The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-12-01

TO the beach? And we'd have worried
all the way up, with you loose.
u don't suppose your salary is much
over thirty week, Is it? Now, then,
here you are in for a touch of real al.
venture, better than cleaning dock
gossip, to a red-bloOded man. If we
Wln-and you saw the gold-y0u
win. We expect to give you Il share.
More than you'd earn in ten years,
likely, more than you'd be apt to save
IN a lifetime. We kidnapped you TO"
your own good. You're a prisoner de
luxe, with the run of the ship"
Il can work my passage" said
Rainey. He didn't trust the doctor,
though he thought he'd play fair about
the gold. But it was funny, his u.s.
Stunning control.
All" The doctor appeared to dis.
miss the subject with some relief.
"Well," he went on, are you open to
reason-and food? I'm sorry about
your friends and folks ashore, but
you're not the first prodigal who has
come back with the fatted calf in
stead of hungry for it,
THAT part of it is all right said
Rainey. There was no help for the
situation, save to make the most of
it and the best. But I'd like to ask
you a. question"
go ahead. Have a clgarette?'
Rainey would rather have taken IT
from anyone else, but the Whit of
| burning tobacco, as Carlson lit up.
gave him an irresistible craving for a
smoke. Besides, it wouldn't do for
the doctor to know he mistruSted him.
If he was to be a part of the ships
life, there was small sense in acting
pettishly. He took the cigarette, &C.
cepted the light and inhaled CRATE
fully.
whats the question:" asked Carl
sen.
"You weren't on the last trip. You
weren't in on the original deal. But !
find you doing all the talking, making
me offers. You drugged me on yonr
own impulse. Where's the. skipper?
How does he stand in this matter?"
s"You're asking a good deal for an
outsider, it seems to me, Rainey. |
came to you partly as your doctor.
But I speak for the captain and the
crew. Don't worry about that"
"And Lund?' Rainey had gathered
that the doctor resented Lund.
Carlsen's eyes narrowed.
'Lund will be taken care Of" he
said, and, for the life of him, Rainey
could not Judge the statement for
threat or friendly promise. CAS- for
my status, l expect to be Captain
Simms' son-in-laW as soon as the trip
is Over.'
"All right" said Rainey. Carlsen's
announcement surprised him. Some
how he could not place the girl as the
doctors fiancee.
He rose and bsthed face and hands.
Carlson left the cabin. The main
room was empty when Rainey en-
tered, but there was a place set at the
table.
The main cabin was well appointed
in hardwood, with red cushions on the
transoms and a creeping plant or so
hanging here and there. A canary
chirped up and broke into rolling song.
| It was all homy, innocuous. Yet he
had been drugged at the same table
not so long before. And now he was
pledged share Of ungathered gold. It
was a far cry back to his desk in the
Times office.
A Japanese entered, sturdy, of
white-clad figure, def, polite, incuri-
GUS. He had brought in some ham
and eggs, strong coffee, sliced canned
peaches, bread and butter. He served
as Rainey ate heartily, feeling his
old self coming back with the food,
especially with the coffee.
"Thanks, Tamada,' he said as he
pushed aside his plate at last.
Everything alright, sir?" purred
the japanese.
Rainey nodded. The "slr" was re-
assuring. He was accepted as some.
body aboard the Karluk. Tamada
cleared away swiftly, and Rainey felt
for his own cigarettes. Some one was
| snoring in a stateroom off the cabin,
| and he fancied by Its volume 1t was
Lund.
It was divided ships company,
after all. For he knew that Lund,
handicapped with his blindness, would
live perpetually suspicious of Slmn's.
| And the doctor was against Lund.
Rainey's own position was paradox.
He started for the companionway,
and a slight sound made him turn. tc
face the girl. She looked at him cas-
ually as Rainey, to his annoyance,
flushed.
"Good afternoon" said Rainey. "Are
you going on deck?'
It was not clever opening, but
she seemed to rob him Of wit, to an
extent. He had yet to know how she
stood concerning his presence aboard
Did she countenance the forcible kid
naping of him as a possible tattlerl
Or?
"My father tells me you have de-
cided to 60 with U.s." she said, pleas
antly enough, but none too cordially
Rainey thought.
"You have not been well. hope
YOU are better. Have you eaten?"