The Lamar register., 1921-12-28

The strong room Of the Karluk WIS
a narrow compartment heavily par
tiioned or from the galley and the
corridor. There WAS Il lamp there
and Rainey III # while Lund closed
was quite empty.
Thorough man. Carlsen.' said
Lund. prepared for a showdown. II
necessary Might have put 'ein in the
safe. Wonder II be changed the com
binationi bet Sifnins didn't. year in
an out. Wen tackle Carlsen's room
next don't suppose you looked be-
tween the bunk mattresses, did your
IL never thought Of f." said Kainey.
Il didn't imagine there would be more
than one"
"Pye got . hunch you'li find two on
Csrlsen's bunk An the shells be-
tween 'em. He KEEP his door locked
when he was out Of the main cabin
an slep' on 'em nights. That's what
I'd be apt TO DO"
As they came into the main cabin
Rainey caught Lund by the arm.
"Pm almost sure ! saw Carlsen's
door closing" he whispered. 1T might
have been the shadow"
''I3uf II might not. Shouldn't won
der one Of ems sneaked In. Saw
the cabin empty. an figgered we'd
turned In. While we WIS In the
strong room"
lie took the automatic from his
pocket snd went straight 20 the door
Of Csrlsen's room. II WIS locked or
bolted from within.
''The fool" said Lund. "rye got
good mind TO let him stay there I'LL
he swallers some % the drugs 10 MI
his belly" He rnpped on the panel
with the butt Of the gun.
"COme on out before start trouble"
There was no answer. Lund looked
uncertainty at Rainey.
II hate to start n ruTnpus ng'in," he
said, Jerking his head toward the skip
per's room. "'couni OF her. Reckon
he can stay there TIL after we've
buried Simms. Hes safe enough"
Ralney was a little surprised at this
show Of thoughtfulness. but he did
not remark on II. He was beginning
Ia think pretty constantly Of late that
he hnd underesiimated Lund.
The giants hand dropped auto
mnticnlly 10 the handle MS if 10 assure
himself Of the door being fast. Sud
denly II opened wide. black gap.
with only the gray eye OF the porthole
fnclng them. Lund had brought up
the muzzle Of his pistol to the height
of mans chest. but there was moth
ing 10 oppose II.
'Iiidin'. the d-n fool What kind
OF Il game is this1 Come out o. there"
Something scuttIed on the floor Of
the room-then dnrted swiftly out be
tween the legs of Lund and Ralney.
on all fours, like great dog. Cur
like. II sprnwled on the floor with a
white face and pop-eyes. with hands
outstretched IN pleading. knees drawn
up In some ludlcrous attempt at pro-
tection, calling shrilly, In the voice Of
Sandy;
"Don't shoot. siri Plense don't
shoot"
Lund reached down and Jerked the
roustnbout TO his feet. hnlf strangllng
him with his grip on the collar OF the
lads shirt. and flung him into n chair.
''whnt were you doin' In thcre?"
Sandy gulped convulsively. feeling
at his scrnggy throat, where an
Adams apple wns working up and
down. Speech was scared out of him.
and he could only roll his eyes at
them.
''You d-d young trnitori" said
Lund. "Ill have you keelhnuled fol-
this! out with It. now. Who sent
yer DemingT
you've got him frightened half to
death" intervened Rainey. "They
probably scared him into doing this
Didn't they. Sandyf"
The lad blinked. and tears OF self
pity rolled down his grimy cheeks.
The relief OF them seemed to unstop-
per his voice That, and the kinder
quality OF Rainey's questioning.
"Demingl He said he'd cut my
bloody heart out II l didn't do It. Him
an Beale. Lookit"
He plucked aside the front of his
almost buttonless shirt and worn I'M
derNest and showed them ON his left
breast the scoring where sharp
4