Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-21

~ APT. BLODGETT cleared his
throat, sat erect and leveled
a thick foretinger at the in
~ valid.
II am the captain of this
ship" he began. in his heavy voice.
MY word is law aboard this vessel.
! can put you in irons if ! choose. In
any event. believe / shall put you
under arrest. don't know what your
game is, but l don't like it.
81 don't like people on my ship who
travel under two or three names. and
don't like 'em when they can't walk
one minute and when they do hop,
skip and a jump in the next. You're
a suspicious character, sir"
Trask listened with a smile.
I'm going to put you where you
won't annoy any more passengers, and
I'm going to put guard over you,
sir" continued the captain. I'm not
going to have you jumping around,
either in the first or the second cabin.
believe you're a dangerous man, MIR.
Trask or Mr.. Trumbull, or whoever
you are"
Trask was not smiling now. The
idea Of being a prisoner appalled, him.
Aunt Mehetabel was grimly triumph
ant. Lucille sighed and averted her
eyes. Sidney was sitting very straight
III IISE cIdlT df1ut WESlncI SH6 hIlSW II
or not, she was frowning. She seemed
about to speak.
Keeler, however, did the speaking
He stepped from behind the chair and
made a little bow to the master of
the Gulf Stream.
Captain" he said, I'm going to
ask you, sir, not to do what you say.
I'll tell you why. sir, and you'll un-
derstand. It's something I've tried to
keep q secret, on account of this gen.
tleman's family; but / see it's no use
now"
Trask's eyes were slowly widening
you see," continued Keller, drop
ping his voice to a low tone, "Mr.
Trun1bull here comes of very excellent
people. He had q nervous breakdown
some time ago and 1t affected his
mind"
WHAT" exclaimed Trask. "Keeler.
you're a liarr'
Keller looked at the captain apollo.
getically.
you see how it is, sir 1t affects
him in different ways. Now, one of
his notions is that he can't walk. OF
course, he doesn't have that notion
regular; just at times. But when he
does have it, it affects him so that he
really can't walk. He's as good as a
real cripple, sir. When he doesn't
have it. why. his legs are all right
= and he can walk"
Trask listened as though he were
in a dream.
Now, captain" continued Keller
evenly, at would probably do Mr.
Trumbull a permanent injury if you
were to lock him up, sir. It would
have a very bad effect on him.
couldn't be responsible for what
would happen to him. But he's quite
harmless. sir. If you'll just leave him
with me. sir, I'll guarantee he'll make
no trouble at all for anybody. Just
let him keep his stateroom. sir, and
I'll promise to take first-class care of
him.
Keller. pleaded with eyes and ges-
lures. as well as voice.
. IT believe you're telling the truth at
last" commented Capt. Blodgett.
Eyes, sir" said Keller proudly.
Captain, he hasn't uttered one true
word" exclaimed Trask fervently.
THAT will do, sir" ordered Capt.
Blodgett. with a wave of his hand
I'm satisfied with the way things
stand now. I believe what this man
Keller says. Now, here's what's going
20 happen:
back to his stateroom.'
Thank you, captain"
II shall expect you to be responsible
for him"
II certainly will, sir
And tomorrow, when we put in at
Key West, both of you get off this
ship"
WHAT"
The dismayed exclamation was from
Trask, who almost leaped from his
chair.
NT aaps% ~roxo.o f.. oa.~,, 49,. l,-L
jumping mnatics on my passenger
list" announced Capt. Blodgett with
finality. "The pair Of you get off at
Key West tomorrow. That's all!''
He arose from his seat, signifying
that the session was over.
Sidney Sands slipped from her chair
and made a formal little bow to the
captain. Then she crossed the office,
without even a glance at Trask, and
went out.
Lucille, Aunt Mehetable and Mrs.
Kent followed, in silent procession
The goddess ventured a timid. half re-
proachful glance at the patient, who
was still in a daze. Aunt Mehetabel
wore an expression of sweet victory.
wheel him out"' ordered the cap
tain.
keeler swung the chair around and
wheeled him out.
TraSK was too staggered by the Ver-
dict OF Capt Blodgett to utter a word
until he had been trundIed into his
stateroom and the door closed behind
him. Then. the spell of inertia broken,
he leaped from the wheel chair and
turned upon Keller, his eyes blazing
with anger
Now you've done it," he cried.
you big bonehead"
: Keller backed away q step and his
jaw dropped loosely
"A fine mess you've got me into!"
yelled Trask, thoroughly excited. ~
get put Off the ship tomorrow
I did the only thing I could think
OF, sir" pleaded Keller
What business had you to think?
VINO told you to think? When the
plazes did you ever get the notion you
could think for me?"
But j couldn't see you sent to the
lookup, Mr.. Trask, wherever that is
aboard ship. was only trying to
save you that. sir
Save me? You've ruined me. I'm
Queered with everybody. I'm set down
Y as nut I'm crazy in both cabinsr'
Trask stamped nervously back and
1orth across the narrow room, shoot
ing vicious chances at his guardian.
i've a good mind to slam you one,
Keller" he exclaimed.
The Tennessee Tornado threw nm
his guard instinctively, tucked his law
down against his chest and crouched
Then, with sigh, he dropped his
hands.
'.All' right. sir" he said meeklv,
ell take it from you. Shoot it, sir
He presented his Jaw at a favorable
AnRle and waited patiently and resign.