The Lamar register., 1921-12-07


and now he is always Hyde. He said
last night that he could save father or
--or-that he would let father die.
told him 1t was sheer murder, He
laughed He said he would save him
for a price"
She stopped, and Rainey supplied
the gap, sure that he was right.
''If you would marry him?'
The girl nodded. Father will do
anything he tells him. sometimes
think he tortures father and only re
lieves him when father promises what
he wants. Otherwise could not un-
derstand. Last night father asked me
to do this thing. He told me he looked
upon the doctor AS II son, that il would
make him happy for me to marry him
now. That he would p'rform the
ceremony. That he did no: think he
would live long and he wanted to see
me with n protector.
at was horrible. What shall | doI"
Miss Simms." said Rainey. "your
father is not in his right mind or he
would see Garrison as you do. as | do.
Carlsen's brain is turned with the lure
Of the gold. If he marries you. be
lieve 1t is only for your share. for
what you viii get from your father. 1t
cannot be right to do wrong thing.
No good could come from Il. But
something may happen this morning
I cannot tell you what. do nor know.
except that Lund is to face Carlsen. 1t
may change matters"
"Lund." she said scorpfulIy. what
can he do? And he accused ;ny father
OF deserting him. /"
A knock came at the door, and It
started to open. Carlsen entered
-Ah," he said. 81 trust 1 have na.
disturbed you. | had no idea should
interrupt tete-a-tete. Are you salts
fed as to the captains condition. Mr..
RaineyT"
Ralney went on deck. raging but i'm
potent. lie told Lund briefly Of the
talk between him and Peggy Simrns,
and described the general symptoms OF
the shippers strange mnlady. II was
nine o'clock, an hour to the meeting.
He went down to his own room and
sat on the bunk, smoking. trying TO
piece UP the puzzle. II Carlsen was a
! potential murderer. If he intended TO
let Simms die, why should he want to
marry the girl? He thought he solved
that issue.
As his wife Carlsen would retain her
share. If he gave her up. 1t would 90
! into the common purse. But, If he ex-
pected to trick the men out of 1t all,
that would be unnecessary. Did he
ha frI .lt I'm lf
for gold mingled with passion for
possession of herr He might know
that the girl would kill herself before
she would submit to dishonor. Per-
haps he knew she had the meansl
One thing became paramount-to
save Peggy Simms. Lund might fight
for the gold; Rainey would battle for
the girls sanctity. And, armed with
that resolve, Rainey went out into the
main cabin.
Carlson took the head of the table.
Lund faced him at the other end. AN
six of the hunters, as privileged char
acters, were present, but only three
| of the seamen, awkward and diiiident
at being aft. The nine, with Rainey,
ranged themselves on either side OF
|
on Lunds right. The girl was not
| present. Yet her share was an impor-
tant factor.
Lund sat with folded arms, his
great body relaxed. Now that the
table was set, the cards all dealt. and
the first play about to be made, the
giant shed his tenseness. Even his
grim face softened trifle. He seemed
| to regard the affair with "A certain
amount of humor, coupled with the
zest of a gambler who loves the game
| whether the stakes are for death or
dollars.
| Carlson had paper under his hand,
but deferred its reading until he had
addressed the meeting.
"A ship" he said. "is little com
munity, a world in itself. To its safe
ty every member is u necessity, the
lookout as much as the man at the
wheel, the common seaman, the navi-
gator. And, when ship is engaged
In certain calling, those who are
hired as experts In that line are equal
Iy essential with the rest. Each mans
responsibility being equal. his reward
should be also equal.
Payment for all services comes on