Evening star., 1927-05-02


you'd searched the wide world YOU
couldn't have found a better man
On land or on sea, by flood and by
Reid
You have spoken to the men?"
spoken to them?" The room
shook with the sea captains laugh
ter. "You don't want to speak to
that kind of cattle; you just give them
an order and that's enough. They
know me; there isn't a sailor man
that's shipped before the mast who
doesn't know Harvey Ale"
In his cups the captain was In.
clined to take liberties with the Eng
hsh language.
They're ripe and willing. They
know there's a big job ahead and
they're ready to do 1t. What Is It.
doctor?" His voice assumed a
wheedling tone. You're going to tell
old Skipper Hale all about it?"
you'll know in good time" said
Latin. "It may not be necessary;
everything depends upon tomorrow,
my good friend. In my life have had
one very grave disappointment, the
gravest that any man could face.
That a second should await me seems
incredible. and yet there is that pos
siblity."
His visitor growled something under
his breath.
'I hope you're disappointed, that's
ALL" he said. THAT is, if it gives a
chance to Harvey Hale to do some
thing big. What are you going to do
about that girl?"
DR.. Laffin's lips pressed tightly to-
gether, but he did not answer.
1T wasn't my fault that we didn't
get her the second time. I got her
frst time all right, didn't I? Why
didn't you keep her? That was your
fault. How was I to know that they'd
got a busy downstairs sleeping on
the premises?"
I'm not blaming you." said the
doctor in his mincing way. Believe
me, do not blame you. The fates
were not propitiouS. My supreme ge-
MUS, the mighty Kemelsina, master OF
my destiny''-he waved an airy hand
70 the cornice, and instinctively Hale
looked up as though he expected to
find a material manifestation-"m
great exemplar was not in sympathy
with the movement"
Before him was spread g. double
sheet of foolscap, and once more he
adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses, and
with his finger moving down each line
OF writing he perused the document
from beginning to end in silence,
while Hale watched him impatiently.
You have sent the first party
away" asked Latin, looking up.
They've arrived had cable from
them this morning" said Hale, ready
and willing and hearty"
who has the sealed envelope"
"Colllnson's in charge said Harvey
Hale. "He's a good seaman and
knows all about sealed orders. You
can trust him, commodore. I've told
him if he breaks the seal I'll break
his head He knows me-sailed with
me a dozen times. When Harvey
Hale says hen break a mans head,
bv God, it's as good as broken! I'm
that way, commodore. My words as
good as a lawyers agreement, stamp
ed and sealed. There amt man
from Shanghai to Falp'riso that
doesn't know that when / say a thing
] mean 1t. I tell you, you've got u
big man on your side when you've
got Harvey Hale. And, remember
this'-he leaned across the table, his
bloated face within a few inches OF
the doctor 's-"When il comes out,
when the news goes all over the
world what has happened, people will
say: Harvey Hale. Nobody else could
have done it but that big guy. And
I'm dead man if they catch me"'
Yes, yes,' said Latin testify. "I
suppose in your brutal way you have
the elements of greatness. | am large
enough to recognize your claims. But
behind this scheme is a mentality be.
yond your understanding, a genius
outside the range of your comprehen-
sion. You are an instrument, captain;
please remember that; merely the in
strument that is welded by my gigan.
tic intellect
Eve are two big men together, -
said Capt. Hale, comfortably, Put
II there, commodore.
DR.. Latin ignored the extended
hand.
Now, go home, my friend ] think
you have drunk enough. From now
on you keep sober-you understand"
Drink has never meant anything
to ms" said the captain. rising, and
considering the quantity he had con.