The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-04-18
warnings or pleadings have no longer

III you would"
'I'm afraid there is very little
can do" he said rising ~ have no
sort of authority except what he gives
me. If warning him is any good. I'll
certainly do that"
He went below and then to the bow
of he boat. feeling he was going on
a useless errand.
Railway looked up as though he had
been expecting such a visit. Except
that purple hue was spread over his
face more deep than anything Betting
ton had ever seen on human visage,
he had no air of intoxication. Years
before in Paris, Bettington had noted
how absinthe acts. 1t is curious
property of the spirit that its effects
vary with the individual. 1t gave Rad
way the delusion of incredible powers
and predispOsed him to acts of physi-
cal violence.
81 should like to have them all
down here" he said in mordant tone.
81 am not sure that man has lived
unless he has actually squeezed the
life out of the threats of men he
hates"
"What particular lives do you want
to end?" Bettington asked.
"The Gibbons gang. Alfred Gibbons
first. He and his group have tried
for years to hate me to death; it's
quite possible"
They're succeeding apparently"
Bettington replied, ano pointed to the
bottle of absinthe in the rack. slave
you ever thought that they may all be
concentrating on You 20 drink this
stuff? ! don't know any surer way of
death. You better lie down, you look
all in"
Its my constant headache that
knocks me out" Railway returned, and
pressed his temples as though In pain
Sometimes it is so bad, ! actually
am blinded. It's their concen-
trated hate"
Bettington turned away in disgust.
The spectacle of this wreck, drifting
toward destruction and blaming others
for his disaster. seemed pitiful.
"Don't CO." Railway said querulous-
ly. "Stay here"
Bettington paid no heed to him.
Mrs. Railway was waiting for him
anxiously. She could not rid herself
of the feeling that this voyage was to
end in tragedy.
"Were you able to do anything?"
she demanded eagerly.
For the moment he did not answer.
He wanted to ask her a question and
did not desire her to feel the humili-
alton of having to endure his gaze as
he asked it.
Have you any reason" he said
gently, ito fear physical violence from
him in this state?"
There was a perceptible pause be-
fore she answered.
1.-The possibility exists, but it's most
remote"
IF you like" he said, "I'Il take one
of these forward staterooms to be near
him."
He hoped she would construe this to
mean that he was merely exhibiting
the physicians readiness % be at his
patients side in danger. He did not
want her to realize that Railways
safety meant nothing to him. He felt
she would be frightened to learn that
his only concern was to protect her
from the violence of a man almost
insane
Il think there is no need for that"
she returned gratefully. "In fact, it
might anger him if he found it out.
He has hatred of being spied upon,
as he calls it."
Mary Unwin came up at this mo-
ment with Crosby Todd. Mary smiled
pleasantly, but the wireless operator
paid no attention to the ships sur.
geon. Bettington watched Mary with
the artists admiration as she went
off with Todd. She seemed to embody
youth.
81 hardly realized the child was so
beautiful" he muttered.
"She's in love-" said Mrs Railway.
81 don't think she mas ever been in
love before. She has found new
heaven and new earth"
Clements passed by.
There's the man Captain Hallett
particularly dislikes,' Mrs. Railway
said, when he had gone.
Don't your" Bettington demanded.
Mrs. Railway heSitated. "Pm never
quite sure. He is so courteous and
has such an agreeable voice and
yet, | sometimes feel afraid. Perhaps
it is that settled smile which pre-
JUDGES one His features are good.
Yes, it must be that smile"
Bettington wondered what the real
Clements had been like. The voice
had been cultivated to avert suspicion
that the face gave rise to. And now
the face was gone and one had been
created to match the voice.
"Why do you sigh" Mrs. Railway
asked curiously. She noticed that
there was look Of sadness, almost of
despair, on his face He was far too
good looking, she mad often told her.
self, to have escaped the attentions of
her sex. Something has upset you,
DOCTOR" she exclaimed.
He realized suddenly that he was
nervous. Suppose the role he had
set out to play was one beyond his
ability or courage. He thought of
Sam and Metzger and Leary. and the
lesser men they controlled. Somehow
he felt that Clements was only money
mad and could be satisfied only with
money. But Metzger and Saml Metz
ger who liked what he called "class."
and Sam who loved youth. Even at
this moment Sam, enormously broad,
prodigiously strong. and in his heart
free from all sentiments of pity. was
crossing the deck slowly, watching
Crosby Todd leaning over the side
talking tO Mary