The Adair County news., 1921-11-01

we SecdreO. we are going DacK IOr
more, quite naturally. / can prove all
this to you by the log"
Lund had been standing with his
great head thrust forward as if con-
eentrating all his remaining senses in
an attempt to judge the captains talk.
The doctor sat with one leg crossed,
smoking a cigarette, his expression
sardonic, sphinxlike. To Rainey,
little bewildered at being dragged into
the affair, and annoyed at it, Captain
Simms' words rang true enough. He
did not know what to say, whether to
speak at all. Lund supplied the gap.
IF that amt the truth, you lie well,
Simms," he said. But l don't trust
We. You lie when you say you didn't
hear me call out was blind. Sixty
yards away, was, an the wind hadn't
started. You deserted me-left me
bli1d, tucked in the bloody, freezin'
carcass of bear. Left me like the
cur you are. Why, you"
The rising frenzy of Lund's voice
was suddenly broken by the clear note
of a girls voice. One of two doors in
the after-end of the main cabin had
opened, and she stood in the gap,
slim, yellow-haired, with gray eyes
that blazed as they looked on the little
tabieau.
"Who says my father is a cur?" she
demanded. "YOu? And she faced
Lund with such intrepid challenge in
her voice, such singing contempt, that
the giant was silenced.
Il was dressing" she said, cor l
would have come out before. If you
say my father deserted you, you lie ~
Captain Simms turned to her. Doc
tor Carlson had risen and moved
toward her. Rainey wished he was
on the dock.
go into your cabin, Peggy" said
the captain. "This is no place for
you. l can handle the matter. Lund
has cause for excitement; but l can
satisfy him."
Lund stood frozen, like pointer on
scent, all his faculties united in at
tention toward the girl. The doctor
crossed and spoke to her in low
voice.
Lund spoke, and his voice was sud-
denly mild.
'T didn't know there was a lady
present, MISS" he said. "YOre fathers
right. You let US settle this. Well
come to an agreement"
But. for all his swift change to
placability, there was sinister under
tone to his voice that the girl seemed
to recognize. She hesitated until her
father led her back into the cabin.
you twon sit down" said the doc
tor, speaking aloud for the first time,
his voice amiable, carefully neutral.
"And We'll have drop of something.
Mr.. Lund, 1 can understand your at
titude. You've suffered a great deal.
But you have misunderstood Captain
Simms. l have heard about this from
him, before. He has no desire to cheat
you. He is rejoiced to see you alive,
though afflicted. He is still Honest
Simms, Mr.. Lund.
~ haven't your name, sir" he went
on pleasantly, to Rainey. '"The cap
tain said you were a newspaper
MANI"
John Rainey, of the Times. knew
nothing of this before l came aboard.
"And you will understand, at
course, what Mr. Lund overlooked in
his natural agitation. that this is not
a story for your paper. We should
have a feet trailing us. We mus
ask your confidence, Mr.. Rainey."
There was strong personality in
the doctor, Rainey realized. He did
not like the man from first appear,
ances. He was too alOOf, too sardOri'
in his attitudes But his manner was
friendly enough, his voice compelling
in it's suggestion that Rainey was 4
man to be trusted. Captain Simm,
| came back into the cabin, closing thv
door of his daughters room.
1--WE are going to have little drint
together" said the doctor. Il have
some Scotch in my cabin. If you'll
excuse me for a moment? Captain
will you get some glasses, and chair
for Mr.. Lund"
The doctor came back with hOttl'
of Scotch whisky end a siphOn. The
captain had set out glasses and
pitcher of plain water from rack.
81 imagine you'll be the only one
who'll take settler. Mr.. Rainey," sai(
the doctor pleasantly, passing the bot
tie. captain Simms. I know, uses
plain water. l suppose Mr.. Lund doe
the same. And prefer a still drink.
Rainey took a long pull at his glasl
The cabin was hot, and he was thirsty
The settler tasted little f1at-or thu
whisky was Of an unusual brand, h
fancied. And then inertia suddenl,
seized him. He lost the use of hi
} limbs, of his tongue, when he tried t
!, call out. He saw the doctors sardoni
] eyes watching him as he strove t
J shake off a lethargy that swift
, merged into dizziness.
Dimly he heard the scrape Of tn
captains chair being pushed back
From far off he heard Lund's bi
: voice booming, Here, what's this?
/ and the doctors cutting in, low an
eager; then he collapsed, his hea
, falling forward on his outstretche
. arms.
n I