The Adair County news., 1921-11-08

Lund. At last he roared "COme in"
Rainey found him seated on the
edge of his bunk, dressed in his under
clothes, his glasses in place. Rainey
wondered whether he slept in them.
Lund's uncanny intuition seemed to
read the thoughts. He tapped the
lenses.
"Hate to take them off," he said.
Light hurts my eyes, though the OPP
tic nerve is dead. Seems to strike
through. How're We maxim out?"
you know they drugged me-"
Rainey ended his recital of the inter
view he had had with the Doctor
Knockout drops? l guessed it.
That doctors slick. Well, you've not
much fault to find, have We? Carlson
talked sense. Here you are on the
road to a fortune. I'll see yore
shares a fair one. There's plenty. It
amt a bad billet you've fallen into,
my lad. But I'll look out for We. And
I'll need ye."
He lowered his voice mysteriOusly.
"Yo're writer, Mister Rainey.
You've got brains. You can see which
way a things heading. You've heard
enough. I'm blind. I've bin done dirt
once aboard the Karluk, and 1 don't
aim TO stand for it ag'in.
81 amt got eyes. You have. Use
'em for both of us. / amt asking We
to take sides, exactly. But I've got
cause for bein' suspicious. 1 don't call
the skipper Honest Simms no more.
And / amt stuck on that doctor. He's
too bossy. He's got the skipper I'M
der his thumb And there's some
thin funny about the skipper. He
amt the same man. Mebbe it's his
conscience. But that doctors runnin'
him.
Hes going to marry the captains
daughter" said Rainey.
"Simms' daughter? Carlson goin'
to marry her? imp! That may ac-
count for the milk in the cocOnut."
His face became crafty, and he
reached out for RaIney's knee found
it as readily as if he had sight, and
tapped it for emphasis.
THAT makes all the more reason
for us loOkin' out for things, matey,"
he went on, almost in whisper. eff
they've played me once they may do
it ag'in. And they've got the odds
settin' aside my eyes. But I can turn
a trick or two. Stick TO me, an I'll
see you git yore whack.
"I1l have yore bunk changed.
You'll come in with me. An Wen
put one an one together. Well be
mates. Don't forget they fixed yore
grog. l had nothin' to do with that.
. 1 may be stranded, but, if the tide
rises"
He set the clutch of his powerful
fingers deep into Rainey's leg above
the knee with grip that left purple
bruises there before the day was over.
1--WE two, matey," he said. Now
you an nell have tot of stuff that
amt doped."
He moved about the little cabin
with an astounding freedom and sure
ness. chuckling as he handled bottle
and glasses and measured out the
whisky and water.
gwen yO're blind" he said, ram
ming his pipe full of black tobacco.
"they's other things comes to We. I
know the run of this ship, bIindfold,
you might say. l c'ud go alOft in a
pinch, or steer her. More grog?"
But Rainey abstained after the first
glass, though Lund went on lowering
the bottle without apparent effect.
$50 yO're a bit Of sailOrT' the
giant asked presently. AN scholar.
You can navigate, l make no dOubtT
Il hope to get chance to learn on
the trip" answered Rainey. Il know
the general principles, but I've never
tried to use a seXtant. I'm going to
get the skipper to help me out. Or
Carlson"
"Carlseni What in HI does a doc
tor know about navigation demand
ed Lund.
Rainey told him what the girl had
said, and the giant grunted.
Il have my doubts whether they'll
ever help ye," he said. ''Wish 1 could
But it I'D be hard without my eyes
An I've got no seXtant an no book o
tables. It's too bad"
His disappointment seemed keen
and Rainey could not fathom it. VIII!
had both Lund and Carlson seemed Il
lay stress on this matter? Why was
| the doctor relieved and Lund disap
pointed at his ignorance?
| HuAPTER nj