Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-03-18


mechanism"
"Grand. However, your query re-
minds me haven't taken the medicine
the doctor warned me to take after
meals for a couple of weeks. Wait n
minute Bill, until go to my stateroom
and do my duty to my stomach"
For ten minutes Billy and Don Juan
CafeterO bObbed about In the launch;
then a stentOrlan voice shouted from
the steamer. "Hey, you! In the
launch, there. Not so close. Back
off,"
Don Juan kicked the launch back
fifty feet. "That will do" the voice
called again.
"HellOW Billy sOliloquized That's
Jack Webster's voice. Wonder what
he's up to. thought he acted
strangely-preferring medicine to me
the minute hailed himw
While he was considering the mat
ter, a voice behind him said very soft
ly and lndlstinctly, like a man with a
harelip:
"Mr. Geary, will you be good enough
to back your launch a couple of hun
dred feetI When I'm certain 1 can't
be seen from the steamer, I'll come
aboard"
Billy turned, and in the dim light of
his pinnacle lamp observed beautiful
pair of white hands grasping the gun
vale on the starboard quarter. He
peered over and made out the head
and shoulders of a man.
"All right" he replied in low voice.
"Hang where you are, and you'll be
clear of the propeller"
He slgnaled Don Juan, who backed
swiftly away, while Billy dOused the
pinnacle lamp.
"That'll do" the thick voice said
presently. Bear a hand, friend, and
I'll climb over"
He came, as naked as Mercury,
sprawled on his belly in the cockpit,
opened his mouth, spat out a compact
little roll of tinfoil, opened it and drew
out ball of paper which he t1attened
out on the floor of the cockpit and
handed to Billy.
"Thank you" he said, very courteous
ly and distinctly now. my creden-
tlals, Mr.. Geary, if you please"
Billy relighted the lamp and read:
Dear Billy:
81 do not know the bearer from
Adams off OK; all / know about him
Is that he has all the outward marks
of gentleman, the courage of bear
cat, a sense of humOr and a head for
which the presidente of Sobrante will
gladly pay a considerable number of
pesos orc. Don't give up the head, be-
cause like it and we do not need the
mOney-yet. Take him ashore with
out anybody knowing it; hide him,
clOthe him, feed him-then forget all
about him.
ever thine,
81. S. WEBSTER"
"Klck the boat ahead again, CATER
ty," Billy ordered quietly. He turned
to the late arrival. "Mr. Man, your
credentials are all In apple-pie order.
Do you happen to know that this bay
is swarming with man-eating sharks? p
The man raised fine, strong, youth
full face and grinned at him. Hob
sons choice, Mr.. Geary," he replied.
"AflOat or ashore, the sharks are after
me. Sir, l am your debtor" He
crawled into the cabin and stretched
out on the settee as John Stuart Web
sters voice came floating across the
dark waters.
Everything we'll with you, BlllyT
Gall is lovely, Jack, and the goose
hOnks high. BY the way, that friend
of yours called with his letter of intro
duction. l took care of him"
Thanks. suppose you'll call for
me in that launch tomorrow mOrning?"
"Surest thing you know, Jack. Good
night, old top"
Goodnight, Billy"
Don Juan CafeterO swung the
launch and headed back for the city.
At Leber's little dock Billy stepped
ashore, while Don Juan backed out into
the dark bay again in order to avoid
inqulsltive visitors. Billy FASTENED to
Ell Buen Amigo and returned presently
with a bundle of clothes; at an agreed
signal Don Juan kicked the launch into
the dock again md Billy went aboard.
HAT, shirt, kite, duck suit, white
socks and shoes. he whispered. "Climb
into them, stranger"
Once more the launch backed out in
the bay, where Webster's protege
dressed at his leisure, and Billy hand
ed Don Juan couple of pesos.
Remember John" he cautioned the
blbulous one as they tied up for the
night nothing unusual happened to-
night"
"Divll a thing, Misther Geary.
Thank you, sor," the Gaelic wreck re-
piled blithely and disappeared in the
darkness. leaving Billy to guide the
stranger to Ell Buen Amigo, where he