The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-12-22
A Man To His Mate
By J. ALLEN DUNN

COPYRIGHT BoBBs MERRILL co.

1.-The hunters, They won't be SO keen
10 maroon you. An they'll think
Twice about putin me ashore blind
used to git along fine with the hunt
ers. All said an done, they're men
at bottom. Got their hearts gold-plat-
ed right now. But"
lie seemed ObSessed with the idea
that the crew, with Carlson as prime
lnstlgator, had determined to leave
them stranded on some volcanic, lone
~ barren islet. Rainey wondered
what actual foundations he had for
that theory.
lie found no chance to talk with
SANDY. He noticed the boy looking
at MN once or twice, wistfuly. he
thought, and yet furtively. Carlson
dlo not appear during the morning,
neither did the hunters. Nor the girl.
AT noon Carlson came up TO take
his observation. He said nothing to
kalney, but the latter noticed the doc
tors face seemed more sardonic than
usual as he tucked his sextant under
his arm.
With Hansen on deck they all assem-
bled at the table with the exception
OF the captain. Tamada served per-
fectly and silently. The doctor con-
versed with the girl in a low voice.
Once or twice she smiled across the
table at Rainey in friendly fashion.
Skipper emmy better?" asked Lund,
at the end of the meal
Carlson ignored him, but the girl
answered:
Il am afraid not" It was not often
She spoke to Lund at all, and Rainey
wondered If she had experienced any
change of feeling toward the giant as
we'll as himself.
Garrison got up, announcing his in.
tentiOn of going forward. Lund nod
ded significantly at Rainey as if to
suggest that the doctor was going to
foregather with the hunters, and tina,
this might be an opportunity to talk
with Sandy.
"Goin' to turn in," he said. eyes
hurt me. It's the Ice in the wind"
Carlson had already vanished and
the Girl went to her room.
The door from the galley corridor
opened, and head was poked in eau
tiously. Then Sandy came into the
cabin.
BEG pardon, Mister Ralney, sir,
said the roustabOut, II was through
with the dishes. l wanted to have
a talk with yer" His pop-eyes roamet
about the cabin doubtfully.
Come in here" said Rainey, ant
ushered Sandy into his own quarters
,, "NOw, them" he said, established
on the bunk, while Sandy stood by thu
partition, slouching, irresolute, hi
slack jaw working as If he was chew
ing something, what is it, my lad?'
i 'They'd kick the stuftin' out of m,
If they knew this said Sandy. "rv'
bin warned to hold my tongue. Dem
ing said he'd cut it out if l chartered
An he would. But
But what? Sit down, Sandy;
won't give you away"
"YOu went overheard after me, sir
, None of them would. I've heard wha
Mr.. Carlson said, that l didn't ermoun
? to nothin'. Mebbe I don't, but Fv'
got my own reasons for hangin' on
Me. of course | don't ermount to much
Why would I? If I ever had mothe
d an father, I never laid eyes on 'en
I've made my own Twin sence | wa
n eight. I've never 'ad enough grub il
d my belly till I worked for Tamada
i The Jap slips me prime film. He
e only a Jap, but he's got more hear
/. than the rest O that bloody bunch pu
: tergether.'
0 Rainey nodded.
s "Tell me what you know, quickl,
d You may be wanted any minute"
u The words seemed to stick In tn
" lads dry throat, and then they cam
e with gush.
d "It's the doc! It's Carlson who
turned 'em into lot Of bloody Bo
: sheviks, sir. Told 'em they ought t
e have an ekal share in the gold. Eko
J. all round, all except Tamada-en' mi
It I don't count. An Tamada's JaI
The men Is sore at Mr.. Lund beco
o he SEE the skipper left him beind o
# the ice. Carlsen's worked that W
e too. Said Lund made 'em all out t
q be towards. 'Cept Hansen, that Il
d He don't dare say too much, or they
IS Jump him, but Hansen sort Of hint
v that Cap'n Simms ought to have gon
+ back after Lund, could have gone bacl
is the way Hansen put 1t. So they'r
!" all goin' to strike"
Rainey's mind reacted swiftly
n Sandy's talk. 1t seemed inconceivabl
g that Carlson would be willing to shar
9 alike with the hunters and the crew
Sandy's Imagination had been runnin
90 wild. or the men had been making
a fool Of him. The girls share would Q
Is thrown into the common lot. And the
\ flashed over him the trick by whic
:, Carlson had disposed Of all the amm'
~ milton in the hunters possession. ID
= had a deeper scheme than the one h
. fed to the hunters, and which he mer'
" offered to serve some present pu
pose. Rainey's jaw muscles 'bunche'
"Go on, Sandy he said tersely.
"There amt much more, sir. They'l