Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-11-19


man North o. Point Barrow. a year
an more ago. Brought me m all
standin'. What are you? steamer
man? Purser, maybe2"
Newspaper mar" answered Rainev
Waterfront detail For the Times
You don't say SO, matey7 A writer
eh?" y ''e'
Again Rainey felt the tug Of that
something back Of the dark lenses
some speculation going on in the
mans mind concerning him. And he
felt the firm fingers contract ever so
slightly, sinking into the muscles of
his forearm for a second with a hint
Of how they could bruise and para.
lyze at win. a faint sense Of revul-
sion fought with his natural incIina-
ton to aid the handicapped mariner.
and he shook It off.
1.-THE Karluk sails tomorrow" he
said. II had a short talk with Captain
Simms when she locked. Not much
of a yarn. She didn't have good trir.
you know"
"Why, I didn't know. Bu,-hold
minnit, viii ye? You see, Simms is
an old shpmate of mine. He don't
dream I'm within a hundred miles O.
here, Aye, or a thousand" He gave
deep-chested chuckle. "Now, then.
matey, look here"
Rainey was anchored by the com
polling grip. They stood next to the
slip in which the seaIer lay. The
Karluk's decks were deserted, though
there was smoke coming from the gal
ley stovepipe
"Simms is likely to be aboard"
went on the other. aye see, know
his ways. An I've come a long trip
to see him Nigh missed him. Only
got in from Seattle this mornin. He
amt eXpectin' me, an it's in my mind
to surprise him BY way Of a Joke.
How's the deck? CIear?"
mo one in sight" said Rainey.
"Fine. Do me a favor, matey. an
| pilot me down into the cabin. If so
be the shippers there. If he amt, IN
wait for him. I've got the right an
run O. the Karluk's cabin. l know
ev'ry inch of her You1l see when
we 60 aboard. Let's 20"
Rainey led him down the gangway
to the deck of the sealer, still clut-
tered a bit with unstowed gear. Once
aboard, the blind man seemed to walk
with assurance, guiding himself with
touches here and there that showed
his familiarity with the vessels rig.
He approached the cabin skylight, lift
ed 1t on the port side. Through 1t
came the murmur Of voices The
blind man nodded in satisfaction and
widened his grin with a warning
''hush-sh" to his guide
'We1I fool EN- proper" he Tipped
rather than uttered.
The companion doors were closed,
but they opened noiselessIy. The
stairs were carpeted with corrugated
rubber that munled all sound Two
men sat at the cabin table leaning
forward, hands and forearms out
stretched lingering something. One
Rainey recognized as the captain,
Simms-a heavy squarebuilt man,
gray haired ciean-shaven, bis flesh
tanned, yet somehow unhealthy, IS Il
the bronze was close to furnishing.
The other was younger tall, merry
ously active. with dark eyes and a
dark mustache and beard, the latter
trimmed to vandyke Between them
was a long. slim sack Of leather, a
miners poke. Il was half full of
something that stuffed is lower ex-
tremlty solid, without doubt the same
substance that glistened in the mouth
of the sack and the palms Of the two
men-gold-coarse dust Of gold
Rainey felt himself thrust to one
side as the blind man straddjeG
across the bottom Of the companion
way. towering in the cabin while he
thrust his stick with q thump on The
floor and Numbered. in below that
seemed TO FIJI the place and come tum-
bling back in daafening echo.
tKarluk ahoy
The face Of Captain Simms pnled,
the tan turned TO q siesav gray and
his jaw dropped Rainey saw fear
come into his eyes. His companion
did not stir q muscle except for the
ouicx shift of his glance bat went on
st++ir- or tTa YehIp the gold tn one