The Lamar register., 1922-01-18

he said, his voice cold and his eyes
hard. Thought I might lose, and
hoped so, didn't you? Pick up that
skunk Beale an tote him aboard.
Then come back an go to work.
You'll git yore shares. but you'll not
git what's comm to those who stood
by. Now git out of my sight. You
can bury That when you come back"
He nodded at the sodden corpse Of
Deming, flung up on the grit you
can take yore pay n grave diggers
out of what you owe him at poker.
He amt goin' to collect. this trip"
Rainey, lame and sore. helped Ia.
mada patch up the wounded, turning
the hunters quarters into a sick bay.
using the table. for operation. Beale
WAS the worst off. but Tamada pro-
nOunced him not vitality damaged.
After he had finished with them he
insisted upon Raineys lying. face
down. on the table, stripped to the
waist, while he rubbed him with oil
and then kneaded him. Once he gave
a sudden, twisting wrench. and Rainey
saw blur Of stars rs something
snapped into place with click.
81 think you soon all right, now"
said Tamada.
"You and Miss Slmms turned the
tide" said Rainey. "If they'd got
these tools first they'd have finished
us In short order"
"Fools"' said Tamada. Suppose
they kill Lund. how they get awayf
No one to navigate. Presently the
gunboat would find them. think
Mr.. Lund will maybe trust me now."
he said quietly.
What do you mean?'
"Mr. Lund think in the back Of his
head l arrange for that gunboat to
come. He cannot understand how
they know the schooner at island. He
think to come JUS this time too much
curious. I think"
"It was bit of coincidence"
Tamada shrugged his shoulders
slightly.
II think japanese government know
all that goes on In North Polar re-
gion." he said. There is wireless sta
tion on wrangell island. We pass by
tiht pretty ciOse.
Rainey chewed that information as
he put on his clothes, wondering II
they had seen the last of the gunboat.
They would have TO pass south through
Bering strait. II would be easy to
overhaul them. halt them. search the
schooner. confiscate the gold. They
were not out Of trouble yet
When he went into the cabin to re-
place his torn cont-he had hardly
button intact above the waist. from
jacket to undershlrt-he found the
girl there with Lund. Apparently.
they had just come In. Peggy Slmms.
with face agiow with the excitement
that had not subsidized. was proffering
Lund her pistol.
keep it." he said. "You may need
IL. I've got mine"
saw you"
"No." He laughed. THAT wasn't
my gun. They thought 1t was. I
wanted to bring the thing to grips.
But I wasn't fool enough to chuck
away my gun. That was wrench !
was usin' this mornin' to fix the cabin
stove-loolIs Jest like an ottermatic
stuck II in my inside pocket. I was
ha'f n mind to shoot when they showed
their knives bur didn't want to use
my gun on that mess OF hash.''
He stood tall and broad above her.
looking down at the face that was
raised TO his. Ralney. unnoticed as
yet. saw her eyes bright with admira-
tion.
You are wonderful fighter" she
said softly.
Wonderful? What about your A
mans womanl You saved the day
Comm to me with them drills. An We
licked 'em. We. Godi"
He swept her up into his arms. lift
ing her in his big hands. making no
more of her than II she had been a
feather pillow. up till her face was on
a level with his. pressing her close.
while in swift, Indignant rage she
fought back at him. striking futilely
while he held her. kissed her. and set
her down as Rainey sprang forward
Lund seemed utterly unconscious OF
the girls revulsion.
Comm to me with the drillsi' he
said. I'VE licked 'em. You an me to-