The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-12-29

lauiada. The Oriental gave swift
smile, that held no mirth, no friend. !
ship. rather, sardonic appreciation
If the situation without rancor.
"They are very foolish" 'he said.
They make me cook, they eat what |
serve. They say Tamada is very good
cook. But he is Jap, On him. Sup
pose | put something in that food,
hat they wonld not taste? could
send them all to sleep. | could kill
them. could do 1t so they never
suspect, but would 60 to their beds
and never get up from them. 1t would
be very easy. Yet they trust me-"
The statement was so matter-Of-fact
that Rainey felt his horror gather
slowly as he stared at the impressive
Oriental.
A thought suddenly flashed over
him. Was Tamada In league with
Carlson? Had he mistaken his man:
Did Carlson plan to have Tamada I'm.
dertake a wholesale poisoning to Sc
cure the gold himself, providing the
drugs! Was it a friendly hint from
the japanese?
When Rainey's watch was ended
and he was clOseted with Lund in the
latter's cabin, the giant promptly
quushed all discussion Of Tamada's
attitude.
"rll put no trust in any slant.eyed,
yellOw-s skinned rice eater,' he an
nounced emphatically. "They're
against US. race an religion. They
want California, or rather, the Pacific
coast, an they think they're goin' to
git 1t. They're no more akin to us
than a snake IS cousin to an eel.
They're not of our breed, an you can't
mix the two. I'll have no deal with
Tamada, beyond gettin' dope out Of
him. If he helped US it 'ud be only to
further his own ends. Not that he
can do much--unless-"
He lowered his voice TO a husky
whisper.
"There's one thing may slip in our
gold-gettin', matey,' he said-"the
Japanese. | doubt if this island Is set
down on American or British charts.
But I'll bet It is on the Japanese.
They don't know of the gold, or II
wouldn't be there. Rightly, the island
may belong to Russia, but, since the
war, Russia's in a bad way, an emmy.
thing loose from the mainland'll be
gobbled by Japan.
what the Japs grab they don't lei
60 Of. If they should suspicion US Of
gittin' gold off emmy island they cue
trump up to call theirs, If they founG
gold on us at all, 1t nd be all off with
us an the Karluk. We'd, be dumped
inside of some Jap prison an the
schooner cOnfiscated.
AN If things 60 right with US, an
we ever sight the smoke of Jap gun
boat comm our way, the first thing
I'll be apt to do will be to scrag Ia
mazda or he'll blow the whole PROPOSE
ton, whether we've got the golt
aboard or not. Even if he didn't wan
to tell becoz Of his own share, they'(
git 1t out Of him what we was after.
ever play much at cards? he wen
on. "Play for yore last red when 70,
don't know where to turn for another
an have all the crowd thinkin' yor
goin' broke as they watch the play
An then you slap down a card they'v
all overlooked an larf in the othe
chaps face?
That's what I'm goin' to do wit
Carlson. I've got that kind of care
matey, an | amt goin' to spoil m
/ fun by tellin' even you what 1t Is
though yo're my partner in thi
gamble. It's trump, an Carlson
overlooked it."
Lund chuckled hugely as he mike
himself some whisky and wate1
Rainey refused drink. He was ner'
Gus, botkering over what the outcom
might be-, and how he might handl
himself. He was not at all sure Of hi
own grit. There was a nasty doubt a
to his own prowess and his own col1
age that kept cropping up. And tha
state of mind is not pleasant one.
Rainey went over and over the sit'
alton as a squirrel might race aroun
the bars Of his revolving cylinder, an
came to only one conclusion, the II
evitable one, to let the matter develo
itself. Lund's winning card he ha
bothered about until his brain W.
tired. When he turned in at last, d
spite his determination to folio
Lunds admonition concerning slice
It would not come to him.
He was awakened at half-past seve
got d cup of coffee after dressir
warmly, and went on deck. Carlse
and the girl had preceded him. Lur
stood at the rail with his beak Of
nose wrinkled, snuffing toward the II
crags that were spouting dazzle
white fame, set about with smalle
sudden flares of ruby, emerald al
sapphire.
Tamada appeared and announce
breakfast.
you'll be coming later, Ralney
asked Carlson. "You and Lund"
He started for the companionW'
and the girl followed. As she pass
the wheel Rainey spoke to her:
81 am sorry your father Is so
Miss Simms," he said.
She looked at him with eyes tn
we're filled with sadness, that seem