The Bienville Democrat., 1922-02-02

overhaul us lookin' for seal pelts. Al
least / hope so. ,,.....
we've got none. Our hunters an
our rifles an shotgunsll prove GU,
claim to be pelagic sealers. We got
10 trust they believe us. If there is
hide aboard or club, or a sign of
dead seal on the beaches they'll nail
us. They may ennyway, just on suspi.
ciOn.
ITS lucky we didn't start mussin'
up that beach, But they'll 90 over
everything. | know 'em. They claim
TO own the seas hereabouts. an they're
cocker than ever, since the war.
Ralney, you got to git busy on the log.
II yore father didn't keep it up, Miss
pesgy, so much TIE better. If he has,
you got to fake It someways, Rainey,
Pm Simms, get me, until we're clear
OF 'em. An you, Rainey, are Doc
Csrlsen. Nothin must show in the log
about emmy Deaths
But why?' asked the girl. "\Vhy
Go we have to masquerade If we
haven't touched the seals|
Lund barked at her:
Il gave you credit for sharper Wits"
he said. "We've got to have eyery.
thing so reg'lar they can't find an ex.
cuse for haulin us in an settin' fire
to the schooner. They'd do 1t in a
)lffy. We got to show em our clear.
ance papers, an we've got to tally up
all down the line. Rainey amt on the
ships books-Carlsen is. Lund amt
but SimmS Is. I'm Simms. An you'
he stopped to grin at her-"you're
my daughter. I'll dissolve the rela-
tionship after while, I'll promise you
that. An III drill the men. They
know what's ahead of 'em If the JAMS
git suspicious.
"That amt the worst of Il! They
may know what we're after. II they
Go, we're goners. Ever occur to YOU.
Rainey, that Tamada, who is a deem
one, may have tipped off the whole
thing to his consul while the schooner
was at San Francisco? He was along
the last trip. He'd know the approx.
mate position. Might have got the
right fggers out O the log, him
havin' the run Of the cabin. A cable
would do the rest. He'll git his
whack out Of 1t, with the order Of the
Golden Chrysanthemum or some jip.
arig to boot, an git even with the
way he feels to'ard our outfit for'ard,
that amt bin none too sweet, to him."
The suggestion held a foundation of
conviction for Rainey. He had thought
Of the consul. He had always sensed
depths in Tamada's reserve. 1t looked
plausible. Lund rose.
"I'll fix Tdmada," he said. But the
girl stopped him.
"You don't know that's true. Ta-
mazda has beep wonderful--to me.
What do you intend to do with him?"
"I'll make up my mind between here
and the galley said Luno grimly.
sThis is my third time Of tackllng this
island, an no Jap is goin' to stand be.
tween me an the gold this trip. Why,
even If he amt blown on us, he'll give
the whole thing away. If he didn't
want to they'd make him come through
II they laid their eyes on him. They've
got more tricks than a Chinese man
DARN to make a man talk. Stands to-
reason he'll tell 'em. If he can talk
when they git here he added ON.
lnously, standing halfway between
the table and the door. of the corridor,
his hand opening and closing sugges-
tiyely. "The crew'd settle his hash
Il ! didn't. They aln't fools. They
know what's ahead Of 'em In Japan.
You, Rainey, git busy with that log. /
/. - 81 ~
That gunboat'll have a boat alongside i,
his foe inside Of ninety minnits. I
But Peggy Sirhms was between biA
ind the door.
"You shan't do it, she said, her /,
yes hard as flints. II Lund's were Ike
'teel. "You don't know what he was
o me when-when dad was buried. !,
,all him In and let him talk for him.
'elf or or I'll tell the japanese myself +
what we have come for!" I
NLund stood staring at her, his lace I,
lard, his beard thrust out like a bush D,
With the jut Of his Jaw. Still she
aced him, resosute, barely up to bis (,
houlders, slim, defiant. Gradually Ills
eatures crinkled into 4 grin. /,
4 believe you would" he said It
ast. "An' I'd hate to fix you the Z
va! 1 would Tamada. But, mind you,
{ I don't sit a definite promise out /
1 him that rings true, I'll have to
tow him somewheres, where they /,
von't find him. An that won't be On
card ship.' n
The girls face softened. /.
s"You said you played fair" she said
nth q sigh Of relief. She stepped to Ii
he door, opened 1t, and called for Ia Il
lada. The japanese appeared almost II
Lund closed the door BE-
Ind him and locked II.
you know there's a patrol comm
p, Tamadar he asked. "a Jap %. i
.ol I
"Yes." III
"What do you Intend tellln' ''em II 4
hey come on board1s Ist
Nothing, II / can help It. / think s
can. / am not friendly with Japanese !.
ogernment. Il would be bad for ne 1 4
they find me. One time | belong Z
rcgreshve Party II japan. | make b
luch talk. Too much. The govern.
leDt my ] nm too progressive. Ic