The Adair County news., 1921-11-15
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER L.-Loitering on the San
Francisco water front, John Rainey,
newspaper reporter, is acCosted by blind
man, giant in size, who asks Rainey
70 lead him to the sealing schooner Kar-
LUX. The blind man tells Rainey he is
an old shipmate of Captain Simms of the
Karluk and desires to make his visit
surprise. He asks Rainey TO lead him
aboard, and Rainey does so. In the
cabin they find Captain Simms and man
named Carlson. Simms recognizes the
blind man, calling him Jim Lund. Lund @
on an ice foe, and denOUnceS him for
what he calls his ingratitude Simms
denies the charge, but Lund refuses to
accompanying the Karluk on its eXpedi-
ton north, where il is going in quest
of a gold field which Lund has discov
cred. Peggy, Simms' daughter, is aboard,
and defends her father Carlsen, who is
physician, drugs Rainey.
CHAPTER II.-Awaking from his stu
por, Rainey finds himself at sea. Carlsen
informs him he has been kidnapped be-
cause, having learned the object of the
expedition. he might have divulged it and
frustrated the plans of the vOyagers. He
offers Rainey a share of the gold, and
Rainey, seeing nothing else TO be done,
declares himself satisfied. Lund gives
him a brief account of former expedi-
ton of the Karluk, tells him he distrusts
Carlson, and suggests a partnership"
Rainey to act as Lund's eyes"
CHAPTER III.-Rainey, having a slight
knowledge OF seamanship, is made sec
ond mate of the vessel. Captain Simns
10 in exceedingly poor health, and the
navigation Of the ship is entirely in the
hands of Doctor Carlsen. At the latter's
suggestion a shooting match is arranged
between the hunters" aboard, the yes
sci being ostensibly on a sealing eXpedi-
ton. Iund, although blind, demonstrates
he can shoot by sound" The hunters
having emptied their revolvers, Carlson
tells them there are no more shells on
board
CHAPTER Iv.-Watching the pursuit
of whale by its natural enemies. the
vessel is mishandled and narrowly
escapes disaster. In the confusion the
Ralney rescues him. earning his graft
ture and incidentally the admiration of
Peggy. The captaip's illness seems about
TO have a fatal ending.
CHAPTER V.-Lund mistrusts the
hunters and urges Rsiney to pump"
Sandy and gain a knowledge OF their
plans. Sandy tells him Carlsen is Great
ing a feeling that all on board, with the
cook, Tamada, should have an equal
share of the gold which was not the
original plan. Rainey and Carlson quar-
ney overpowers him Lund is of opinion
that Carlson is keeping the captain Ill
and is playing to secure the gold, and
incidentally Peggy, for himself. Tamada.
evidently a japanese of education and
far above the position of cook on such
vessel as the Karluk, is an unknown
quantity.
simultaneously the girl and Lund
appeared,
"Gun-playT' rumbled the giant.
'SThat'n be you, Carlsen! You're too
fond of shooting off that gat of yores."
Rainey had stepped back at the
girls exclamation. Carlsen recovered
his gun and put it away, while Peggy
Simms advanced with blazing eyes.
"You coward :" she said. If had
thought-Oh!"
She made a gesture of utter lOath-
ing, at which Garrison sneered.
''Tll show you whether Tn COW
ard or not, my lady" he said. before
i get through with all of you. And
I'll tell you one thing: The captains
life is in my hands And he and L are
the only navigatOrs aboard this vessel,
except a fool of blind man." he add
ed, as he strobe to the door of SimmS'
cabin, turned to look at them, laughed
deliberately in their faces and shut
the door on them.
"Well?" asked LUnd, what are you
gOin' to do about it, Rainey? Stick
with me, or line UP with the rest of
'em, work yOre passage, an thank 'em
for nothing when they divvy the stuff
an leave you Out?'
you havn't said outright what you
are going to do yourself" replied
Rainey. "As for me, l seem to be be,
tween the devil and the deep sea. Carl.
sen has got some plan to Outwit the
men. It's incOnceivable that he'll be
willing to give them equal shares. And
he has no use for me-"
"YOu haven't said outright what you
of his before he did" said Lund. Hell
put you out of the way if he can, but
now his temper'S billed over a bit, he'll
not shoot you. Not afore the COLDS in
the hold.
''As for me-" he went on, his voice
deepening, 81 found this gold, an they
didn't. l don't have TO divvy with 'em
an won't. If emmy of 'em thinks he's
my equal all he's got TO do is say so
an FL give him chance to prove it
Feel those arms, matey, size me up
Man to man, c'ud break emmy three
of 'em In half. Put me in a room witt
emmy three of 'em, an the door locked
an one 'ud come out That 'ud be me.
This was not Dragging, not bluster
ing, but calm assurance, and Raine!
felt that Lund merely stated what ht
believed to be facts. And Rainey be
lieved they were facts. There was 1
confident strength Of spirit aside from
his physical condition that emanate,
from Lund as steam comes from ket
tie. 1t was the sort of strength tha
lies in steady gale, wind that on
can lean against, an elastic powe
with big reserves Of force. But th
conditions were all against Lund
though he proceeded to put theT
aside
"lIan to man." he repeated, Il Gu
beat 'em into Hamburg steak. An Tv
got brains enough to fool Carlson. FF
outguessed him so far"
"He's got the gun" warned Raine!
Never mind his gun. l amt afrai