The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-03-04

toward him, his face livid, his mouth
snarling, and his black eyes devilish
with mischief.
"I1l attend to this end OF H." he
said. peggy, you had better go IN to
| your father. I'll be in there In min
ute. He's a pretty sick man." no
added.
His snarl had changed to a smile,
| and he seemed to have swiftly con
trolled himself. The girl looked ut
both of them and slowly went into the
captains room. Carlson wheeled on
Rainey, his face once more a mask Of
| hate.
"I'll put you where you belong. you
ID interloper," he said. "What In
HI do you mean by asking her that
question:?
That's my business"
"I'll make it mine. And I'll settle
yours very shortly, once and for all. I
suppose you're soft on the girl your
SELF" he sneered. think yourself a
hero! Do you think she'd look at you,
beggarly newsmonger? Why, She"
"You can leave her out of It," said
Rainey, quietly. "As for you, l think
you're dirty blackguard."
Carlsen's hand shot back to his hip
pocket as Rainey's fist flashed through
the opening and caught him high on
the jaw, sending him staggering back.
crashing against the partition and down
into the cushioned seat that ran
around the place.
But his gun was out. AS he raised it
Rainey grappled with him. Carlson
pulled trigger, and the bullet smashed
through the skylight above them, while
Rainey forced up his arm, twisting it
fiercely with both hands until the gun
fell on the seat.
simultaneously the girl and Lund
appeared.
"Gun-play?" rumbled the giant.
''That'll be you, Carlson! You're too
fond of shooting off that gat of yores."
Rainey had stepped back at the
girls exclamation. Carlson recovered
iiic Sun anu put IL away nIlllC VSSy
Simms advanced with blazing eyes.
"You coward!' she said. IF l had
thought-Oh
She made gesture of utter loath-
ing, at which Carlson sneered.
'I'll show you whether I'm a cow
ard or not, my lady," he said, before
get through with all of you. And
I'll tell you one thing: The captains
life is in my hands. And he and are
the only navigators aboard this vessel,
except a fool of blind man." he add
ed, as he strobe to the door of Simms'
cabin. turned to look at them, laughed
deliberately in their faces and shut
the door on them.
"Well?" asked Lund, what are you
goin' to do about it, Rainey? Stick
with me. or line up with the rest of
'em, work yore passage, an thank 'em
for nothing when they divvy the stuff
an leave you out?'
"You haven't said outright what you
are going to do yourself" replied
Rainey. "As for me. seem to be be-
tween the devil and the deep sea. Carl
sen has got some plan to outwit the
men. It's inconceivable that he'll be
willing to give them equal shares. And
he has no use for me-"
"You ought to have grabbed that gun
Of his before he did," said Lund. Hell
put you out of the way If he can, but.
now his temper's billed over a bit, he'll
not shoot you. Not afore the COLDS in
the hold.
"As for me-" he went on, his voice
deepening, Il found this gold, an they
didn't. don't have to divvy with 'em.
an / won't. II emmy of 'em thinks he's
my equal all he's got to do is say so,
an I'll give him chance to prove 1t.
Feel those arms, matey, size me up.
Man to man, l c'ud break emmy three
of 'em in half. Put me in room with
emmy three of 'em, an the door locked,
an one nd come out. That 'ud be me-"
This was not Dragging, not buster
ing, but calm assurance, and Rainey
felt that Lund merely stated what he
believed to be facts. And Rainey be-
lieved they were facts. There was
confident strength Of spirit aside from
his physical condition that emanated
from Lund as steam comes from ket-
tie. 1t was the sort of strength that
lies in a steady gale, wind that, one
can lean against, an elastic power
with big reserves of force. But the
conditions were all against Lund,
though. he proceeded to put them
aside
MAN to man." he repeated, II c'ud
beat 'em into Hamburg steak An I've
got brains enough to fool Carlson. I've
outguessed him so far"
He's got the gum" warned Rainey. |
"Never mind his gun. / amt afraid
of his gun" He nodded with such SUI /
preme confidence that Rainey felt /
himself suddenly RELOCATING the doc |
tors possession of the gun to the
background. IF his guns the only
thing trubblin' you, forget it. You an
me got to know where we stand. It's
up to you. won't blame you for |
shiftin' over. An can git along with |
out you, If need be. But we've got |
along together fine; I've took notion |
RI Won I'd like RI 600 Won get a Whack |