The Little River news., 1920-09-08

to the steamer tonight. I can heaveito a little way from the steamer and wei come the old rascal, anyhow"
 Fortunately, good little Leber con- sented to Billy's request and Don Juan Cafetero was sober enough to turn the engine over and run the launch. From tine deck of the steamer Webster, smoking his post-prandial cigar. caugh' sight of the launch's red and green sidelights chugging through the inky blackness; as the little craft slid up to within cables length of the steam CT and hove to, something told Web ster that Billy Geary would soon be paging him. He edged over to the rail.
 That you, Bill?" he shouted.
 Hey! Jack, old pail" Billy's delight ed voice answered him.
 q knew you'd come, Billy boy"
 "T knew you'd know it, Johnny Can't come aboard, you know. until the ship clears, but I can lie off here and say hello. How is your internal mechanism?"
 Grand. However, your query re minds me haven't taken the medicine the doctor warned me to take after meals for couple of weeks. Wait a minute, Bill, until go to my stateroom and do my duty to my stomach"
 For ten minutes Billy and Don Juan Cafetero bobbed about in the launch ; then stentorian voice shouted from the steamer. Hey, you! In the launch, there. Not so close. Back off"
 Don Juan kicked the launch back fifty feet. "That will do!' the voice called again.
 "Hello!" Billy soliloquized. "That's Jack Webster's voice. Wonder what he's up to. l thought he acted strangely-preferring medicine to me the minute I hailed him!"
 While he was considering the mat ter, voice behind him said very soft ly and indistinctly, like a man with a harelip:
 "Mr. Geary, will you be good enough to back your launch a couple of hun dred feet? When Pm certain 1 can't be seen from the steamer, I'll come aboard"
 Billy turned, and in the dim light of his pinnacle lamp observed a beautiful pair of white hands grasping the gun o1n m cto rhnord rtn He peered over and made out the head and shoulders of a man.
 "All right" he replied in a low voice. "Nang where you are, and you'll be clear of the propeller"
 He signaled Don Juan, who backed swiftly away, while Billy dOused the pinnacle lamp.
 "Thatll do," the thick voice said presently. Bear a hand, friend, and I'll climb over"
 He came, as naked as Mercury sprawled on his belly in the cockpit opened his mouth, spat out compact little roll of tinfoil, opened it and drew out a ball of paper which he fiattened out on the floor of the cockpit and handed to Billy.
 "Thank you," he said, very courteous ly and distinctly now. My creden tials, Mir. Geary, if you please"
 Billy relighted the lamp and read: Dear Billy:
 q do not know the bearer from do aff oll oh ;,,l is that he has all the outward marks of a gentleman, the courage of a bear cat, a sense of humor and head fOI which the presidente of Sobrante will gladly pay considerable number ot pesos orc. Don't give up the head, be- cause like it and we do not need the mOney-yet. Take him ashore with. out anybody knowing it; hide him. clOthe him, feed him-then forget all about him.
 "Ever thine,
 "J. S. WEBSTER"
 "Kick the boat ahead again. Caffer ty," Billy ordered quietly. He turned to the late arrival. 'NIr. Man. your credentials are all in apple-pie order Do you happen to know that this bay is swarming with man-eating sharks?'
 The man raised a fine, strong, youth full face and grinned at him. "Hob- sons choice, Mir. Geary." he replied "Afloat or ashore, the sharks are afte, me. Sir, I am your debtor" He crawled into the cabin and stretched out on the settee as John Stuart Web ster's voice came floating across the dark waters.
 "Everything well with you, BillyT
 "All is lovely. Jack, and the goose honks high. By the way, that friend of yours called with his letter of intro duction. l took care of him."
 "Thanks. I suppose you'll call fO, me in that launch tomorrow morning?'
 "Surest thing you know, Jack. Good night, old top"
 "Good-night, Billy"
 Don Juan Cafetero swung thr launch and headed back for the citv At Leber's little dock Billy stepped ashore, while Don Juan backed out ints the dark bay again in order to ayo'd inquisitive visitors. Billy hastened [, El Buen Amigo and returned presently with bundle of clothes; at an agreed signal Don Juan kicked the launch inte