Show U I Jolia Solomon o o oo oo o Incognito Ito o o o s e I eye burs br i H. H THE STORY THUS FAR Mine Aline Lavergne owns own Cypremort Cypremort Cypre- Cypre mort a plantation In the Louis loula lens lana bayou bayous II She leaves leave the management to John an old retainer and faithful but not a Rood good business man roan as ae Ah AhL L Lee Lae e the Manchu who is I. trying to help Aline Allne explains to the tho mysterious John Solomon Mines Mine's uncle David Macarty And hla hi son aon on Felix under pretense of looking after arter her ber Interests plot to get Ret control of ot the plantation On One of their schemes achemes li Is to dam the bayou and thus thua dry up Ut herrice tier her rice fields Then they try to get gel rid of Philbrick Aline Allne suspects th the and consults consulta Jack For Fortier tier a young lawyer who take takes her bel case c. c He finds find a n big fight tight on his hla hands hand for tor the 1 Ma Ma- Ia are all aU Tb They try to bribe him ort oIL Then they have hue him beaten up but he hi la t. rescued by John Solomon The drop open hostilities and Invite Fortier and Aline to togo toIrO togo go IrO on thel their I yacht yach t the Water- Water sprite sprit to Inspect the plantation Solomon 11 has secured the job of at steward ward Aline Allne gets geta a telegram from saying that he Is le going away for a while and has ha left the plantation In charge of Captain Wrexham The Water Water- sprite starts on her hundred hundred- mile vOY voyage lIe Quartermaster of found dead on deck deckwith deckwith deckwith with second mates mate's knife In his hla back Captain Wrexham entertained entertained entertained enter enter- at Cypremort Takes Taku charge and pockets contents of safe te charged with murder Sheriff Sherin searches for him Mcarty Macarty attempts to bribe Wrexham Wrex ham h m to betray betra Alice Allee Lavergne Ah Lee calls calli on Wrexham Chinaman accuses Wrexham of burning his hla junk I CHAPTER X Continued X 8 Well Veil he answered that goes back to trouble I had with her skipper when we were ere laying side by side at nt Timor Laut and tho the whole thing started that way ray Just how it was I dont don't ber Der One thing led Jed to another Finally he drowned one of ot my at 1 and after atter that I left the harbor and laid lair for him I X see lee responded the Manchu AH AU this very unfortunate It cost coat me 1 a ship and a rich cargo cargo cargo-a a very rich J ergo This was true enough Some of ot the loot was still aboard the Nautilus In chests Captain Tom Wrexham had been In some tight places In the course of his life lite but hut In none which pinched so tightly as this one Being Heine conversant conver with the world he knew that he was standing landing cheek check by Jowl with death the only question was Just what form that death would takeI take I had a long talk with Mr Phil brick k today said Bald the Manchu's level voice Wrexham's head Jerked Something In iii the tone of those words sharpened his glance lance Ah Ahl I Then you OU know what's f going on n n here herer Ah Lee smiled It was a smile of 1 1 o d I. I He Me Knew He Was Wat Cheek by Jowl With Death genuine ge amusement a smile that ended ended ended end end- ed In a richly musical laugh Yes Ye Ioor Poor Philbrick I He lIe learned I something thing this day When I left him hims s he bt was war like a man dumfounded I 1 Oh ho hoi hol I said suld Wrexham You Tou mean you OU told him things about me p ehY All Ah Lee Iee gave ae him a glance of astonishment as- as Of course Bourse not About bout myself You see StI he has bus always considered roe rae JI something I a as 81 you 1 0 or nr I would regard a ar r lazy luzy worthless coolie He lIe knew or t nl I J that I was engaged In the ther pr 7 r I of liquor and he had bud threatened i r J V 11 t i I II I 01 j to shoot me What he ha never knew until today was that Miss Lavergne Is a very dear friend of mine It was os turn to be startled He lie stiffened In his hla chair But Dut Ah Lee continued meditatively We are friends friend yet yes but not openly I am not you understand n a very good person to be considered as the friend of ot a n young oung girl girl In In this country Often we have met and talked Small favors have passed During a n year sr and more we hove bavo progressed In our own form of friendship You should really know her captain Asia Is supposed to to top produce p produce pro pro- duce dure wonderful women yet fet I J have never encountered any with the peculiar pe I culiar cullor charm of Lavergne Ln The protruding eyes eye of Wrexham were filled with a questioning and perplexed perplexed per per- light Tills This Oriental was speaking in n a hushed and reverent voice as one speaks of ot some Borne high and sacred thing Wrexham gradually comprehended that he was being furnished with certain vital Information that information that the Manchu t had ad n a deliberate purpose In what he was saying saving Ah Lee Leo looked up and smiled but now the nolle smile was waB thin and dry very sardonic I will concede he said his hla words smoothly acrid that you you are a a. very evil e moan man You undoubtedly will concede concede concede con con- cede that I am om also a n very evil person a menace to the community Yet from my talk with Philbrick I learned something something some some- thing about you For example that you were Impelled Impelled Im Im- polled to take this plantation In charge of ot a singular Influence exerted upon you h hy by Miss Lavergne's Lavergnes photo photo- graph In oth other r wordy words l some residuum of ot basic good In I l your our soul Boul was awak ened Into life lite l I grunted with a n awry awry wry grimace f lie Ho was uneasy and dis die At this Instant there penetrated to them a muffled disturbance of tile tho atmosphere at at- a a dull thudding vibration that was felt rather than heard beard Al Al- Almost Almost most at once It was followed by br a second reverberating shock Ah L Lee Ie started lifting eyes eyes' that were a sudden Budden blaze of ot light Ills His hands hands' moved slightly In his hla wide sleeves But Dut Wrexham waved his hi cigar and chuckled calmly Dont worry he said That was wa my Irrigation machinery at work Perhaps Per Ier haps you dont don't know all the Ins and outs of this place place- J 1 know said the Manchu But Dut this this this- Well put In the seaman young Macarty was here last night and served notice on me vice John Phil brIck to Irrigate the rice fields The water went down this morning Tonight Tonight To To- night I am Irrigating Irrigating that's that's all alii t l Admiration gleamed In the oblique Oriental eyes So that was why you OU were out In Ina Ina Ina a canoe thiN evening when I arrived I IOhl IOhl Ohl Oh I You knew that did you you Of course You have been watched And you were were were- Using up some Bome old dynamite I had aboard the schooner A time fuse and anda a float Coat Now lets let's get back to first causes You say Bay that you and Miss Lavergne are friends friends' But Dut young Macarty Intimated that you and h he were friends likewise We have had dealings returned the Manchu Imperturbably He ne does doea not know that Miss Lavergne Is my friend however Now I should like to ask you a few questions Ah Lee regarded him For or a moment the black eyes were chill chUl and terrible Until this morning I fully tully Intended to kill you captain Especially since I have not long to live and the disease grows on me But Dut now I have laid aside such Buch thoughts Reason Beason Rea on beta what Inquired the seaman cheerfully yet et suspiciously That friendship In tho the scale of ot ethics comes above e revenge Miss Mias Lavergne Is In deep trouble she must ha e friends to aid her filer The gods have bave sent you yon to that end Wrexham was Instantly astonished Eh 7 Come now now what what about yourself your self selU Miss Lavergne Is my ray friend captain cap taro tain he said You love lo her as BI Ido I perceive with perceive with the love lo that Is permitted per peJo any man toward an object of ot rare beautY whether It be a woman a delicate p porcelain or a picture on the he wall In this tone was Vas a fine tine Irony which Wrexham could not at all understand For or a moment the skipper was tempted to think that there was something odd and queer er about this picture of ot Aline Allne Lan Lavergne then Lavergne-then then then he be for forgot ot the notion Instantly What about them questions he demanded Ah All Lee nodded Do you ou know anyone any one by the name of John Solomon Wrexham frowned over his df cigar ar stared hard Into the fire embers No Xo cant can't say that I do do yet yet the name name hold hold on I 1 I f got ot It There was vas wasu wasa u a ship chandler o 0 that name In Port fort Said years ears an an years ears ago I mind the place now DOW Lord I aint aIDt even eTeD v n thought o 0 o Port Said Bald In years I tou You dont don't know the tha man then them r Not personal Pinon no Ah lh h Lee Le removed hla ht hands handa from his hit sleeves lINTel produced his bis cigarette case cue and lighted a tube Did you OU ever aver bear hear mention of ot the Queen of Sheba Or the Gemini Or Orthe Orthe Orthe the Sea Sea moon Wr Wrexham turned and stared Lord love me met mel 1 This here bere U 11 a rum go And the farther you rou goes the rummer rummer rummer rum rum- mer It gets getal Here Macarty como comes along and asks some IOme such question and now now you yon No I never nITer heard of or era em whether Its It's a lunar rainbow or stars stare that aint been charted I What's it mean 7 Across the wrinkled yellow fellow face slipped a mask malk of Impassivity Before Defore he died Mr Lavergne Lavergne- Miss MIs Allne's Aline's father mentioned father mentioned those thOe words There was no explanation Philbrick knows something of 1 It but has not told me Never Ne mindl mind I Ah Alt AhLee Lee rose to his feet You are not a fool tool Captain Wrexham The rest lies with you Now I must go for tor I have hue overstayed my time and I must go and ond drink some Borne Ng Ka Py lr Goodnight Goodnight Good Good- night and ond good rood luck I l IRo ISo 1 So Ro saying Ah Lee extended hit his hand Wrexham took It it For an Instant instant In In- stant the eyes eres of the two men met and i iI 0 I QA 1 Ah Lee Lea Extended His Hand gripped even as their fingers lingers gripped In lu that Instant each euch came to understand understand under under- stand many Dany things about the other Then Ah Alt Lee bowed slightly slight slight- ly and left the room Wrexham remained where he was For a space apace the skipper stood motionless motionless motionless mo mo- watching the door that had hael closed His tow fate was Will a study In emo emo- lions At length a sigh fame came from him Lord but this Is a B rum go gal I I he be breathed A rum go and no mistake 1 I First I get that letter about the other party then I run on head-on Into this c chap ha p. p Ills His eyes wandered to the photograph photograph photo photo- photograph graph on the mantel and dwelt upon It In curious wonder He lie addressed himself to the picture And what happens Why miss you turn up to save nave my rotten life lite that's what I l If It I hadn't taken on this Job the yellow fellow lad would ha done doue for me rae If It Jt hadn't been for your Jour picture Id I'd not ha taken it on If It It hadn't been been oh oh Lord I Im I'm lone done up wl wi thinking about It It and that's the truth lie He sighed again and lowered himself himself himself him him- self Into his chair As AI he ha himself might have expressed It Wrexham could have been knocked down with witha a feather it at t the unexpected Issues 1 of his meeting with Ah Lee Ike It had not been a long conversation but It had been frightfully tense for Wrexham who had bad during a good half of ot It expected expected ex n- to be killed at ar each Instant Now he found himself weak and shaken lie Fie meant It it about and so forth he be ruminated and sod looked up again at the picture Yes Yee maam ma'am he loves you ou and no ml mistake That tur tur- dyed meric-dyed limb of ot the devil Is II In love with you JOu I Just the same as I am and no harm Intended by sayin so Its It's your eyes right down Into a man I Im I'm beginning to believe belleve that you do exist Just like Uke your Jour picture If It you do Lord help me when we meet I Ill I'll turn missionary or something And you ou saved my life lite Instead of me the yellow ello beggar wishes me good luck I The thing I ever heard In my life Ute And why did he do doIt doIt doit It Because Ut auae you rou were his bis friend I Well the whole things thing's beyond me I that's all alL' This was Wal a mere figure of speech The Tile whole thing t was not beyond belond Tom Wrexham not in the least As Ah Lee had said he be was no fool And he expected trouble when Macarty Macarty Ma Ma- carty discovered that the dam was blown up CHAPTER XI Captain Tom Wrexham made no mistake mistake mistake mis mis- take In judging his actions He lit knew that his overt acts had committed him and that all parley with the was off ott lIe He expected to get some red red- hot d declaration of war and was prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared to give as good as I he be got lot However to his vague ngue uneasiness nothing happened lie He saw nothing more of ot Felix ElIx Macarty The Nautilus unhurt by her dip in the mud floated once more with the full current of water wa ter A sunlit peace and calm brooded over everything The Tho dUB dare fled Ced swiftly r and end Soy Joy 1 I the more so 10 that Wrexham found himself now facing the world with clean ele-an bands band nothing bands nothing left to trouble his bis conscience no fear of old enemies cropping up That shock had bad come com and gone again lIe He was eager eager ealer now note for Macarty to open battle With nil his fins fine contempt for the law Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham Wrex Wrex- ham was wu quite quit ready for tor anything A visit to the dam showed him that it was Wal finely destroyed but the site lite remained remained re re- re- re deserted What did it mean Had the one blow knocked out the Hardly probable Since there was Wal no lack of labor Wrexham careened the schooner Bc scraped and painted her bottom put every last Inch of her into an as absurdly absurd absurd- ly perfect condition Sometimes he slept aboard her lie He was hard to reconcile to land hours and kept much to the sea a system of four hours hour of slet sleep p and another aDOth r four of wak wakefulness and work Thus he was at all times Nothing happened however and the enemy appeared quite routed Several times Ume-s Wrexham got out that book which John Philbrick had made and he read It from rover m to cover er By Dy degrees he came to have hue an appreciation tion of l Philbrick came to a better understanding understanding un and liking of ot the graybeard gray gray- beard who had all aU his life Ute dreamed of going to sea and sea and had never gone Also that book took gave him an idea He ne visited the room which belonged ed to Aline Allne Lavergne a a quaint old room furnished entirely In buhl buM Wrexham had a red teak chest cheat brought ashore from the schooner summoned Aunt Sapphira and set let to work upon the room Upon Upen the dressing dressing dress dress- ing table h he be laid out a set Bet of ot exquisite little bottles wrought from moss agate crystal and amethyst Behind and above the armoire he draped a wide brocade of softly glimmering blue and gold a R brocade that had been old and priceless before the days of the great Across the bed so 80 rich In its deep tortoise shell and brasses he flung a stole of ermine lined with sun hued silk upon which was broidered the name of ot Shin Tung Tong the last emperor to stand before the altar of the Palace of ot nea Heaven n. n Upon the wall he be hung a sheet of ot Jade highly carved and framed In silver |