Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-11-19
COPYRIGHT BoBBs MERRILL co.

- s'At ioose collar of his shirt
ABOUT thirty, Rainey Judged him
buheted by time and weather bnt in
'he prime Of his strength.
'Snow-blinded. mefevu said .no
man. North o Point Barrow vnar
an more ago. Brought ME IN sill
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
ehY" "'''e''
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 so
slightly, sinking into the muscles Of
his forearm for a second with hint
or how they could bruise and para-
| I'VE at will A faint sense of revnI-
sion fought with his natural incIina-
ton to aid the handicapped mariner
and he shook It off.
THE Karluk sails tomorrow no
said. II had a short talk with CAPTAIN
Simms when she locked. Not much
of yarn. She didn't have a good trlr.
you know"
"Why, I didn't know. Bu,-hold a
minnit will We? You see. Simms f.
an old shipmate Of mine He don't
dream I'm within hundred miles o.
here. Aye, or thousand" He gave
a deep-chested chuckle. "Now, then.
matey, look here"
Rainey was anchored by the com
pelling grip. They stood next to the
slip in which the sealer Law. The
Karluk'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. l know
his ways An I've come a long trip
to see him Nigh missed him. Only
got in from Seattle this mornin'. He
amt eXpectin' me, an it's in my mind
to surprise him. By way Of 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 if so
be the shippers there. If he amt, IN
wait for him. I've got the right an
run O. the Karluk's cabin. l know
evry inch of her. YOull see when
we 60 aboard Let's go"
Rainey led him down the gangway
to the deck Of the sealer still clut-
tered a bit with unstowed gear once
aboard, the blind man seemed to walk
with assurance, guiding himself with
touches here and there that showed
his familiarity with the vessels rig.
He approached the cabin skylight, lift
ed it on the port side. Through 1t
came the murmur Of voices. The
blind man nodded in satisfaction and
widened his grin with a warning
'hush-sh" to his guide
Wen fool EN- proper" he Tipped
rather than uttered.
The companion doors were closed,
but they opened noiselessly The
stairs we're carpeted with corrugated
rubber that munled all sound. Two
men sat at the cabin table. leaning
forward, hands and forearms out
stretched, lingering something. One
Ralney recognized as the captain,
Simms-a heavy square-bult man,
gray-haired. clean-shaven his flesh
tanned, yet somehow unhealthy, as 4
the bronze was close to furnishing.
The other was younger. tall. nerv-
ously active with dark eyes and a
dark mustache and beard, the latter
trimmed to Il vandykc Between them
was long. slim sock Of leather, a
miners poke. 1t was half full Of
something that stuffed It's lower eX-
tremlty solid. without doubt the same
substance that glstened in the mouth
Of The sack and the palms of the two
-gold-cOarse dust OF gold
Rainey felt himself thrust to one
side as the blind man straddled
across the bottom of the companion
way. towering in the cabin While he
thrust his stick with n thump on The
floor and Numbered. I'm q below that
seemed 10 fin the place and come ;um-
bling back in desfeniDs echo;
"Karluk ahoy"
The face Of Captain Slmms 2aled,
the tan turned to Il sicily gray, and
his jaw dropped Raiuey saw fear
come into his eyes. His competition
did not stir muscle except for the
quick shift Of his glance, but went on
sitting at the table, the gold in one
palm, the fingers Of his other hand
resting on the grains.
Jim Luud :" g,t<r76 TIE cagts!a
hoarSely
That's me. you slulking scu'pfn.
was hear meat by this
didn't you. blast wore rotten soul 70
HI! But I'm back. Bib Simms Back
am this time you don't slip me-"
Jim Luuds face was pgrple-red
WITH rage. great veins standing our