Evening star., 1928-03-13

|
there wasn't anything to go on but a |
description There's a lot Of men |
who would answer to any descrip- !
ton, no matter how detailed and |
exact 1t was. Take the present case. |
| for instance" He turned and stared !
at Peter for a moment. why, look !
here!" he exclaimed Here's a case In /
point! Mr.. Dunn. here. as an example, |
would answer to 1t perfectly; and II his |
identity wasn't unquestionably establish !
ed as being somebody who wasn't Peter |
Blake he'd be worth taking a fiier on |
for that five thousand-six feet high |
in height, broad-shouldcred. unusually |
| muscular in development, light brown |
hair. gray eyes, square chin. and al!
that"
Peter Strengthened up little in his
chair. In one sense he found himself
strangely indifferent except that from
a source quite outside himself. his prob
lem was perhaps to be solved for him
here and now; he was more conscious Of
a grin and ironical sense OF humor than
OF anything else. What was this? A cat
and-mouse game-Or merely a natural
comment with no ulterior meaning be-
hind 1t? lie glanced again at Can't
Munm. Capt Mumm was grinning
broadly.
Il fancy that's the nearest Dunn's
ever come. or will come, to being worth
five thousand pounds" chuckled the
little rcd-haired skipper. You seem to
nave the description down pretty pat.
MIR. Jaffray"
Il have" said JafTray almost eagerly
In fact. 1t was-that is. Mr.. Garth Is
very much interested in the affair. But
l won't go into that tonight. Mr. Garth
Will probably speak to you about It him.
sell. and he might not be any too
pleased to find that after your trying
experience had bothered you with out
side matters. You see? What want to
ask you Is what you think a man In
Blake's position would do-whered he
go. and all that, you know"
Peters eyes still held on the little red
haired skipper. Capt. Mumm, scratch
ing obviously at his head, was eyeing
the secretary b,andly.
That's bit of question, amt it?"
he countered.
Yes; but the answers worth five
cantly.
my word" calculated Capt. Mumm,
SO that's the lay is it?"
Jafray hitched forward In '.is chair
Look here" he said. h:,. v,dce low
cred II take it that under the circmn,-
stances, since Mr. Dunn is a man who
mas sailed with you. he's rather a factor
IN the case. too. You won't mind nv
speaking out quite plainly?"
anything you say in front of Dunn
wont go no farther said Cant
Jo5ephus Mumm confidentia!ly.
Go aheadl"
Well, then" said Jaffray. "for private
reasons. that five thousand pounds. or
some OF 1t. would be a big lift to me
ana IL struck me all of a heap when
IN fnft nt@A
most OF your life sailing amongst the
Islands, that here was a chance.
haven't got much faith in that descrip-
tlon business. as witness Mr.. Dunn here
VINO proves how easily 1t can go wide
oI the mark mean, of course, with
out something TO back it up II there's
any man living who would be able to
figure out this fellow Blake's possible
and probable movements after he got
away from Murchison's island. it's you.
think could arrange to have any
likely suggestion you made followed I'D.
and If anything came of 1t you'd get
your share. of course: and I'd split with
YOU on any basis that you considered
fair" Mr.. Jaffrays face was eager.
flushed somewhat. What do you say?"
Capt. Josephus Mumm did not answer
at once. He appeared to ruminate
pondering deeply the others words
Well" he said at last. "after what's
happened to my bit OF a hooker tonight.
I'll say fiat Id consider 1t proyidential.
as you might say II slice of that five
thousand. big or little. came my way
and you can count me in. Mr. Jaffray.
and no blooming error! But so far as
giving an opinion as TO what's most likely
become of this Blake, itll take bit of
thinking over. I've got to know. a whole
lot more about It than Go now. Sup
pose We let it go until tomorrow. and
then you give Ele what inS and outs of
1t you have. and we'l get our heads to-
yether. Eows that? Being aboard here
and nothing else TO do, there won't be
no time lost"
"Fine!" said JafTray heartily. He rose
briskly from his chair. and looked from
as glad n--well. II nothing were said
about there being any little working
agreement between us. I'll explain more
fully tomorrow. and think you'll un-
derstand why"
Don't need TO understand any more
than l do now! In thing of this kind
the closer you keep your mouth shut
the better your chances are. That's
mel" said Capt, Josephus Mumm ju-
dicially.
well. I'll be of, then" said Jafyray
! ~aaHu uiuNCQ tNNAFu Tic UUOI.
Peter. too. had risen from his chair.
Jaffray he had now put down as bit
OF fool-if not something worse. There
might be a serious side TO what had
been said. but there was certainly no
cat-andmouSe game here. and IL was
fairly obvious that the man harbored
not the slightest suspicion: Of that he.
Peter, was fully convinced~~and from
that standpoint he had already dis
| missed the whole matter from his mind
| Il think YOU said everybody was up on
deck. MIR, Jaffray." he said calmly. so
l presume Miss Garth is there"
Why yes"~~Jaffray looked little
SurpriSed~-"at least she was on deck
| just before l came down here"
! Il wonder, then. II I could see her
| ior few monients2"
Jatfray sttll looked his surprise
Miss Garths Why. yes-certainlv
Er~~ot course, I'm sure she'll be glad
to see YOU. Shall tell here"
Yes. II YOU will" said Peter. I'm
be up on deck In few minutes"
Right" said Jafray, 'l'll tell her"
He moved 10 the door. We'll, tin to- |
morrow then. captain.
| Good-niant'
| a7 7az@~zaaaszss
PROPOSALS,