The Syracuse Journal, Volume 20, Number 1, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 3 May 1928 — Page 7

Idle Island By ETHEL HUESTON

Copyright 1927 by The Bobbs-Merrill Co. WNU Service. r CHAPTER Xll—Continued —l7— The captain studied the papers -again. “Pulled a boner bringing that fool Besser on board,” he said softly. “What am 1 to do with him?’’ “Sorry, but 1 had to bring him. i couldn’t let him go. He had been snooping about, and 1 didn’t know how much he had picked up.” “Why didn’t y u—” The captain’s gentle voice trailed off suggestively. “Two reasons, and both d —d good ones. We couldn’t get rid of him in that cove. You ought to know that.— My God, I’ll never forget poor Blakely, and how he kept coming in on every wave.—That cove, I tell you, is a trap. The tide gets nothing out, brings everything back. —Five times Blakely came in—the men ciirsing and praying —crossing themselves. —And at the last we had to keep him there in the shack till he rotted. I tell you, rotted. —Besides,” he said, “that was my bargain with you. I told you in the beginning that 1 stuck at murder, and 1 still do. i D—d if I’ll kill them un Ue.ss 1 have to.” "A good preacher was lost in you. Ronnie,” the captain said - affectionately. “You've got a conscience—or a weak stomach —same thing.—Why. what’s one crook more or less in a .world full of ’em?” i “Blakely was no more a crook than ’] am,” Ronald muttered doggedly. The captain-laughed jovially. “Well, bless us. boy. what else are you?— I'nine, have more coffee. —You’ve got the blues.” He touched the bell. The -captain glanced at the list of names In his hand. “Bring Mr. Rivers." he -said to the seaman who answered. “There’s a reward of three thousand -for him. but he had plenty on him, so 1 saidlfive.” One pf the men from the Little club came in, his hat in his hand. The two officers nodded to him curtly, without offering him a chair.- He laid his papers before the captain. “John D. Rivers. London. Passi -ports, visas, birth certificate, every- ’ .thing O. K.—Ninety dollars, Mr. Rivers. I understand you are going home on this old freighter because of the economy.—Sorry we can give you no better accommodations,” he said suavely, “but we do not cater to passen jgers. really.—Fare, ninety dollars." The man Rivers without a word out five thousand from his wallet, and laid it on the table. Ingram handed him a receipt for the money. One after another the men from the Little club were ushered into the captain's room, their papers examined ■with great attentiveness, their money taken —usually fat rolls of bills for which a form receipt was given tn exchange. When the last man had gone out the captain figured swiftly on the back of an envelope for a moment Then, detaching a small amount/Torn the heap in his open drawer, he counted out a portion of it, and put It in a section of the wall safe beside the desk. “One thousand eight dollars for the good ship Roger Williams," he said. "Twelve stalwart passengers at ninety dollars a head.” The rest of the money he tucked quickly |nto a steel box, and touching a secret spring tn his table, fitted the box within It, closed it again. “And for the brains and blood behind the Roger Williams—a wee mite more,” be said laughingly. They smoked for a moment in silence. The captain poured out fresh coffee. “The papers were good.” the captain said in a tone of satisfaction. "He's getting better and better.—We may need to keep a friendly oversight am him. He’s getting almost too good. — Well, let’s turn in. I’m tired. You look like the face on the bar-room floor, Ronnie. Cheer up. Things are looking up to heaven. That takes care of everything, doesn't It?" One Instant they both paused, on the edges of their chairs, for a final puli at their cigarettes. And in that moment Gay wriggled out from be.neath the bunk silently and took one firm but fearful step toward them. “It —doesp’t take care of —me," she stammered weakly. CHAPTER XIII "Gay Delane!” The exclamation was Ronald Ingram's. Even in that terrible moment Gay was quick to observe the sinister change that came over the captain’s face. His air from one Os rich well--being became portentous and greatly still. The soft brown eyes receded into themselves, became fathomlessly deep and dangerous. His lips showed a straight red line between the black of bis mnstacle and beard. One quick appraising look he gave her, a look that swept her from leather boots to leather cap. and then be turned about in his chair and looked at Ronald Ingram His voice was a dangerous purr. “This. Mr. Ingram, is a flagrant'infraction of rules, as you know very -well. You have deliberately disobeyed the one order to which I have held -every one around me in all of my va-rious-sailings.—No women aboard is >my rale—and no women aboard applies right now." There was a slight s return to something of .suavity be „ - neeth Ms anger as be turned to Gay.

“Madume. lam sorry. I can understand that a woman may tujve quite as good reasons us « man for wishing to sail without the fanfare of publicity. The ladies, madame, have my sympathy, but they do not sail on my ship." He bowed mockingly, the red lips curving into a derisive smile. “Sorry, very sorry, but law’s law. The charm of youi presence, the warmth of your beauty, the brightness of your eye, serve to strengthen me in my conviction that women play the devil on shipboard. Sorry. I have never had a woman aboard, and—" “But—l am aboard,” said Gay faintly. “You are, yes. Worse luck to all of us. But you won’t be —very long. Where are your papers?” “Sir," interrupted Ronald Ingram quickly, “1 beg your pardon, but — you do not understand. Miss—the lady is—not a fugitive. She is my —my fiancee. —We love each other — we—we could not bear to be sep arated —” The captain’s dcrk eyes were still boring Into Gay’s face, and in that Instant Ronald was able to flash her a warning signal with his eyes. Quickly she realized that he wished to help her, and the warm gratitude in the look she gave him might easily have been misconstrued by one who thought she loved him. The' captain’s eyes had not wavered from her face. “How much do you know of our—business ventures?” he demanded curtly. And then, in hope forgetting to seek advice in Ronald’s pleading eyes, she blundered into her great error. Her desire was to intimidate the captain, show him her power, make him respect her for ner knowledge, and she cried triumphantly: “Everything! 1 know everything.— Smuggling Chinese, forged passports. —Yes, the murder of poor Blakely—everything!” It was no less than murder that showed in the captain’s black eyes then. His voice was a whisper, the whisper of a wild animal panting. “ “So! Everything.” His eyes turned slowly upon Ronald Ingram. And Gay, following his glance, seeing bis fury, seeing Ronald’s consternation at her revelation, realized the gravity of her mistake. “Oh. no,” she gasped. “Oh. no.” The captain’s eyes traveled slowly that deadly trail from Ronald’s eyes to hers again. “Yes?” he purred. Gay pulled herself together. "He did not tell m,e.” she disclaimed quickly. “He told me you were just independent shippers, running a tramp steamer wherever you could get a cargo.” “Who told you—everything—then? Not—Moy Sen?” “Certainly not.” But she gained confidence, strengthened by the firm timbre of her own voice. “But It was Moy Sen who first aroused; my sus picions. 1 live in the cottage next to the clubhouse. Moy Sen watched me —and I caught him. That was curious.—And then 1 put things together. Why Ronald went away so suddenly, why he had purchased the clubhouse, how Blakely’s body came into the cove— 1 put everything together and It was strange. So —I —just snooped.” A quick flash of amusement lightened the black fury of the captain’s face. “Oh! You snooped I” "Yes, I —l loved him. and 1 had to find out from the piazza floor and crawled under and peeked through the oilcloth over the window and —I saw everything.” “And knowing — everything — still you took a chance and came along?” “1 could not bear to —to let him go away—into such danger—alone. Besides—it is all your fault,” she said accusingly, but then was no very convincing quality in the accusation. “You are older than he, you are magnetic, powerful. You led him into It" The captain laughed softly at that, but frowned again in a moment. “This is a devilish kettle of fish,” he grumbled anxiously to Ronald “Where are her papers?” “She has no papers, sir. She only decided to come tonight.” “How do you expect to get her ashore—” “She won’t go ashore, sir. She Is an American citizen, so am 1. She will stay on board when we are in foreign ports. And when we come back we can land Ler at the island.—l couldn’t come away—without her.” The captain lighted a cigarette, and bit the end of it thoughtfully. His mildness of manner had returned. ’ “I’m not •'blaming him, you understand. Miss—Miss—” “Gay is my name. Gay Delane.” “Gay. That’s dee. Like that Cali you Gay then, right off, since you’ll sort of be my mate-in-law as you might say.—You’ll have to keep tn your cabin, out of sight of the men.— You understand how men are. miss, when they’re at sea, no women, you know —goes co their heads—nice chaps our men, fine chaps—but the thought of a "Oman goes right to their heads.” “I—l wouldn t cause .trouble for anything,” Gay said quickly, and hope sprang into her heart again. “1 am sorry I came. 1 jee now bow foolish it was. But things just— went to my head, too, I suspect.—Perhaps you’d b< ar just put ne off and send me ashore in a small boat" “I’d like to,” .he captain said pleasantly, and a smile snowed tn the dark mild eyes, “I’d like to first rate. But It’s too late now. No, you’ll have to stick It out with the Roger Williams this trip. Keep her in your cabin. Ronald, until— You’ll have to be married! That’s the dope. The men don’t have much regard for women, but they show ame respect to a wife.’’ Gay flashed a frightened, appealing look at Ronald. Married! “The captain marry us," he stammered. “At sea. Captain’s privilege. Yes, that would be—best” But he did not meet her eyes. “Yes. And me ntime, keep her In, your cabin, and out of sight” The captain’s eyes wandered to Gay again warmly appraising slowly approving. “Maybe she’d better stay here. My cabin is safe enough, for woman, child or beast I’ll keep her for you." “No. She’ll be all right in my cabin.—She—she Is very nervous; I— I must console her.” “1 could console her," said the captain, smiling broadly.

RonuiU au. slant stare. He stepped qu<». ..» to indoor, and opened it. then, after a mo ment’s jwfuse while he waited for a seaman to pass through the corridor, he took Gay’s hand. The captain, -ruling, gave her a friendly touch on the shoulder. “Don’t be frightened, little girl,” he said. “I’m going to cake care of you. I am the captain here. Don’t be frightened.” “Th —thanks,” stammered Gay weakly, and then, hurrieu by Ronald who held her. band, .tu ran, a boyish slim figure beside him, ’>wi. the corridor to the farther cabin, and the door closed behind them. Safe in thejr retreat. Gay faced Ronald Ingram defiantly, chin sturdily upturned, hands in pockets, eyes stubborn. She was not afraid of Ronald Ingram. “What—what in the —the name of—heaven and earth —” be began wildly, “what In the name—of heaven —” “You said that once,” she interrupted coldly. “Don’t be silly,” And then she wilted suddenly. “D-don’t scold me. I—l—feel just—terrible. I —1 know I’m going to cry.” Then, re membering Rand, sue stiffened, faced him furiously again, drove the quiver from her lips. “Where is he.” she cried, “when is Randolph Wallace? What have you done with him?” “Oh!” Ronald Ingram looked white and sick all at once. “Oh. the Cavalier!—So that’s it. I might have known. Fool that 1 was. for a mo tnent 1 believed it —1 thought—l believed you really did come—because you loved me —” His voice broke, and his eyes were smartingly bright. But Gay was heartless. She caught his arm, held it in wrenching, strong young fingers. “You tell me,” she commanded. “If you have hurt —one hair of his head—’’ “I haven’t seen him. Gay. I don’t know anything about him. What has he to do with —us?’’ Gay wilted again, broke into soft painful sobs. “Rand. Rand.” she whispered through tears. “Don’t cry. Don’t He —he’s all right. D—n him. 1 don’t know where he is, but he’s all right. Nothing ever —only us poor—devils—who—get— Don’t cry, Gay.” He put his arm about her tenderly, but Gay wept passionately and .would not be comforted. “What the dickens did you tell him all that for?” he broke in at last impatiently. “Nice mess you’ve got yourself into. Why didn’t you keep your mouth shut, as I gave yob a sign? Why do women always have to blab everything they know?. You put yourself in his power by your own words. If he thought you were innocent, knew nothing, he would send you ashore. But now, knowing you have his life in your hands, you are his slave for life. You’ll never get out of his sight as long as you live. He wouldn’t dare let you go.” “1 was afraid of it,” she said faintly. “1 knew I had made a mistake when 1 saw his eyes. I was very foolish. I was never —very wise,” she admitted pathetically. “No. But you are—very sweet,” he said sadly. “Help me, Ronald. Won’t you help me? You said you—liked me. I only came because I thought—” “You thought that chap—the Cavalier—” "1 thought you would kill him, so I came—” “To intercede for him—to save him?” “Alas, no, I had no hope. 1 thought you would let us die together.” “1 will help you. Gay. It is puttiug my nose behind the bars to run the risk, .but 1 will do what 1 can. We must think, »ve must plan it out. You must pretend to be in love with me—keqp away from the captain—fear him more than the men. Gay. I am afraid be will Insist that you marry me. 1 almost hope he will.” “Oh, no; oh. no.” “You could easily have it annulled. Gay, don’t be foolish—marriage would protect you—until you reach home. I would not—bother you. Gay, watch the captain. Do not think he would stick at murder? Don’t you know that when a man is facing exposure, cap ture, death, he Is mad quite mad? Well, you mean those things to the captain. Gay, exposure, capture, death. He will keep you in his web like a spider. Remember Blakely—” “Blakely,” she said sadly. “Poor Blakely!” “You stand where Blakely stood. Watch the captain, and do not cross him, or you’ll lie where Blakely Iles. Blakely got in a mess—with a woman, too—no wonder Garman rules the women out; we’ve lost three good men because of them. Well. Blakely tried to swing Garman in to clear himself. You saw the end of Blakely. I tell you. Gay. watch the captain, and do not cross him.” “But. Ronald. 1 can’t marry you. I —1 love — I can’t marry you.” “Sh!” He signaled her into silence, his manner changed. “1 know, dearest,” he said clearly, “but don’t cry. Don’t be afraid of him. We were very wrong to do this, and put him in such a position, but he has promised to take care of you and be will keep his promise.” He indicated for her to take her cue. "I—l am afraid, Ronald,” she said faintly at first, but gaining courage as she spoke. “I—l wish I could go home. Oh, why did you let me come? Why didn’t you warn me? He hates me. 1 know. He looked very fiercely at me. He is handsome, is he not? But I know he hates me.” A brisk tap at the door, and tt opened. The captain entered, and. tee of the bravest of men. not without his smirk of satisfaction. His eyes upon Gay were amorous. (TO BB CONTINITBD.) Proof Positive To avoid chartering a special ear to ship 200 pounds of limburger cheese, a manufacturer packed tt in a rough, oblong box and checked tt as a corpse. At the first stop he went ahead to the baggage car to see that there was no trouble. He stood by the box tn a disconsolate attitude and shaded his eyes witih his hand. The baggage man was sympathetic. “A relative?" he asked. "Yes, it’s my brother." "Well, you have one «<nsol»tloa He’s dead, all right"

THE JOVRNAL

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