The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-03-28
By WYNDHAM MARTIN
COPYRIGHT IN THE U. 8.
WNU Service


The Boss had not the look of a crazed
man; but this sort OF talk pointed to
an egocentricity not far from megalo-
mania. He had the delusiOn of power.
Andrew Orme,' said Bettington.
"Who Is he?"
"I'll tell yOu." The Boss passed
box of cigars to the other. ANDREW
Orme did very well at Yale. He was
on his way to become great sur
geon. Then he found within himself
the curse of gaming. He needed
money. He found ne possessed the
dangerous gift of copying signatures
So he forged. And when he was dis.
covered he killed the man who threat
ened to give him up to justice. He
had committed his murder in San
Francisco and was sent to San Quen-
tin as life prisoner. He escaped and
was absolutely lost from view. That
was almost ten years ago. | found
him by accident. l was automobiling
in New England and needed water for
a boiling motor. went to a fisher
mans shack. There found one iona
than Gibbs, disguised with beard and
clad in the rough gar5 of fisherman
Much the same picturesque costume as
you wear now. l did not tell him
no possible use for him. 1t was not
until three years later that | made
use of my knowledge"
One thing was cleared up, at all
events. Bettington had been shang-
haied because he was thought to be
the fisherman whose clothes he wore
He saw now how strangely fortune
had deserted him. Out here at sea-
he could not prove himself to be the
man he was And the mysterious
death of man like enough TO himself
to be identified by Unwin all added
to the difficulty of setting himself
straight.
He remembered how Gibbs had
feared he had entered his rude shack
for some inimical purpose, And Sam
had let fall that Gibbs had been
Swallowed. And Bettington recalled
that Gibbs had been much more fear
full in manner than any honest fisher.
man had the need to be. Undoubtedly
Gibbs was Andrew Orme, surgeon and
fOrger. And Howard Betting.
ton was dead and buried The anxiety
that his face betrayed, led the Boss
to think he had come to a saner way
of thinking.
II am offering you far better way
of living than ever you had in Maine.
When we are through with this trip
you will have money-plenty of it
and can spend it, and your life, In
some southern port"
"And If l don't accept"
The smile of the other man grew
irritating.
"None knows of your being aboard
but my men. There are only three
Of the men who are not for me: Hal
lett, the captain, his nephew who Is
the wireless operator, and lad named
Unwin. They can be eliminated
so can you"
Unwin. So that was why he had
seen his old friend come aboard. 1t
was his mechanically minded son who
was among those Of the crew presently
to be eliminated. A mood of unusual
caution took hold of Bettington. As
skillfully as possible he must learn
what was required of him and to what
perils those on the ship were to be
put.
'But if you eliminated me-" he said
easily, 'yOu would put yourself to
some inconvenience. You've put my
cards on the table without any aid of
mine. What about your own cards?"
''The sensible man," said the Boss.
sis the adaptable one. l am glad you
are seeing the wisdom of readjust-
ment. Here are my cards, Andrew
Orme. This boat was chartered,
through my advice, by Elgar Railway.
the multi-millionaire. He is aboard
now with his wife, a noted beauty, and
girl secretary. This boy Unwin. of
whom spoke, is the secretary's
brother"
Bettington hoped the other did not
see the slight start he gave when he
realized that Mary Unwin was here.
He remembered now that she was
Railways private stenographer. He
thought of Sam, of Metzger and those
other ill-Omened men who would be
likely TO make up such crew as this.
Something of the horror he could not
conceal betrayed itself.
"Do not be alarmed" said the Boss
"this is an expedition planned only
for the possession of money. The
women will be safe as long as rule
be sure of that"
"What is the scheme? Blackmail? p
Something simpler and cleaner.
Railway has come aboard, as he him.
self almost believes, to rest. He has
arduous tasks before him. l know
and he realizes it nOw-that he has
come aboard to fill himself with the
rich food and alcohol his physicians
have forbidden him for year.
Every year, | find. he has spent a
month In this manner. At the end OF
these trips ne goes Dack TO MS ONCE
and works like ten men. But this
year he has had hardening arteries
and planned to be temperate. That
was why he brought his wife and the
girl. That was why he sent me
this telegram" The Boss showed
Bettington the wire Mary Unwin had
sent to Clements" Bar Harbor. HE
honestly intended to stay sober OF
moderately So"
"And won't he?"
'At dinner tonight he was offensive.
ly drunk. | heard his wife whisper
After what you promised me, Elgar.'
"Then you are guest here?" II
explained the luxurious stateroom in
which the Boss sat.
81 am not" said the Boss. 81 oc.
,.,pv an anomalous DOSitjOn in a