The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-04-11
By WYNDHAn MARTIN
COPYRIGHT IN THE U. 8.
WNU Service

fectly natural thing 10 say. Self-pre-
servation is the first law. one Is told.
| could put you each one in danger
of your life and you know it. i am
not in the least offended. | have no
doubt the doctor mere has his own
plans for my sudden death, and that
Sam, although he has resisted tempta.
ton, will eventually fall into it."
Bettington looked at the man with
amaZement. He was calm and cool.
His smile was unabated He looked
at four men, whom he believed TO be
murderers, and unrnpentant. and de-
fed them. With what weapon. Bet
tingtOn wondered, was this to be ac-
compliSheG.
what fool should have been to
come into ship like his without safe
guarding myself first In my home
city there is a lawyer who attends to
my business. Recently he made my
will. When this voyage is over shall
go back and destroy letter on which
it says, Not to be opened until one
sCut III tlldt letltE Is oil
account of the life and works of each
of you gentlemen. have also given
myself the trouble to pen memoranda
concerning our cook, Kenzie. the Sec
ond engineer; Grammar and Ham
ner. | shall talk to them tomorrow
but | think you will find II advisable
to watch over my health very care
fully. If am killed you go back to
prison. all of you"
"What do you want us to do?"
Leary asked anxiously.
do your duty without giving Hal
lett cause for offense. | don't want
his suspicious to take such shape as
will make Railway distrustful."
THAT d-n boy, Bob. is in the way"
Sam grumbled. "We're all like one
happy family down there in the fore
castle and we have to keep mum he
cause of him. | believe he's been
planted there for purpose"
The Boss shook his head "Mr. Rad.
way told me all about it. He is the
girls brother, sent on board as sort
of chaperon."
'She may need one" Sam staggered
''She's sure little Deauty!"
"None of that" said the Boss sharp
~. 1--WE are here to make money
and not to fool with women. Don't
stare at her, Sam; can see you
brighten her. I'll break any man
here who disobeys my instructions"
"A man has his rights on sea as
we'll as land" Metzger observed i'm
partially. "If | see pretty woman
on shore | stare at her, and if | see
a pretty woman aboard do the same
thing. Sam likes chickens. | don't.
I'm all for class. Railways wife
she's class"
The Boss was impatient for them to
be gone. He waved them to the door
81 only insist you disarm suspicion
and God knows, with faces like you
three carry, that's hard work. don't
want you and Sam fighting over a
girl"
ME and Sam?" said MetZger.
"We're not rivals" MetZger had de-
cided by this time he did NOT like the
doctor. He remembered what innumer
able occasions there would be for him
and Mrs. Railway to meet and it made
him exasperated that his duties were
not of a different sort. "The Doc
here and | are the ones that would get
scrapping, amt WEI"
Bettington turned his back on him.
When they had gone, ne looked at the
Boss.
IF those two brutes got loose,
there'll be HI to pay"
81 keep them chained" said the
other. I'm glad you seem to be get
ting on with those women. I'm keep
ing Railway quiet. Find out what
women friends Mrs. Railway has. You
may have 10 write to them later and
the use of any pet names is always
advisable. 1t should not be difficult
for you to find out what | want"
"Why not?" BettingtOn asked cOldly.
Because Mrs. Railway is a woman
and women always trust the wrong
man, as their history proves. She
thinks you are the soul of probity be-
cause your face masks your soul so
well. Those men who have just gone
advertise the seven deadly sins when
ever they look at one, and are less
dangerous"
81 like Mrs. Railway" said Betting
ton, ''and no matter what have done.
according to your ideas, no woman
need be afraid of me. You were right
to warn Merger. You may as well
tell him that if he tries to force him
self on Mrs. Railway, shall give him
beating"
The Boss leaned over the table and
looked the other man full in the face.
The hands were clenched and the
voice that spoke was sharp and
metallic.
"You heard what said about quar-
reing over women? You risk great
deal by taking that tore to me-"
LESS than you Think BettingtOn
answered. He knew his remark would
puzzle the other, and he was right.
"Do not let US misunderstood one
another" said the Boss with a more
cordial manner. "You and | stand to
secure enough money out of this to
make ourselves independent for
life. The others here are pawns
on the board and can be sacrificed
when the time comes. We must not
imperil our success bv misunderstood
ing. l do not want Mrs. Railway in
suited and don't want MetZger in one
of his jealous RACES to go to Hallett
or Railway and talk. There is
always such possibility in the air."
Sand if it happened?"
Ill let loose, as you observed.
In that case. your Mrs. RadWay is in