The Adair County news., 1921-11-15


up to you. 1 won't blame you for
shiftin' over. An can git along with
out you, If need be. But we've got
along together fine; I've took a notion
r to you. I'd like to see you get whack
of that gold, an all the devils in hi
an out of 1t amt goin' to stop me from
gittin' 1t ~
He talked in low voice, but 1t rum
bled like the distant roar of a bull.
Rainey looked at the indomitable jaw
that the beard could not hide, at the
great barrel Of his chest, the bOugh-
like arms, the swelling thighs and
calves, and responded to the sugges-
tion that Lund could rise in Berserker
rage and sweep aside all opposition.
"Carlsen says that the skippers life
is in his hands," he said. what do
you make of that?'
81 don't know what to make of it,"
answered Lund: "If it is, God help the
skipper! 1 reckon he's in bad way.
Ennyhow, he's out of it for the time
bein', Rainey."
There's the girl" said Rainey. 81
don't believe she wants TO marry Carl
Sen."
"If she does" said Lund, "she amt
the kind we need worry about. II
you're interested about the gal, Rainey,
an l take 1t you are, I'm tellin' you
that Carlsenll marry her if it suits his
book. If it don't, he won't. An if he
wins out, he'll take her without both
erin about prayer-bOoks an ceremo-
nies. l know his breed. All men are
more or less selfish an shy on morals,
in streakS more or less wide, but that
Carlsen's just plain. skunk. I'm no
saint, but, so long as 1 can keep wig
Gin, there amt emmy hunter or sea-
man gOin' to harm decent gal. That's
another way they amt my equal,
Rainey. Savvy? Nor is Carlsen.
There amt enough real manhood in
that Carlsen to grease a skillet. How
about it, Rainey; are you lined up
with me%
"Just as far as can go, Lund. I'm
with you to the limit"
Lund brought down his hand with a
mighty swing and caught at Rainey's
In mid-air, gripping 1t till Rainey bit
his lips to repress cry Of pain.
you've got the CUTS" cried the
giant, checking the loudness Of hfs
voice abruptly. II knew it. 1t amt
all goin' to go as they like it. Watch
my smoke. Now, then, keep out Of
Carisen's way all you can. He may
try an pick a row with you that'n put
you in wrong all around. Go easy an
speak easy till lands sighted"
What do you think Carlsen's game
is, If 1t goes through"
Hes fox enough to think up a
dozen ways. Run the schooner ashore
somewhere in the night. Wreck her.
Git 'em in the boats with the gold. In
side of a week, Deming an one or two
others would have won it. Then-he'd
have the only gun-he'd shoot the lot
Of 'em an say they died at sea. He
amt got emmy mora warm blood than
a Squid. Or he might land, and accuse
'em all of piracy. What do we care
about his plans? He alu't gOin' to put
'eIn over
Rainey had IL relieve Hansen. He
left Lund pritned for resistance against
Carlson. against all the crew. if neces-
sary, resolved to save the girl, hut, as
Lund stayed below and the time Sid
by, his confidence oozed out of him.
and the odds assumed their mathemat-
ica' proportion.
What could they do against so
G9any? But he held firm in his deter
mie2ation to do what lie could, to go
down with the fOrlorn hope.
Thr Karluk was bowling along
nOrtnward toward landfall and the
crisis between LuEd and Carlsen at
good speed. The weather had subSid-
ed and the half gale now served the
schooner instead of hindering her.
Rainey turned over the wheel TO a sea
man and paced the deck. Lund's mys-
teriOus hints were unsatisfactory. He
could not believe them without some
basis, but the giant would never 20
further than vague talk of a Joker or
card up his sleeve. And they would
need more than one card, Rainey
thought.
He wondered whether they could
win over Hansen, who had spoken for
Lund against the skipper, and had
| then kept his counsel. But he dis.
missed Hansen as an ally. The Scan
dinavian was too cautious, too apt tC
consider such things as odds. Sandy
was useless, aside from his goodwill
He was cowed by Deming, scared OF
Carlsen, too puny to do more than he
had done. give them warning.
Tamada? Would he fight for the
share of gold he expected to come tC
him? Lund had described him as neu
tral. But, If he knew that he was tt
be left out of the division? At any
rate, Tamada might provide him witt
a weapon, a sharp-bladed vegetable
knife If nothing better. He could moi
class Tamada as an unimportant fac
tor. There was no question to Rainey
but that Tamada was, by caste, above
his position as sealers cook. 1t wal
true that a japanese considered NJ
means menial If they led to the propel
end.