Evening star., 1928-03-03
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

That's too bad" drawlcd the other.
And I'm disappointed in you, Peter
Blake. after starting out with such a
clear understanding right at the Begin
ming. But maybe you've still got them
In your clothes. eh?--not that you We
got many clothes left. But. anyway,
we'll have look"
The man advanced on Peter the
blue eyes under the struggling. thick
rcd lashes had grown steely. Peter.
trching. gained his feet and stood
there swaying from one foot to the
other.
"Who the devil are you, anyway
he flung out saVagely.
"Mrmms my name" said the other.
Capt. Jos"phus Mumm Of the schooner
Break O'DaWn. And there amt no
manner Of use you putting your dukes
up, for any one with half an eye could
sec that you amt got strength enough
to swat a fly. Now, soft and easy does
it, my lad! Let's have a look through
them pockets OF your r'n.'
Peter retrcated a step.
Not yeti" he rasped out II want
to know what this is all about"
"All right. my bucko," said Capt
Joscphus Mumm grutfly. III that's the
game you've decided to play from nov
on III do my best to be obliging It's
Tom Murchison's pearls I'm talking
about"
For a moment the words were fat
and meaningless to Peter, and then a
strange buzzing seemed to beset his
ears.
'Tom-Tom Murchisons pearls!" He
heard himself speaking. but the low
lloarse. faltering voice did not seem to
be his at all
Aye said Capt. Josephus Mumn1
terscly. Tom Murchison's pearls That's
what YOU killed him for, wasn't it?"
Peters face went suddenly white be-
yond the palor Of his Illness and his
hands knotted into tight-clenched fists
at his sides. lie lunged forward a step
Cod he cried hoarsely. If I had
the strength I'd ram those words down
your throat. you sWinei' He staggered
httle--and brushed his hands, first
one and then the other. across his ewes
But you're mad--or I'm mad" He
tried To think This man was accus-
ing him Of killing Tom Murchison-ot
taking Tom Murchison's pearls. So
Tom Murchison was deadi He hadn't
been sure. Everything that night had
pointed to 1t, of course. but he hadn't
been sure And now this man was ac-
cnSlng him OF killing Tom Murchison-
accusing him of murder. DO vol,
near he repeated furiously, I'D ram
those words down your throat II l had d
the strength"
That's all right" said Capt. .Jo-
sepfus Mumm coolly. but we'll handle
this affair in as orderly a fashion as
may be. One thing at a time. Them
pearls now"
Peters nails bit into the palms of
MS hands, All this vas groteso,Ie un-
real. Ike those snatches of deIiri,,n
that fingered in the memory from the
long illness-this hut. these natives
thiS rrd-headed gargoyle It was ali
prepoSterouS-hideously So But il was
no good letting himself get out Of
hand. He wasn't strong enough 10 Kick
up iusS He was damnablY tired as
II was. He sat down on the mat again
An: that was better. He steelcd him
sell to speak quietly.
You say that I killed Tom Srurchi-
son: and that I've got his pearls bo
oa'G. don't know why you sav that
ana l don't understand. I didn', kiii
rom MurchiSon. and / haven't 90, his
pearS-~and this last. at least. is easily
proved. Ask the natives here r,,,s,
nave been unconscious when they fn,,nd
me ASK them II had any pearls AZ
lor nv pockets. or rs for the poaris