The spectator., 1922-02-14
wanted to see your father"

He Is in stupor," she said "He has been that way since last night, fol lowing a collapse. I can barely find his pulse, but his breath shows on this
 She produced small mirror, little larger than dollar, and held it before her fathers lips. When she took it away Rainey saw trace of moisture.
 'Carlsen cannot rouse him?' he asked.
 "Cannot-or will not" she answered in voice that held hard quality for all it's despondency
 Lately the doctor has seemed un- certain. He talks of perverted nerve functions, and he has obtained Il tre- mendous influence over father,
 You heard what he said when-the night he tried to shoot you? You see, I am trusting you in all this, Mir, Rainey. l must trust some one. If don't l cant stand it. I think l shall go mad, sometimes. The doctor has changed. It is as if he was a dual personaity-like Jekyu and Hyde and now he is always Hyde. He said last night that he could save father or -or-that he would let father die. l told him it was sheer murder He laughed He said he would save him for a price
 She stopped, and Rainey supplied the gap, sure that he was right.
 "If you would marry him?"
 The girl nodded. Father will do anything he tells him. l sometimes think he tortures father and only re lieyes him when father promises what he wants. Otherwise I could not un- derstand. Last night father asked me 10 dc this thing He told me he looked upon the doctor as a son. that it would make him happy for me to marry him how. That he would perform the ceremony. That he did not think he would live long and he wanted to see me with a protector.
 Tt was horrible. What shall to?"
 Miss Simms" said Rainey. your father is not in his right mind or he would see Garisen as you do, as I do CarlSen's brain k turned with tie lure of the gold. If he marries NoH. I be lieye it is only for your share for what you will get from your father IL cannot he right To do wrong thing No good could come from it. But- something may happen this morning I cannot tell you what. do not know. except that Lund is to face CarlseR, It may change matters"
 "Lund,' she said scornfully. What can he dc? And he accused lay father of descrtin- him r."
 A knock came at the door. and it started 10 open. Carlsen entered.
 "Ab,' he said. "I trust I have not disturbed you. l had no idea should interrupt a teta a-tete. tre you Satis- fled as to the captains condition, Mir Rainey?"
 Raincy went on deck, raging but i'm potent He told Lund briefly of the talk between him and Peggy Simms, and described the general symptoms Of tEe shippers strange maIady It was nine o'clock, an hour to the meeting He went down to his own room and sat on the bunk smoking. trying to piece up the puzzle. If Carlsen was potential murderer. if he intended to let Simms die why should he want 10 marry the girl? He thought he solved that issue.
 As his wife CarlSen would retain her share If he gave her up. it would 90 into the common purse. But. if he ex- pected to trick the men out of it all, that would be unnecessary. Did he really love the girl? Or was his lust for gold mingled with a passion for possession of her? lie might know that the girl would kill herself before she would submit to diShonor Per haps he knew she had the means,
 one thing became paramount-to save Peggy SimnS. Lund might fight for the gold Eainey would battle for the girls sanctity, And, armed with that resolve, Raiuey went out into the main cabin.
 Carlsen took inc head of the table. Lund faced him at the other end. All six of the hunters, as privileged char acters, were present, but only three of the soamen, awkward and diGident at bemg aft. The nine with Rainey. ranged themselves on either side of the table, five and five with Rainey on Lund'S right. The girl Was not present. Yet her share was an impor- tant factor.
 Lund sat with folded arms, his great body relaxed. Now that the table was set, the cards all dealt, and the first play about to be made, the giant shed his tenseness. Even his grim face softened a trife. He seemed to regard the affair with certain amount of humor, coupled with the zest of a gambler who loves the game whether the stakes are for death or dollars.
 Carlsen had a paper under his hand. hut dafarrpd it's rpadiDo uutiI hn bod