The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-11-24
! Man To His Mate
By }. ALLEN DUNN
COPYRIGHT BoBBs MERRILL co.

mans mind concerning him. And he
felt the firm fingers contract ever 50
slightly, sinking into the muscles Of
his forearm for a second with hint
Of how they could bruise and para.
lyze at will. A faint sense Of reyul.
sion fought with his natural inclina.
ton to aid the handicapped mariner.
and he shook it off.
"The Karluk sails tomorrow" he
said. II had short talk with Captain
Simms when she locked. Not much
Of yarn. She didn't have a good trip
you know"
"Why, didn't know. But-hold a
minnit, will We? You see, Simms Is
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
polling 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. "Ye see, l 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 a joke.
How's the deck? Clear?"
! mo one in sight," said Rainey.
Slime. Do me favor, matey, an
pilot me down into the cabin, If so
| be the shippers there. If he amt, I'll
wait for him. I've got the right an
run O the Karluk's cabin. I know
ev'ry inch of her. You'll see when
we 60 aboard. Let's CO."
Rainey led him down the gangway
to the deck Of the sealer, still clut.
tered 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 1t 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.
well fool 'em proper" he Tipped
rather than uttered.
The companion doors were closed,
but they opened noiselessly. The
stairs were carpeted with corrugated
rubber that muf1led 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-haired, clean-shaven, his flesh
tanned, yet somehow unhealthy, as If
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
was a long, slim sack Of leather, a
miners poke. 1t was half full Of
something that stuffed its lower ex-
tremity solid, without doubt the same
SUBSTANCE that glistened in the mouth
of the sack and the palms Of the two
! 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:
"Karluk ahoy!"
The face Of Captain Simms paled,
the tan turned to sickly gray, and
his jaw dropped. Rainey saw fear
come into his eyes. His companion
did not stir a 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 Lundw gasped the captain
hoarsely.
"That's me, you skulking sculpin!
Thought l was bear meat by TINS
didn't you, blast yore rotten soul to
HI! But I'm back, Bill Simms. Back,
:. an this time you don't slip meF
. Jim .Lunds face was purple-red
with rage, great veins standing out.
UPON It so swollen that 1t seemed they
must surely burst and discharge their
congested contents. He looked, Raj
: new thought, like a blind Berserker, re-
strained only by his affection.
"You left me blind on the foes Bill
Slmms!" he r0ared. "Blind, In dr1v'
in blizzard with the Ice breakin' upl
If I didn't have use for yore carcass
, I'd twist yore head from yore scaly
body like I'd pull up carrot
Lund's fingers opened and closed
convulsively.
II looked for you, Jim," pleaded the
captain, and to Rainey his words
,o.,oo T didn't know Won