The spectator., 1922-01-06

| Ine prime UT HIS strength.
 "Snow-blinded, matey," said the man. North O Point Barrow, year an more ago. Brought me up all standin'. What are you? Steamer man? Purser, maybe?"
 Newspaper man." answered Rainey. Waterfront detail For the Times"
 You don't say so, matey? A writer, eh?"
 Again Raney felt the tug of that something back of the dark lenses, some speculation going on in the mans mind concerning him. And he felt the firm fingers contract ever so slightly, sinking into the muscles of his forearm for second with hint of how they could bruise and para lyze at will. A faint sense of revul- sion fought with his natural inclina- ton to aid the handicapped mariner, and he shook it off.
 "The Karluk sails tomorrow, he said. II had a short talk with Captain Simms when she docked. Not much of yarn. She didn't have a good trip. you know"
 "Why, I didn't know But-hold a nIirnit, will ye? You see, Simms is an old shipmate of mine. He don't dream I'm within hundred miles O here. Aye. or a thousand" He gave deep-chested chuckle. "Now, then. matey. look here.'
 Rainey was anchored by the com polling grip. They stood next to the slip in which the sealer lay. The Karluks decks were deserted, though there was smoke coming from the gal ley stovepipe.
 "Simms is likely to be aboard" went on the other. "Ye see, know his ways. An I've come long trip to see him. Nigh missed him. Only got in from Seattle this mornin'. He ain't expectin' me. m it's in my mind to surprise him. By way of joke. How's the deck? Clear?'
 "No one in sight" said Rainey.
 "Fine. Do me favor, matey. an pilot me down into the cabin, if so be the shippers there. If he ain't, I'll wait for him. I've got the right an run O the Karlul's cabin. l know ev'ry inch of her. You'll see when we go aboard. Let's go" Rainey led him down the gangway to the deck of the sealer, still clut- tered a bit with unstowed gear. Once aboard, the blind man seemed to walk with assurance. guiding himself with touches here and there that showed | |, C., vii ba ri | He approached the cabin skyliSht, lift | ed it on the port side. Through i, | came the murmljr of voices. The | blind man nodded in satisfaction and 1 widencd his grin with warning l hush -sh" to his guide
 "Wen fool 'em proper" he tipped
 rather than uttered.
 The companion doors were closed
 but they opened noselessly. The a stairs were carpeted with corrugated rubber that mulIled all sound. Two D men sat at the cabin table, leaning 9 forward, hands and forearms out a stretched, lingering something. Ont : Rainey recognized as the captain Q Simms-a heavy. square-built man p gray-halred, clean-shaven, his tlesl . tanned, yet somehow unhealthy, as fl . the bronze was close to furnishing. 7 The other was younger, tall, nerv l ously active. with dark eyes and { Q dark mustache and beard, the lattel
 trimmed to vandyke. Between then T was a long, slim sack of leather. [ ? miners poke. It was half full ot
 something that stuffed Its lower ex ' tremity solid, without doubt the same 0 substance that glistened in the mouti t of the sack and the palms of the tw' e n-gold--coarse dust of gold E Rainey felt himself thrust to on' ' side as the blind man straddlet e across the bottom of the companion r way, towering in the cabin while h. ' thrust his stick with thump on th'
 floor and thundered, in below tha r. seemed to fill the place and come tum y bling back in deafening echo: l. "Karluk ahoy!"
 J. The face of Captain Simms paled if the tan turned to sickly gray. an' J. his jaw dropped. Rainey saw fea
 come into his eyes. His companion e did not stir a muscle except for tn e quick shift of his glance, but went o e sitting at the table, the gold in on r. palm, the fingers of his other han
 resting on the grains.
 e "Jim Lund" gasped the captai t, hoarsely.
 e "That's me. you skulking sculpin If Thought I was bear meat by thi
 didn't you, blast yore rotten soul { I. h--l! But I'm back, Bill Simms Bach r. an this time you don't slip me v F. Jim Lund's face was purple-re D. with rage, great veins standing ou d upon it so swollen that it seemed the e must surely burst and discharge thei f. congested contents. He looked Ra q ney thought, like blind Berserker, It @ strained only by his aflliction. " You left me blind on the foe, Bi