The Lamar register., 1921-11-30

frfendliness. They belonged in his un-
wrinkled face. they were altogether
neutral. Yet they seemed coyertly 10
suggest to Rainey that they might, on
occasion. flame with wrath or hatred,
or show the burning light OF high In
telligence.
'Tamada," he quered, you think l
am your friend. that l would rather
help you than otherwiseT'
'T think that-yes7" answered the
japanese without hesitation and with
out servility. You are not hating me
because you are Californian and I
japanese" he said. 81 know that
There was little time to spare, and
there was likelihood of interruption,
SO Rainey plunged into his subject
without Introduction.
"They promised you share of this
treasure, Tamadai" he asked.
"They promised me that, yes"
They do not intend to give It TO
you. You may have guessed this, but
! am sure OF 1t. l. too. am promised
some of the gold. but they do not In
tend to give II to me. They will offer
Mr.. Lund only a small portion OF what
was originally arranged, the same
amount as the rest of them are TO get
He will refuse that tomorrow, when
a meeting is to be called. Then there
will be trouble. ! shall stand with
Mr.. Lund. II We win you will get
your share. whether you help US or
not II you help us | can promise you
at he.
to get
How can l help your II this is to
be talked over at meeting l shall
not be allowed TO be present. I do not
think It will help you for me to Join.
l do not see how you can win. II you
can show some way out / will do what
| can. But | like to see way out"
He Modified the bald acknowledge
ment of his neutrality with a little
bow and hissing-ln breath. Back OF
1t all was will that was inilexible,
thought Rainey.
"If We lose. you lose" he went on
lamely. He had come on a FOOLS err
rand. he decided.
Il think shall get my money" said
Tamada. The Oriental gave a swift
smile, that held no mirth. no friend
ship. rather. a sardonic appreciation
Of the situation. without rancor.
''They are very foolish" he said.
They make me cook. they eat what
serve. They say Tamada is very good
cook. But he Is Jap. d-n. him. Sup
pose l put something In that food.
that they would not faster | could
send them all to sleep. l could kill
them. l could do It SO they never
suspect, but would go to their beds.
and never get up from them. 1t would
be very easy. Yet they trust me-"
The statement was so matter-of-fact
that Rainey felt his horror gather
slowly as he stared at the impassive
Oriental.
thought suddenly flashed over
him. Was Tamada In league with
Carlsen7 Had he mistaken his manl
Did Carlsen plan to have Tamada un-
dertake u wholesale poisoning to Sc
cure the gold himself, providing the
drugsi Was 1t friendly hint from
the Japanese7
When Rainey's watch was ended
and he was closeted with Lund In the
latter's cabin, the giant promptly
Quashed all discussion of Tamada's
attitude.
'Tn put no trust in any slant-eyed,
yellow-skinned rice-eater." he an
nounced emphatically. They're
against us, race an religion. They
want California, or rather, the Pacific
coast, an they think they're goin' to
gift 1t. They're no more akin 10 US
than u snake is cousin to an eel
They're not of our breed, an you can't
mix the two. I'll have no deal with
Tamada, beyond gettin' dope out Of
him. II he helped us 1t 'ud be only to
further his own ends. Not that he
can do much-unless-"
He lowered his voice to husky
whisper.
There's one thing may slip in our
gold-g -gettin', matey." he said-''the
japanese. l doubt If this island is set
down on American or British charts.
But I'll bet 1t is on the Japanese.
They don't know of the gold, or 1t
wouldn't be there. Rightly, the island
may belong to Russia, but, since the
war, Russla's In bad way. an emmy
thing loose from the mainland'll be
J gobbled BY japan.