Evening star., 1928-03-17
the fact that you told US his name was

the fact that you told US his name was
| Alec Dunn"
mo: IL dont!" Snarled the little skip
per- But the reason he came aboard
here as Alec Dunn Is because he saved
my life out there in the water last
night. when he could have let me so
10 Davy Jones and no one left to say
! he was Peter Blake; and man who'll
| do that amt no murderer and Capt.
Josephus Mumn,. by God. I'll have YOU
know, amt a man who doesn't pay his
! debts!"
| Which. Of course, justifies you" said
! Rand smoothly. 'in being an accom-.
| plice, after The fact---to murder. l hope
| for your sake. the law will take as
lenient view OF II as you do yourself" ="
The law be darnned!" Capt. jose
phus Mumms face was red With rage.
You can hope what you like!"
Humphrey Garth spoke suddenly.
1T is rather obvious, think" he
said quietly, that Capt. Mumu had
nothing whatever to do either etth Tom
Murchison or this affair here, and das-
1 tardly az this raan Blake showed him.
self 70 be In the murder OF Tom Murchi-
son. and. I am agreed. in this me OF
Jaffray too, ! cannot In my heart
blame Capt. Mumm for attempting TO
| protect man who has, according TO
ais story. saved his life. am, ] confess,
a little surprised that man. as brutal
and VICIOUS as Blake should have shown
so much courage and decency: but,
under the circumstances, am inclined
to believe that, in spite nf the law !
| should have done as Capt Munlrll has
done"
Rand nodded his head.
Even the worst OF them have been
| known TO exhibit certain animal cour.
age at times" he said bluntly: but ]
| have never known that running avay
| and changing ones name through fear
| OF consequences was IN the attitude OF
q brave man-and that's what this man
has done. rather agree with you.
though, about Capt. Mumm. in spite
| OF what I have said. / was only en-
deavoring TO bring out all the light
| could upon the affair. hope he has
! taken no offense."
The little red haired skipper grunted
uncompromisingly
~ whether have or whether / haven't.
I amt going 10 answer no more OF your
| questiOns!"
II have no more questions 10 ask, -
said Rand with a faint smile. He
swung on Peter we come hack TO
you now, think" he said harshly AT
| half-past eleven last night, at which
time IL Ia known that Mr.. Jaffray was
still alive. you were on deck with some
OF us, myself amongst others. You did
not come below with us then. think
1t Is fairly evident from Capt. Mumma
rather--er-~indirect replies that you did
not 60 back TO your cAbin until. say,
l1alf-past four, az which hour jenkins
saw you at the foot OF the main conpan.
ionway In any case, perhaps. you VIII
tell US where you were between hAlf-past
eleven and half-past four?"
They were all staring at him again
no, not all-two OF them weren't. Inc
little red-haired skipper WASH t---Maricn
wasn't Tho little red-ha!redf skipper
was hunched In his chair, and glarine
aesin at Rand Marion was sitting quite
still, her eyes half closed. looking
straight ahead OF her across the lounge:
the little mouth was firmly closed, the
hard. straight lines 1T the corners SUI
unrelaxed.
II was on deck" said Peter.
"All the timer"
YES"
What we're YOU doing there?"
Nothing" Peter answered "Sittinf
there behind the deckhouse"
What" calculated Rand. lie laugh
ed suddenly, contemptuousiy. do you
mean 10 tell US that you sal
there for Ave hours on foggy and
rather unpleasant night. When.. after
the experiences you had been through
the normal thing for any man TO do
unless there was some very strong IN
centive 10 do otherwise. wes 10 seek rest
and siccp2 DO you expect ns to believe
80 paltry and so unbelievable an exEia'
nation ~ that1"
lC0ntinued In Tomorrnws Star,