The midland journal., 1946-10-18
BY fss.ys & MM

ed 70 ROD tnem OF Wnat rev possess
sions they had carried away from
the steamer, and when they objected
the inevitable conflict had been pre-
cipitated.
"EIe had a crazy idea we knew
something about smuggled jewels
that he said were aboard the steam
er," Hen Pettigrew explained lat
er. "Don't know where he got the
idea. Must have dreamt it."
mo-" replied Dick, smiling. 81
told him."
Hen and the others looked at him
inquiringly.
Dick chuckled ruefully at the
thought of how his ruse had COM
plicated the situation so that others,
perfectly innocent of any attempt
at deception, had been drawn into
the net. His invention had nearly
cost the lives Of a dozen men in
cluding that of his old enemy, and
for a moment he grew grave and
serious; then, recalling the various
sequences Of events that had ended
so satisfactorily, he laughed again.
II guess, after all, that was the
best story ! ever invented" he add
ed. Anyway, it seems to have
worked"
Briefly as he could he outlined
this part Of his adventure. The 9TH
ers listened and nodded their heads
with grinning approval. When he
was through Hen glanced keenly at
him.
81 could almost believe you were
smuggler, Jordan, If didn't know
you weren't"
Dick flushed. perhaps I am"
he retorted challengingly. "How do
you know I'm not? You know my
record"
yes" slowly, 81 know your rec
ord"
The sudden gravity of their faces,
and the challenging light in their
eyes, disturbed Rose, who glanced
from one to the other. She began
suddenly to distrust the man they
had saved.
"Dick's record" she said slowly,
thrusting an arm into one of his,
sis clean. Whatever it might have
been in the past, it's been wiped out
now"
There was a silent pause, an awk-
ward period in which the two men
exchanged glances that none of the
others could interpret; but there
was evident hostility between them
based upon something in the past.
Rose pulled Dick gently away.
"Come. There's so much to do.
We must help the wounded, even if
they are Caribs and our enemies. "
Captain Bedford had already as
sumed charge of the situation, and
the seamen willingly took orders
from him. The dead Caribs were
buried on the beach, and the wound
ed cared for. Then with the small
boats they made visit to the lug
ger, which had been rolling lazily at
anchor in the cove.
Captain Bedford overhauled the
craft, and finally shifted his scorn.
"She amt worth sailin' into port.
She's stinkin' hulk that ought to
have gone to the bottom long ago.
Well leave her."
"But, Cap'n," protested one of
the seamen, "she's good enough to
carry us home. We amt figgerin'
on staying here longer'n we have
to. We're a bit homesick."
"Sure!" was the grinning retort.
"But the Betty's worth dozen sich
luggers. I figger we can patch her
up in less'n a week an sail home.
Well have a full crew now. Wait'll
ye see her."
A visit to the Betty on the oppo-
site side of the island put new heart
in the castaways, and under Cap
tain Bedford's direction they began
to work cleaning up the decks and
restoring the schooner to her old
time condition. The lugger was
used to tow her around the island
where, anchored in the quiet cove,
repairs could be made without fear
of another storm wrecking her.