Arizona state miner., 1926-05-22


"Alone or not, where's my two
men?" clustered Flint. "Good hands
don't grow on trees"
'No; aboard the Walrus they stab
one another to DEATH" agreed my
great-uncle. Come, come, you have
no proof in support of your charge"
"Well, two broke free and two died."
insisted Flint. "And if the two who
broke free were not the means"
'"What proof have you Of it?"
"Proof?"
"Aye, proof, said. Their bodies,
what of them?"
''Why, we never"
My great-uncle shrugged his shoul-
ders.
you see? You have been talking
loosely, l fear, my friend"
Flint's fingers twitched on his
hanger-hilt
Il tell ye, Murray, there's a foul
smell about this whole business. You
were all for giving me hostages twas
no idea of mine. And then they no
sooner come aboard my ship than
they're away again. I like 1t not.
Here's trickery or ye may gut me for
a preacher"
"Had I found your hostages on the
James before sailing or within a day
after, you should have had them back
again." said Murray firmly. "But
there is no point to this argument
for hostages or no hostages, you see
me returned with the treasure, as 1
promised"
''Ye must ha' had rare success"
Flint admitted unwillingly. eve ha'
the gold O. the Indies here!'
He looked up and happened to meet
the awe-struck gaze Of Moira O'Don-
nell. A sneer curled his lips.
'But ye carry passengers, I see,"
he insinuated. 'Gold and women
'Tis a fine combination, Murray, but
there's rule in our Articles you were
all for establishing. Number Four,
eh? 1t sticks in my crop, for ye called
it once on me.
"'And that there may be less Oc-
casion for broils amongst our COM
pany, we do further decree that gam
ing may be prohibited at any time
when in the captains judgment it be-
comes dangerous to our harmony, as
likewise, that at no time and under
no circumstances may women be taken
and kept as spoil aboard our vessels
or any vessel upon which our COM
pany may chance to fare
what dye say to that? What of
Rule Four now?"
My great-uncle took snuff.
'This lady," he said with the slight
est emphasis, "is the daughter of my
friend here, Colonel O'Donnell, a gen.
tleman who represents in our venture
the group Of my friends who made it
possible for me to intercept the
treasure ship"
O'Donnell, whose face had been
growing redder and redder throughout
this conversation, plucked his daugh-
ter by the elbow and led her away.
Colonel O'Donne1l and his daugh-
ter are my guests" my great-uncle
continued "They have played essen
tial parts in our capture Of the treas
ure 1 must insist, Flint, that you
accord them a courtesy similar to that
which I should extend to friends Of
yours in a like situation"
They're no friends O. mine," growled
Flint. "This is more O. your cursed
political blethering. Well, I'm sick
O. it, Murray, and 1 care not who
knows it. First, We carry us north to
America, just to crimp two men, with
not two hundred pounds in booty to
show for the voyage. Next, We shut
me up here for the better part of six
months for my men to rot with fever
and drink and my ship to foul her
bottom"
"On both these counts you have
your own negligence to blame" put
in my great-uncle.
"-and last" Flint fumed on with
out needing him, I'VE bring to the
RendeyvOO a man and O. woman who
are not of our company, and who, for
all We know, may go hence, and loose
a kings ship on us some day when
we are careened and helpless"
"Not you" returned Murray sarcas-
tically. you'll not careen, Flint.
That would mean work for your crew.
But you concern yourself needlessly.
| Colonel ODonnell has reasons for
keeping his share in our enterprise
under cover. He is more safely to-
be trusted in the circumstances than
many another"
81 care not who he is or what you
NAV have on him." cried Flint, work.
| ing himself into a fury. ''Ye ha' in
troduced four strangers into our midst
without the let or permission of others
of our company"
81 do not recognize the right of any
| other to tell me what I shall or shall
not do" replied my great-uncle haugh-
! tily "Such as it is, this company is
| the creation of my efforts, and 1 ven
| ture the assertion, Captain Flint, that
it will not long survive my leadership.
| The four strangers of whom you com
| Go