The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-02-11

draft, which almost instantly relieved
him, cleansing his mouth and throat
and, as his headache died down, clear
ing his brain.
.Why did you drug me?' he de-
manded. Pretty high-handed. 1 can
make you pay for this
YES? How? When? We're well
off Cape Mendocino, heading nor'west
or thereabouts. 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 or more in sight.
"Lund nearly spilled thirgs as il
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 nun
aboard. I don't think so. But he
might. And so might you. later.
I'D have given you my word"
| and meant to keep it. But you'd
| have been an uncertain factor, a weak
link. You knew too much. Suppose
the Karluk fought up to hotzebue pay
and found dozen pOwer-vessels hahS-
ing about, waiting for US to lead them
TO the beach? And we'd have worried
all the way up, with you loose.
81 don't suppose your salary is much
over thirty week, is it? Now, then,
here YOU are in for touch of real adj
venture, better than cleaning dock
gossip, to redblOoded man. IL we
win-and you saw the gold-you
win. We expect to give you snare.
More than you'd earn in ten years,
likely, more than you'd be apt to save
in a lifetime. We kidnapped you TO"
your own good You're a prisoner de
luxe. with the run of the ship
81 can work my passage, salu
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.
All" The doctor appeared to dis
miss the subject with some rellef
We'll" he went on, ARE you open &c
reason-and food? I'm sorry abou
your friends and folks ashore, bu
you're not the first prodigal who ha'
come back with the fatted calf in
stead of hungry for it..
"That part Of it Is all right, salt
Rainey. There was no help for TN
situation, save to make the most o
if and the best. But I'd like to asl
you question.
go ahead. Have a cigarette?'
: Rainey would rather have taken
: from anyone else, but the Whit
: burning tobacco. as Carlson lit ul
? gave him an irresistible craving for
smoke. Besides, it wouldn't do 10
the doctor to know he mistrusted MIN
e If he was to be a part of the snip
life there was small sense in actin
$ nettishly. He took the cigarette, az
: cepted the light, and inhaled CRATE
\ fully.
e "What's the question:" asked Car
S sen.
|, "You weren't on the last trip. Yo
e weren't in on the original deal. But
6 find you doing all the talking, maxim
me offers. You drugged me on YOU
O own impulse. Where's the skipper
/. How does he stand in this matterT
d you're asking a good deal for a
outsider. 1t seems to me, Rainey.
l came to you partly AS your docto
| But l speak for the captain and IL
! crew. Don't worry about that"
| "And Lund?" Rainey had gathere
! that the doctor resented Lund.
"a Carlsen's eyes narrowed.
"A Iund will be taken care Of"
"a said. and, for the life Of him, Raint
VI could not Judge the statement II
IA threat or friendly promise. las #
a nv status, I expect to be CAPITA
IA Simms' son-in-law as soon as the tr
IA is over
u "All right" said Rainey. Carlser
~ announcement surprised him. Som
how he could not place the girl as Z
doctors ~fiancee.
In He rose and bs:hed face and hant
IN Carlson left the cabin. The ma
~ room was empty when Rainey G
Y tered, but there was place set at t
table.
The main cabin was well appoint
in hardwood with red cushions on t
transoms and a creeping plant or
hanging here and there. A cana
Il chirped up and broke into rolling sol
VI II was all horny, innocuous. Yet
Il had been drugged at the same tai
not so long before. And now he
pledged share of ungathered gold.
was a far cry back to his desk in
I'd Times office.
W A Japanese entered, sturdy,
Whitehead figure, deft, polite. incu
ous. He had brought in some hi
and eggs, strong coffee, sliced cam
peaches, bread and butter. He serN
as Rainey ate heartily, feeling
en- old self coming back with the TO
pt. especially with the coffee.
Tor Thanks, Tamada," he said as
or pushed aside his plate at last.
Everything alright, sir?" purl
he the japanese.
it. Rainey nodded. The Sir was
ain assuring. He was accepted as sol
,1,,Ir To,