The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-04

intoferably. Each hair seemed set in
a nerve center of pain. But he was
better
He sat up in his bunk. fully clothed
as he had come aboard, the door of
his cabin opened and the doctor ap
peared. nodded coOlly as he saw
Ra.ney moving disappeared for an in.
slant. and brought in a draft Of some
sort in long glass.
Take this" said Carlson. "Pull
you together. Then Wen get some
food into you"
The calm insoIence Of the doctors
manner. ignoring all that had hap.
pened. seemed to send all the blood in
Rainey's body Tuning to his brain. He
took the glass and hurled its contents
at CarISen's face The doctor lodged
and the stuff splashed against the
cabin wall. only few drops reaching
Carlsen's coat.
Don't be a ID fool" he said tG
Rainey, his voice irritatingly even
"Are you afraid it's drugged? would
not be so clumsy. / could have given
you a hypOdermic while you slept
enough to keep you unconscious for
as many hours as / choSe-or for.
ever
"Tll mix you another dOse-one
more-take' it or leave it. Take it,
and you'll soon feel yourself ~agair
after Tamada has fed you Then well
thrash out the situation. Leave it. and
l wash my hands of you. You can &C
for'ard and bunk with the men and dc
the dirty work
Rainey felt that he had made fool
of himself AMI he took the second
draft. which almost instantly relieved
him. cleansing his mouth and throat
and. as his headache died down, clear
ing his brain.
''Why dd you drug meg" he de
manded. Pretty high-handed. can
make you pay for this."
yes: How? When? We're well
off Cape Mcndocino, heading nor'west
or Whereabouts. Nothing between us
and Unalaska but fog and deep water.
Before we get back you'll see. the pay
ment in a different light. We're not
pirates. This was plain business. A
million OF more in sight.
"Lund nearly spilled things as it
was, raving the way he did. It's
wonder some one didn't overhear him
with sense enough to tumble.
But we didn't take any risks after
his blowing off. He might have done
it ashore before you brought him
.,I FL fv,l- pr1f he
might, And so might you. later"
I'D have given you my word"
And meant TO keep il. But you'd
have been an uncertain factor, a weak
link. You knew too much. Suppose
the Karluk fought up TO Kotzebue bay
and found a dozen power-vessels hang
ing about. waiting for us TO lead them
to the beach? And we'd have worried
all the way up, with you loose.
Il don't suppose your salary is much
over thirty a week, is it? Now, then,
here you are in for a touch Of real ad
venture, better than cleaning dock
gossip, TO a red-blooded man. If we
win-and you saw the gold-you
win. We expect to give you a share.
More than you'd earn in ten. years,
likely, more than you'd be apt to save
in a lifetime We kidnapped you for
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 as
Stunning control.
"AhT The doctor appeared to dis
miss the subject with some relief.
"WeIl," 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 10 make the most Of
it and the best. But I'd like to ask
you a question"
go ahead Have cigaretteT
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 aim.
If he was TO be a part Of the ships
life. there was small sense in acting
pettishIy. He took the. cigarette, &C
cepted the light. and inhaled CRATE
fully.
What's 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 NE on your
own impulse. Where's the skipper?
How does he stand in this matter?''
srNnrr,-n nrl-irrr q crnnd dnal for an