The Lamar register., 1921-10-26

WIN yes A'u S'ts 10
an old shipmate of mine. He don't
dream I'm within a 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 lay. 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. aye see, I know
his ways. An I've come 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 deck2 Clear?"
mo one In sight" said RaIney.
Fine. Do me favor. matey, an
be the skipper's there. II he ain't, I'll
wait for him. I've got the right an
run O. the Karluk's cabin. know
ev'ry inch of her. You'll see when
we go aboard. Let's 60"
Rainey led him down the gangway
to the deck of the sealer, still clut-
tered q bit with unstowed gear. Once
aboard, the blind man seemed 20 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 II on the port side. Through II
came the murmur OF voices. The
blind man nodded in satisfaction and
widened his grin with warning
''hush-sh" to his guide.
"We'll fool 'em proper" he Tipped
rather than uttered.
The companion doors were closed,
but they opened nolselessly. The
stairs were carpeted with corrugated
rubber that muffied all sound. Two
men sat at the cabin table. leaning
forward. hands and forearms out
stretched. lingering something. One
Rainey recognized as the captain,
Simms-a heavy. square-built man.
gray-halred. clean-shaven. his flesh
tanned, yet somehow unhealthy, as II
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 vandyke. Between them
WIS long. slim sack of leather,
miners poke. II was half full Of
something that stuffed Its lower ex-
tremity solid. without doubt the same
substance that giIstened in the mouth
90 th. al h.. Of m ftrn
men-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 thump on the
floor and Numbered. In a below that
seemed to fill the place and come tum-
bling back in deafening echo:
~Knrluk ahoyr'
The. face OF Captain Simms paled,
the tan turned to Il sickly gray, and
his jaw dropped. Rainey saw fear
come into his eyes. His companion
did not stir n 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 hSnd
resting on the grains.
-Jlm Lundl" gnsped the captain
hoarsely.
That's me. you skulking sculpin
Thought was bear meat by this
didn't you. blast yore rotten soul TO
h-il But I'm back. Bill Simms. Back,
an this time you don't slip mel"
Him Lund's face was purple-red
with rage. great veins standing out
| upon II so swollen that 1t seemed they
must surely burst and discharge their
congested contents. He looked, Raj
ney thought, like blind Berserker. re-
strained only by his affiiction.
"you left me blind on the foe, Bill
Simms :" he roared. Blind I'm driv.
In blizzard with the ice breakin' upl
II didn't have use for yore carcass
I'd twist yore head from yore scaly
body like I'd pull up carrot"
Lsrnds fingers opened and closed
corvulsively.
81 looked for you. jim" pleaded the
captain. and to Rainey his words
lacked conviction. 81 didn't know you
were blind. I heard you shout just
before the blizzard broke loose
There's others present, Jim. can ex.
plain 1t to you when we're by our.