The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-11-05

MS Tor Irlh ioA SSNo'iN =.
Lof ho,y they could bruise and para
fiyze at vii. A faint sense Of revui-
sIra fought with his natural inclina-
ton TO aid the handicapped mariner.
nd sc shook it off.
sThe Karluk sails tomorrow" he
1 said. II had a short talk with Captain
| Sirnms when she locked Not much
Of yarn. She didn't. have a good trip,
lyou know" ...
."why. l didn't know. But-hold
minnit, will We? You see. simms rs
an old shipmate OF mine, He don't
dream. I'm within a hundred miles o
here. Aye, or a thousand" He gave
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 Pve come long trip
to see him. Nigh missed him. Only
got In from Seattle this mornin'. He
aIn't expectin' me, an it's In my mind
to surprise him. By way of a joke.
How's the deck7 Clear7" =
"No one in sight," said Rainey.
"Fine. Do me a favor, matey. an
pilot me down into the cabin. II so
be the shippers there. If he amt, III
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 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 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 alIN sound. Two
men sat at the cabin table. leaning
forward, hands and forearms out
stretched. lingering something. One
Ralney recognized as the captain,
Simms-a heavy, squarE@built man
gray-haired. 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 q
dark mustache and beard. the latteI
trimmed to a vandyke. Between then
was q long, slim sack Of leather. q
miners poke. II was half full Of
} something that stuffed its lower ex
: tremlty solid. without doubt the same
} substance that glistened In the mouth
Of the sack and the palms Of the TIVE
J en-gold-coarse dust Of gold
: Rainey felt himself thrust to on,
side as the blind man straddlet
2 across the bottom Of the companion
: way. towering In the cabin while h
: thrust his stick with thump on tn
3 floor and Numbered, In below tina
seemed to fiIl the place and come tum
bling back In deafening echo:
"Karluk ahoyl"
The face OF Captain Simms palet
3 the tan turned to sickly gray, an
his jaw dropped. Rainey saw fea
y come into his eyes. His companio
2 did not stir a muscle except for tn
= quick shift Of his glance. but went o
2 sitting at the table. the gold in on
Z palm, the fingers Of his other han
resting on the grains.
! "JIm Lundr gasped the captal
{ hoarselys
'That's me. you skulklng sculpir
Thought / was bear meat by tn
didn't you. blast yore rotten soul
= h-lg But I'm back. Bill Simms Bac
s an this time you don't slip mel"
. Jim Lund's face was pWpIe-rs
Z with rage. great veins standing Of
upon It 50 swollen that ii seemed tn,
mist surely burst and discharge the
= congested contents. He looked, Re
= ney thought. like Blind Berserker. I
= strained only by his afliction.
sYou left me blind on the foe, B
!. Simms p he reared "Bllnd, in dri
= In blizzard with the ice breakin' u
- II didn't have use for yore carca
- I'd twist yore head from yore sea
= body like I'd pun up carrot"
= Lund's flgers opened and clos
I, convulsIvely.
Il looked for you. jim" pleaded I
4 captain, and to Rainey his wor
Z, z lacked conviction. Il didn't know y
- were blind, / heard you shout il
I, before the blizzard broke loo
- There's others present. Jim. / can I
- plain It to you when we're by o.
a. selves. When you're mite calm
Is Jim"
Lund banged his stick down on
-. table with a smashing blow that ma
~ the man with the xandyke beard. s
- silent, keenly ohe4rvant. draw b
~ his arm with q caglske swiftness Il
IN only Just evadsd she stroke.
~ heavy wood landed fairly on the al
~ half Of the poke and caused some
I'm the gold to leap out Of the mouth
A. eWhatss that / hitge asked Lu
~soft. like rat" He lunged forwe
] 80 -. A.. x.rlra ana fos,nn ~ 1ff