White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-05-02

and added very concisely, II might be
able to attack Sebastiens claim and
| to recover on it. But it would not be
worth my while to attack any claim of
| Doctor Whites"
Here was sound opinion directly
| stated, and Tom was bound to &C
knowledge the justice of it. The chan
| ces were that Doctor White had got to
| thinking about that prominent part of
| the ledge after seeing Robert and his
| father studying it, and had gone out
later in his boat and thumped a lead
on it, just as Robert had DONE The
Doctor might even have driven a
weighted horse maekerel harpoon down
into it, or something of the sort. Such
procedure, followed by hurry call for
a diver, did not match up at all with
the liberal, easy-going methods of a
man who had never been known to
take a mean, though legal, advantage of
anybody; and Tom coud not see him
doing such thing, especially after
extending his hospitality to these for
eign treasure seekers whose moral
claim, after all, had to be acknowl-
edged.
Perhaps you're right, Lieutenant"
he muttered. anyhow what rye
agreed to, stands. Just what do you
want me to do?"
"No more than that" Robert an
swered. "stick to your agreement with
me. Nothing was said about any third
party taking hand in this game, but
I think it was quite well understood
that we were in it first and last for
ourselves. AS I see it, there's not such
tremendous difference between Sc
bastien eavesdropping through the
! speaking tube and Doctor White
!. watching me take a bearing on the po-
sition of the wreck" His voice altered
suddenly to it's former comradly tone.
$50 you really can't blame me, old
chap, at finding it a bit thick that you
suddenly let me down for Doctor
White"
well, but I never meant it that
way"
"Of course not. I thoroughly appre-
ciate your point of view. You reasoned
that since the game was blown all
over the shop through my playing like
a CHASTITY ass, the best move would be
to throw in with the next best man -
for both of us, of course"
| Tom had felt this coming. Honest
as he was to the very core and with
that exaggerated faculty to see the 9TH
er PERSONS point of view, often to be
found in strong, simple natures, he
could not blame Robert. Worse than
that, he could find no argument with
which to meet his demand. It was,
SO far as Tom could discover, logical
and consistent. The evidence all went
to vindicate it. Robert had no reason
to favor Doctor White, or to consider
him other than as one more person
who had spied out his secret and was
in train to blk him of it's potential
| value. And here was the chance to
derail that train.
What made it indefinitely harder for
Tom was his being obliged to admit
that if if any other person than Doc
tor White had been in the same posi-
ton, there would not have been the
slightest hesitation or opposition over
doing as Robtrt suggested. Tom would
have proposed it himself. So that he
now found himself obliged to take his
choice between betraying his ally or be-
traying his friend. The former course
would mean to Robert an act of treach-
cry for self interested motive.
Then, in the darkness of despair,
Toms hontst soul was lightened by a
little CLEAN that suggested how he
might get out of the predicament with
honor-and nothing more. But that
] much was worth 3 lot to Tom.
/ Say, Bob, our agreement was that
If we pulled this thing off we were to
split three ways on the proceeds of ii"
Fright. That's the way understood
it, Tom"
"Well, then, will assign my share to
Doctor White and guarantee that he
will be satisfied with that if we back
his play from now on"
"But how can you guarantee that,
Tom? How do you know that he will
honor any such pledge on your part?"
Tom gave him a steady look. How
was to know that your father would
honor yours?"
Robert smiled. "There you've got
me- Tom"
You know your father Tom said,
"and took your word for it. know
Doctor White and guess it's up to you
to take my word for it."
Robert looked at him steadily, and
as he looked a. glow of admiration
kindled in his eyes. He thought that
he had rightly read his man, but now
he believed that he had UNDERGRAD him.
The emotional part of his nature was
stirred. He had guessed at the stake
for which Tom had been playing, and
he had felt while talking to Jessica
that he easily might become keen to
play for it himself.
I'll take your word for anything,
Tom" Robert said.
We'll, then, let's get busy" Tom an
swered. "For all we know, Sebastien
may be out there on the job right
now"
CHAPTER x
| II l,xx +laic ti,,,o o,<aloalx full