The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-03-28
CHAPTER IV-Continued

Sf1Af Elk lN-SOntlnueQ
-
Bob sauntered off feeling that he
had come face to face with men more
evil than he had ever known before
On the deck above his sister was; he
had been told he must not venture
there. Above that deck was the wire
less house, in which he was deeply
interested. He had seen a CHEEKY
young man I'm uniform who had been
pointed out as the wireless operator
But between the two was a great gulf
fixed. SPARKS" was an officer. Per-
haps Bob had entered upon his new
task with too great an enthusiasm.
He found himself called upon to do
certain greasy and oily offices usually
performed by engine room help. Metz
ger, the chief engineer. swore at him
viciously when he began TO ask ques
lions about the engines On the
whole. he found himself, for the first
time in his life. distinctly unpopular
Barnegat Light was in sight when
Sam, at midnight, came into Betting
tons cabin.
1.-THE Boss says you can see him
now" he growled.
Bettington followed him along a
dim passage to the extreme stern of
the vessel. Here he unlocked a door
leading to companion way which
brought him to a quarter deck at the
after part~of the yacht. There were
two big wicker chairs and q table
Sam motiOned him to sit down. Then
he knocked at stateroom door and
was hidden to enter
You're to go in" Sam said few
moments later. "I'll wait here"
It was not surprising that certain
emotion of excitement and. perhaps.
apprehension seized upon the painter
as he moved toward the door, What
manner of ruffian was he to confront :?
And what was It that he had been
predestined for? man who could
like Sam in thrall, would probably be
one of greater power and violence
than he.
Never, Bettington confessed, as he
entered the stateroom, had his pre-
judgments been more at fault. This
was no towering bully, no disciple of
the strong-arm school of underworld
aristOcracy who looked at him. APP
parently the man was of the same
social class as himself.
The Boss was little, slender man,
delicate of feature and limb. His face
had tat ivory pallor one associates
with extreme old age. And yet, he did
smiling as Bettington entered; he
smiled while he talked.
81 am afraid" said the Boss, after
waving his guest to seat, that you
have not enjoyed your voyage"
81 have not" Bettington returned.
81 may tell you at once, that resent
the whole occurrence. II has been one
outrage added to another. That they
had their origin in a mistake know
very veil, but the effect is just the
same and / demand to be put ashore
at once"
"We are provisioned for :: year."
said the Boss calmly, land most likely
shall not touch any port for one
month";"
81 SHALL" snapped the painter.
81 think not" the other corrected
gently. Il expected you TO make'these
protests. Sam has told me of your
attitude and l admire it. The wise
man differs from a fool in knowing
just when to try to make terms. We
are here to talk business"
Look here" Bettington began, 81
explained to your first murderer out
there, that there had been some mis-
take of identities. My name is Bet
tington; | am a painter Of seascapes
and my studio is on East Thirty-fourth
street"
The Boss took from a small table a
New York paper. did you have a
pleasant funeral?" he asked suavely.
He passed the paper over the table
and pointed out an obituary notice
tucked away in an obscure spot.
"Read it." the Boss commanded.
The paragraph was headed:
"Well-known Marine Painter Killed
Falls From Fire Escape in Dark"
Bettington read an amazing descrip-
ton of his death, burial and lifes
work. The chief witness at the in
quest 7as Floyd Unwin. Unwin had
been amazed to see bis friend, whom
he thought to be out of town, and
climbed to his studio to call upon him.
The rooms were seemingly in dark.
ness and none answered the knock
In the morning the janitor had dis
covered the mutilated body in the
yard. Floyd Unwin and he had identi
fed 1t.
at was a clever idea," said the
Boss, "but l, too, read the papers
In the idiom of poker, l have called
your bluff. In almost every case
have had to do that to get my crew
Take Sam, for example. Sam, under
another name. was doing rather wei
bootlegging across the Canadian line
In Rangely he was 90 the way to be
come respected. 1t was necessary t.
remind him that he had broken from
Dannemora ! was compelled to built
up his real past. | hold ii over him.
The Boss waved his delicate hand
airily. at is truism that knowl
edge is power have just told you
By what method | have the whip HAND