Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-09-10

ASh WAlAiOo OpOi tiiC
ton was between them in an instant.
''Cut that out p he snarled Mott
you shut that door, And you, Wallen
Or whatever you want to call your
self-you sit down.! He resumed his
OWE seat, lingering his revolver with a
sort of suggestive carelessness.
's[ got orders there"-he jerked his
hand toward the wireless table-"to
stick you in irons and put back to
Singapore, and J. told 'em I'd do it,
but''-he grinned suddenly and slipped
his revolver back into his pocket
amt going tor "
VVallen came bolt upright in his seat.
"You mean you believe me, then?'
he demanded quickly.
"Now, you cut that out, tool" o.
dered Laynton threateningly, with an
abrupt return to his former manner.
IF you know what's good for you,
you'll drop the bluff. l knew blamed
well what you're masquerading as
Wallen for. AS for the killing in
Singapore, Pm rot worrying about it
one way or the other, it's no hunt of
mine; but when young Wallen died on
the UpOlo you cot a secret out of him,
ard that's where | come in.
"YOu thought you saw your chance
to- get away from Pobi when Mott here,
or the girl, / don't know which, gave
YOU the lead to claim that you were
Nv hot %h0x !Onl--
ing for him; and afterward, seeing it
gave you the run Of this ship, you
stuck to it, and you'd have been fool
If you hadn't!
"Now, then, | put it to you, all we
ask is our share. After that, We'll
land you anywhere you say, or, if you
like you can have berth abOard-I'm
getting kind of sick of standing watch
myself, and a third officer wouldn't
come nOWayS amiss."
Wallen looked first at Laynton, then
at Mott, who was glowering and sui
Ien-faced, then back at LayntOn again
"IOok here!" he burst out, almost
insanely EITHER you're crazy, or
am"
"Oh, moi" retorted Captain Laynton
easily Neither CT us is You amt
willing to give up gracious like while
YOU think there's a chance you don't
have to split the pot, that's all. Mebbe
you think I'm bluffing?
Don't fool yourself! We made up
cur minds from about the minute this
hooker was chartered that there was
q lot more behind this search-fOr-a-son
business. And now we're sure of it
I'll take you into my cabin and show
you why in minute. But first, to let
you know I mean business, you can
take a look at my hand.
eve wasn't saying anything till old
Wallen got killed, for whatever he was
after he was bound to lead us to along
with him, Ell?
Then he shuffled out, and there
wasn't anything in his papers that was
any good to us-eXcept that money
that turned over to kind of WOO your
if you get the idea! But
we figured that what he knew the son
would know, so mebbe you can figure
out why we started to follow the
Upolo's itinerary.
"Well, we played in luck-we found
you. SO long as we thought you were
the son we let you have your head,
just as we'd done with the old man,
trying to force your hand, be-
grinned wickedly-''we're
u patient lot.
'But now that find we're birds of
a feather my lad, we amt playing that
game any more.
snow, then, we know you were on
the Upolo with young Wallen, and
what | want to know is what he told
you before he died that started you
going. You come across with that, |
and we'll play fair on the divvy; If |
you don't, you'll wish to whatever |
saints you swear by that you were in
the hands of the authorities answering |
for that throat-slitting job back in |
Singapore, instead Of in mine! That's |
1 plain staternent-eh? Well, what |
lye say?" Il
II say that I'm Wallen," said Wallen |
steadily. THAT l committed no muir
Ter in Singapore, and that this treas
lre-hunt idea Is pure imagination"
Captain Laynton scowled. "You coax
mule first" he said significantly;
after that you slam h out of him.
However, amt through coaxing yet.
Come along to my cabin"
They entered the captains cabin
ind Laynton, spreading out chart on
he locker, stabbed at it with his fore
niger.
Anything familiar about that?" he
,runted.
Wallen leaned forward. Certain
y" he replied, in surprise. "It's the
forth coast of Arru, where Mac