long arm of vengeance that
reached to that gray stone house in
California; that reached to Singapore.
to this ship, to that sweltering, plague
stricken bark where strangely
enough, he alone had lived
And now the score was Il very heavy
one to pay-his fathers life, Well
his eyes narrowed-he would pay it :!
Did my father bring II native serv-
ant with nina man named Gunga?'
he asked dispassionately.
No" the other replied. He was
alone"
Wallen nodded. What else is there
to tell me-
Not mueh-but what you can
guess" Laynton said. Il ran down
through the Makassar strait and made
for the nearest port on that list-Pabi
here Your father had paid me for
the three months, and il | say it my
self. when | make Il bargain | stick
TO il. If | could find YOU inside the
three months | was going to do it.
Il don't know what your father was
so anxious about, though | under
stood. of course. that he chartered me
because out here, with you touching
NJ those trading stations, he couldn't
reach you by mail or cable: but |
important and | thought you'd know