The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-07-20
have lived there; he gave another ad-
dreea and assigned to himself unite dif-


dress and assigned to himself quite diff
ferent connections. For every member
Of the crew Of the MIwaka there had
been a corresponding, but different
name upon C6rvet's list-the name Of
q close relative. If old Burr was not
related to the Burr on Corvet's list.
what connection could he have with
the Miwaka, and why should Alan's
questions have agitated him so? Alan
would not lose sight Of old Burr until
he had learned the reason for that.
He followed. as the old man crossed
the bridge and turned to his left
among the buildings on the river front.
Burr's figure, vague In the dusk,
crossed the railroad yards and made
its way to where a huge black bulk,
which Alan recognized as the ferry,
loomed at the waterside. He disap-
peared aboard It, Alan, following him,
gazed about.
A long, broad, black boat the ferry
was, almost four hundred feet to the
tall. blum bow.
Alan thrilled a little at his inspec-
ton Of the vessel. He had not seen
close at hand before one of these great
craft which, throughout the winter,
brave Ice and storm after all-or near
ly all-other lake boats are tied up.
He had not meant to apply there when
he questioned old Burr about berth
on the ferry; he had used that merely
as a means Of getting into conversa-
tion with the old man. But now he
meant to apply; for 1t would enable
him to. find out more about old Burr.
No berth on the ferry was vacant
yet but one soon would be, and Alan
was accepted In lieu of the man who
was about to leave; his wages would
not begin until the other man left. but
in the meantime he could remain
aboard.
All that was known definitely about
old Burr on the ferry. 1t appeared, was
that he had Joined the vessel in the
early spring. Before that-they did
not know; he might be an old lakeman
who, after spending years ashore, had
returned to the lakes for a livelihood.
The next morning, Alan approached
old Burr in the crews quarters and
tried to draw him INTO conversation
again about himself; but Burr only
stared at him with his intent and odd
ly introspective eyes and would not
talk upon this subject. A week passed
Alan, established as lookout now on
Number 25 and carrying on his duties,
saw Burr daily and almost every hour; ;
his watch conceded with Burr's watch
at the wheel-they went on duty and
were relieved together. Yet better
Acquaintance did not make the old
man more communicative; score of
times Alan attempted to get him to
tell more about himself, but he evaded
Alan's questions and, II Alan persisted.
he avoided him,
On deck, one night, listening while
old Burr talked, excitement suddenly
seized Alan. Burr claimed to be an
Englishman born In Liverpool. He had
been, he said, seaman In the British
navy; he had been present at the
shelling of Alexandria; later, because
Of some dificulty, which he CLOSED
over, he had deserted and had come to
"the States" he had been first deck
hand, then the mate Of tramp sch0on-
er on the lakes. Alan, gazing at the
old man, felt exultation leaping and
throbbing within him. This life which
old Burr was rehearsing to him az his
own, was the actual life Of Munro
Burkhalter. one Of the men on Cor
vets list regarding whom Alan had
been able to obtain full information!
Alan sped below, when he was re
lieved from watch, and got out the
clippings left by Corvet and the notes
OF what he himself had learned in his
visits to the homes Of these people
His excitement grew greater rs ne
pored over them; he found that ne
could account, with their aid, for all
that old Burr had told him Old Burr's
stories were not, Of course, true; yet
neither were they fictitious. They
their incidents, at least-were actuali-
ties. They were woven from the lives
Of those upon Corvet's list ! Alan felt
his skin prickling and the blood beat
tng fast In his temples. How could
Burr have known these Incidents
what man, but one, could all of them
be known7 Was old Burr Ben
Jamin Ocrveta
Alan telegraphed that day to Sher-
ri1l; but when the message had gone
doubt seized him. BENJAMIN Corvet,
when he went away, had tried to leave
his place and power among takemen
to Alan; Alan, refusing to accept what
COrvet had left until Corvet's reason
should be known. had felt obliged also
to refuse friendship with the Sherrills.
When revelation came, would It make
possible Alan's acceptance Of the place
Corvet had prepared for him, or would
1t leave him where he was? Would II
bring him nearer to Constance Sher-
rill, or would 1t set him forever away
from her7