The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-03
CHAPTER !.
Blind Samson.

II was perfect weather along the
San Francisco waterfront, and Raj
ney reacted to the brisk touch OF the
trade-wind upon his cheek, the breeze
tempering the sun, bringing with it
tang Of the open sea and q hint Of orr
entail spices from the wharves. The
dull thump OF heavy cane. upon the
timbered walk and the shuttle of I'M
certain feet warned him from blunder-
ing into man tapping his way along
the Embarcadero, a giant who halted
abruptly and faced him, leaning on the
heavy stick
'sMatey," asked the giant, could you
put blind man in the way Of finding
the seaIin' schooner KarlukY
The voice fitted its owner, Rainey
thought-a basso voice tempered to
the occasion, a deep-sea voice that
could below above the roar Of gale
If needed. For all his shoregoing
clothes and shuttle, the man was GER
tainly sailor, or had been. He wore
dark glasses with side lenses, over
which heavy brows projected In shay
gy wisps OF red hair.
Blind as the man proclaimed him
self with voice and action, Rainey
sensed something back of those col
Ored glasses that seemed to be ap-
praising him, almost as If the will of
the man was peering, or listening, To-
cused through those Iistless sockets.
You're not fifty yards from the
KarIuk," Rainey replied. But you're
In <hA aa%
put you right. I'm going that way my
self"
That's kind of ye, matey," said the
other. But picked We for that sort,
hearin' you whistlin' as you came
swingin' along. Give me the touch Of
yore arm, matey."
Rainey wonderingly sized up his con-
sort. The strangers bulk was enor-
nous. Rainey was well over the aver
age himself, but he was only a strip
ling beside this hulk, this stranded
hulk, of manhood And, for all the
specialized eyes and shutting feet,
there was a stamp Of cO-ordinated
strength about the giant that bespoke
the blind Samson. Given eyes, Rainey
could imagine him agile as a panther,
strong as bear.
His weight was made up of thews
and sipews, spare and solid flesh with
out an ounce Of waste, upon mighty
skeleton. His face was heavy-bearded
In hair of flaming, curling red, from
high cheekbones down out of sight be-
low the soft loose collar of his shirt.
About thirty, Rainey judged him.
Buffeted by time and weather, but in
the prime Of his strength.
"Snow-blinded, matey," said the
man. North o. Point Barrow, a year
an more ago. Brought me up all
standin'. What are you? Steamer
man? Purser, maybe"
Newspaper man." answered Rainey.
Waterfront detail. For the Times"
"You don't say so, matey? A writer.
eh?"
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 81
slightly, sinking into the muscles o.
his forearm for a second with a him
Of how they could bruise and para
lyze at viii. A faint sense of revul
sion fought with his natural inclina
tion to aid the handicapped mariner
and he shook 1t OF.
1.-The Karluk sails tomorrow" he
said. 81 had short talk with Captain
Simms when she locked. Not much
Of yarn. She didn't have a good trip
you know"
'FWhy, didn't know. But-hold &
minnit, win We? You see. Simms 1.
an old shipmate Of mine. He don't
dream I'm within hundred miles o
here Aye, or thousand" He gave
i q deep-chested chuckle. Nov, then
matey, look here"
Rainey was anchored by the com
polling grip. They stood next to the
slip In which the sealer lay. Tbs
Kariuk's decks were deserted, though
there was smoke coming from the gal
| ley stovepipe.
| "Simms Is likely to be aboard,
| went on the other. 'Ye see, know
his ways. An I've come a long triI
| to see him. Nigh missed him. Only
| got in from Seattle this mornin'. ii,
amt expectin' me. an it's in my MIND
| TO surprise him. By way Of a joke
| How's the deck? Clear?'
mo one In sight" said Rainey.
| Fine. Do me a favor, matey, an
pilot me down into the cabin, IL 81
| be the slippers there. II he amt, II
| wait for him I've got the right an
run O. the Karluk's cabin. / know
! ev'ry inch Of her You'll see wheI
we go aboard. Let's 60"
Rainsy led him down the gangwa!
to the deck ct the ssaler, still clut
/ faraA a HI With unstowed gear Ono,