Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-08-31

Quite suddenly Jack Seymour got
angry, remembering certain hours
when he was sure the Bolsover would
sink and take the Minotaur down the
locker with her.
"This report goes to the insurance
people now" he said. you and your
dirty ship-sinking tricks!"
To Colin Creaking's way of think
ing, shipmasters were simply hirelings
to be terrorized, small fry of little
Importance in the scheme of things.
His line did not recruit the best type
of seamen, anyway. He preferred
them soiled little at the edges, be-
cause then they were amendable.
"Prove anything against me" he
half screamed.
"This report? Backed up by sworn
statements of men who saw the dam
age with their own eyes? Your chief
engineer, say, subpoenaed to give evil
dence-under oath, remember"
prove it," came from Cracking, his
knuckles white where he gripped the
deskedge. "Out of my sight before
| run you in for common blackmail!"
ooh, no, Mr.. Creaking, you couldn't
ever do that" said Dawn, pushing
open the communicating door. "Why
I'm going to marry Captain Seymour
and you'd never like your secretary
to marry a blackmailer and a jail
bird, now would you?"
rs this a plot?" Creaking glared
from one to the other as if he wished
them both the worst sort Of evil.
''If you hadn't threatened there'd
have been no plot" was the girls re-
spouse. "But don't forget that
door has never closed prop
erly since I've been here-it won't
close even now. See!" She proved it
by action. "And even Captain Jason
has such loud voice, even when he's
whispering. You go and sit in my
chair outside and see how voices car
ry."
"You? You're discharged!' bark
ed Creaking.
II know it. 1 resigned when you
talked about blackmail."
She had her dimples back again,
and Seymour got the idea that hap
piness such as he'd never imagined
even in wilder moments was heading
towards him. 81 can remember ev-
erything Captain Jason ever said in
this office" she stated. "Everything!"
"Then it is plot?" Creaking's hand
shifted to heavy ebony ruler which
was the only object of his desk of a
! suitable nature.
"How could it be a plot that put
the Bolsover just where the Minotaur
needed herr" Dawn asked, moving
nearer to Seymour. After glance at
Seymour, Cracking carefully laid the
ruler back.
"Well?" he asked, after licking his
lips.
"I'm not out for blackmail, not as
blackmail. l just thought I'd show
you where you stand if you feel like
contesting the salvage claim. Sail
ors talk and underwriters get suspic-
ious. They might put me on the wit
ness stand-under OATH"
what do you want?" whispered
Creaking in a strangled way, and his
fingers tugged at his collar.
Gust my share of the salvage-on
derelict. Without any strings tied
to it, of course. And want it quick
ly."
"See here" said Creaking, you'd
best take the ship, since you went to
all that trouble" He had altered face
like protean. He altered again. He
said with the old snarl back again:
"And much good may she do you'll"
Seymour saw a great light. "You
mean that" he asked, craning for
ward.
Il mean just that"
"Put it down in writing then. Say
that you hereby give the Bolsover to
me in return for services rendered"
He stared Creaking down and Dawn
pushed pad under his eagle nose.
Creaking painfully wrote to dictation.
"Think yourself lucky if l don't pro-
coed against you for blackmail," he
qualified his gift, and Seymour an
swered him in his own words: "Prove
it! A wife can't give evidence again
st her husband, unless she wishes.
But don't put any more Creaking ships
down the Locker, if you take my adj
vice. Coming, DAWN" They left
the office together, and on the land
ing Seymour danced the first steps
of a fantastic hornpipe.