Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-28

Even ON your own sayso." he
4 said deliberately at last. you were
| prepared to double cross me. Once
| / let a man toss a coin to see
| whether 1 shot him or MOTOR less
| than that. But you are not even
| entitled to that much chance-ex-
| cept for the fact that perhaps after
| tonight you'll be less likely to stick
| your filthy hands into my affairs.
| But even that Is not what is out
weighing my inclination to have
done with you here and now. The
fact is that. though regret>to admit
it. YOU are. for the moment at
least. more valuable alivei'
Runnells Strengthened UP a little
in his chair. He swept his hand
over a wet brow.
'I'll play fair after this" he said
hoarsely. II take my oath to Gawd,
| I>will."
"Or turn at the first chance. like
the dog who has been whipped by
his master" observed Captain
Francis Newcombe indifferently.
Very good, Runnells! l never pro-
long discussions. The matter is
| ended-unless you are unfortunate
enough to cause the subject to be
| reopened at some future date! 1t
is near daylight-and before daylight
| Paul Cremarre, what Is left of him,
must be disposed of. II the man is
found here, the victim of a violent
I death, it means an inQeust, the in
| fiux of authorities the possible dis
| covery of Cremarre's ident:ty-and
! oursi"
I'VE could tie something heavy on
I him." said Runnells thickly, land
| drop him in the water"
I'VE could-but we won't" said
Captain Francis Newcombe CURLY.
One never feels at ease with bodies
| disposed of in that fashion-they
have been known to come to- the
surface.
1T might be the easiest way. but
! it's not the safest. / think you've
heard me say before. Runneils, that
chance is the playground of fools.
Besides, our close and intimate
friendship with Paul demands a lit
tie more reyerent and circumspect
consideration at our hands-what?
Paul shall have a decent burial.
Well dig hole for him back there
| among the trees" He thrust his
hand suddenly into his pocket,
brought out his fiashlight, and
tossed it into Runnells' lap. Go
up to the house and get a spade, a
couple of them If you can. There
ought to be plenty somewhere in the
outhouses at the back. And hurry"
"Yes-right!" Runnens stammered,
as he rose to his feet and stood
hesitant as though trying to say
something more.
Il said hurry-damn you." snarl-
ed Captain Francis Newcombe.
"Yes-right!" said Runnells
mechanically again-and stumbled.
half running, across the room and
cut of the door. r.
Captain Francis Newcombe flung
himself into the chair Runnells had
vacated. His mind was on Paul
Cremarre now. What was it that
caused the mans death? AS Run
nells had said. 1t was a sickening
sight. Well, no matter! The mode
or cause OF death was an incident,
wasn't 1t? Paul Cremarre found
Eere on the island, whether dead
or alive. was what mattered-it
meant that the menace, that hellish
nightmare of the unknown" that
had been hanging over him, Shadow
Narne, was gone now--that the way
was clear ahead-a fortune here
America once more an open sesame"
-rlches, luxury. all he had builded
1or. his again to take at his leisure
without fear now of any interfer-
ence from any source. And yet he
seemed to hate the man the more be-
cause he was dead. Cremarre had
done what no. other man had
ever done to Shadow Varne-those
black hourS-last night-the night
before.
his hands clenched fiercely. He
Knew sudden, unbridled rush of
anger directed against the agency he
~ What 1t might, that had caused
faul Cremarre's death-that had
forever removed the man bevond
ms reach. and had. robbed him of a
right that alone was his to settle
WIN the man. He had owed the
AoChcr a debt that he could never
now repay-the sort of debt that
fnM Farne, until now. had never
raneo 10 pay. 1t was clear enough
now raul Cremarre, If not from
the moment he had read poiIu.s
letter that morning in London had
nhaHy at any rate yielded to IN.
temptation that the opportunity of
securing so great a sum of monev
nau tangled before his eyes. Gre,
MARIE Ike Runnells, had very nos.
siDIy' ana perhaps not unwa rran1
any been skeptical about his Can
IAN francis Newcombe's statennap,
that the money here was to he hold
IhVlolaole; but whether he had ~
NOT made very little difference ~
tme last analysis, for, either way -
thot u ne OBVIOUS to Paul Cremarre
nno,,o ne would get none of the
own Unless ne got it through his
~ h secret endeavors. since, even
were after it for himself Cre,nn,
would realize fhat r. OAohiarTe
snare In the spoils. "o' 70
captain Francis Newcombe,s b.rA
MAJ Was cropping tentatively in he
pocket now. It was not at al, ~
rmasuraI that the thought Of Dill I'LL
TTreIharre, had not entered h;s ~,
10 oegin with, he trustas he az.
;iound; and, again, he had s,,ins
i.neolateiy on the first shin af.sa
rg the man In London De.
Low nOw. Yes, that was WHERE 1Te
tinoa Vi tne whole thing Iay-the
T,ncI spent on that yachting trim ne
mare u9"n the coast. Paul Gre
isiarS Hao probably been on AZ.
Talofa arr,r several days before the
his hand came ont NJ III.
IN IT'S palm lay the bronze pocket.
cared cared at 1t thoughtfully. Nc S ne
t;n mad not succeeded a. az
tonight 'ne I'm ma q; money prior ss to
would bava IN that case old Marlin
s"nS a Wild fuss; and. BESIDE ana q
I es, NCremarre wo,,IS II
NJ the island without loss =, .; lave
co or mad Cremarre been ou,ta time.
n ossIui tonight for the monav sue
~. on MS person; but he h.y was
oo.n! Captain Francs Deen
xot,De stared for anothsr N 'e
minute ,mn,e at the bronze kew t Has
cba ;ping suddenly up from 'H .en
mar ne crossed over n an the