Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1922-03-03

II was dressing" she said. "or l
would have come cut before. II you
say my father deserted you, you lie I"
Captain Silnms iurped to her. Doc.
tor Garrison had risen and moved
toward her. Rainey wished he was
on the dock.
Go into your cabin. Peggy" said
the captain. This is no place for
YOU. can handle the matter. Lund
has cause for excitement: hut cnn
satisfy him."
Lund stood frozen, like pointer on
scent, all his faculties united in at.
tention toward the girl The doctor
crossed and spoke to her in a low
voice.
Lund spoke, and his voice was sud
denly mild.
II didn't know there was a lady
present, MISS" he said. "Yore fathers
right. You let us settle this. Wen
come to an agreement"
But, for all his swift change to
placability, there was a sinister under
tone to his voice that the girl seemed
to recognize. She hesitated until her
father led her back into the cabin.
"You two'll sit DOWN. said the doc
tor, speaking aloud for the first time.
his voice amiable, carefully neutral.
And we'll have drop of something.
Mr.. Lund, I can understand your at.
titude. You've suffered a great deal.
But you have misunderstood Captain
Simms. I have heard about this from
him, before. He has no desire to cheat
you. He is rejOiced to see you alive.
though afflicted. He is still Honest
Simms, Mr.. Lund.
II haven't your name, SIR" he went
on pleasantly, to Rainey. "The cap
tain said you were newspaper
marT
John Rainey, Of the Times. ] knew
nothing of this before l came aboard"
"And you Will understand, of
course, what Mr.. Lund overlooked in
his natural agitation, that this is not
story for your paper. We should
have fleet trailing US. We must
ask your confidence, Mr.. Raipey."
There was strong personality In
the doctor, Rainey realized. He did
not like the man from first appear
ances. He was too aloof, too sardonic
in his attitudes. But his manner was
friendly enough, his voice compelling
in It's suggestion that Rainey was a
man to be trusted. Captain Simms
came back into the cabin, closing the
door Of his daughters room.
I'VE are going to have a little drink
together" said the doctor. II have
some Scotch In my cabin. II you'll
excuse me for a moment7 Captain,
will you get some glasses. and chair
for Mr.. Lundf"
The doctor came back with Il bottle
of Scotch whisky and a siphon. The
captain had set out glasses and a
pitcher Of plain water from q rack.
''I imagine you'll be the only one
who'll take seltzer. Mr.. Rainey." said
the doctor pleasantly, passing the bot
tie. captain Simms, know, uses
plain water. suppose Mr.. Lund does
the same. And I prefer a still drink"
Rainey took long pull at his glas T.
The cabin was hot, and he was thirsty.
The seltzer tasted little fiat-or the
whisky was Of an unusual brand, he
fancied. And then inertia suddenly
seized him. He lost the use of his
limbs. Of his tongue. when he tried to
call out. He saw the doctors sardonic
eyes watching him as he strove to
shake off q lethargy that swiftly
merged into dizziness.
Dimly he heard the scrape Of the
captains chair being pushed back.
From far off he heard Lund's big
voice booming, "Here, what's this2"
and the doctors cutting in, low and
eager; then he collapsed, his head
falling forward on his outstretched