The Barnwell people-sentinel. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1925-current, January 21, 1926, Image 6
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FAfiSSDL
Whoever named the Island Valhalla,
A aort of paradlae In the South Atlantic
that flffurea In this atory, muat have
had In mind aome of the strenuous
eharacterlatica of V'alhalla, hall of the
(ode In Scandinavian mythology, odin'a
abode had Innumerable .doors eorre-
eponding to the caves and secret pas
sages of Mr. Walsh's, Island. The for
mer was the heaven, a place of eternal
feasting and dally combat for war
riors who had been sla)n In battle.
• The island Is a millionaire's winter
home, designed probably for feasting
and rsersatton, but which through the
machlnatlona of certain evil-minded
persona In tha rich man's entourage
becomss a place of combats, dark plots
and exciting adventurea. »
George Ethelbert Walsh Is one of a
•mall group of writers who are prov
ing that good sea stories did not be-
•eme extinct with the passing of the
sailing ship. While steam, tlectricity.
the radio and other modern develop
ments have lessened the perils of the
aeaan, they have not diminished Us
shares, mystery and romantic qualities
There ere etlll many far places, many
ehereely Inhabited shores and many Is-
lands ont of the paths of commerce
That are ideal spots ?0r ndventure. Hu
man passions have not changed and the
add, no less than the land, furnishes all
the materials which a novelist needs
fer storing, rsd-bleoded stories. The
modern tale of the deep can be made,
--and In this caee Is. aa fascinating as
'ethythlng produced by story-tellers of
at earlier generation.
• Mr. Walsh has been writing sea sto-
HedTVetern stories, boys' stories, snt-
mal eteries and others dealing largely
with A^'^tors and outdoor life for
mors than thirty "years. He was born
la Brooklyn, N. T.. and graduated Into
weMlag from -newspaper werk. His se
rial stories have appeared In most of
the leadfng magaslaea and weeklies
and his books have had a wide dis
tribution. He Is the author of some
thing kka •• serials and novels. He Is
• member of the Authors' League of
Amsrtca and makes his boms In Yon
kers. MY.
CHAPTER I
Dirk Van Nesa was unoklng end
angling off the end of the private
g place where he had no bu«l-
to be, when a pleasure jmrht
down the river and came to
Nrbor In mldntrvnm nearly abreast
gf him. At first IMrk was no more
than mildly Interested, for he knew
the screen of spiles would effectually
conceal him from view on the water
front; but a moment later he hecan
loaning forward, forgetting his flailing
pole and the glowing pipe In hia Imud,
ao eager waa he to read the name on
the stern.
“The 1'ellcan!” he muttered, frown-
lag- “It's the old Ileacon. I’m sure
of that! I'd recognlie her anywhere."
Then came pleaaant and unpleasant
memories to occupy hid thoughts. Hit
fishing tackle was neglected, and
when a fish nibbled at the bait he
made no responsive jerk.
“Cutler got the yacht In the final
breakup, I suppose," he mused.
“Thafa why ahe’a renamed.’*
Before the financial crash came
that ruined his father, Dick hud only
to signify a desire to take a cruise
ia the BoaCQD und it uas at his aarv-
ice. Now the yacht was Steve Cut-
lir’i, the man who had profited by bis
father's downfall.
He stopped in his musing* to watch
a small boat being lowered over the
aide of the yacht When It came
plunging through the water under the
powerful oars of two sailors, Dlok
gathered up bis line.
. "This must be Cutler’s private
dock,’* he grinned. “Rotten luck to be
caught fishing on it. But”—reflective
ly— “he wouldn’t recognize me—rtever
had a speaking acquaintance with him.
Guess fll wait."
There wqre only two passengers
In the boat—a medium-size man, with
dark hair and gray eyes, and a nose
inclined to hook a little at the end,
and a girl in her early twenties, with
fair hair and blue eyes. Dick studied
them closely from his hiding place.
“If that’s Steva Cutler," he mused
thoughtfully, “he’s younger than dad
waa by twenty years. Thought he was
alder."
He turned hia attention from the
nan to the girl.
“Cutler wasn't married." he resumed
after a pause. “Therefore, she"—
meanlag the girl in the boat—“can’t
h# bfp daughter. A guest, maybe.”
The tailors warped the small boat
alongside the float, and the first to
came ashore was the one who held
tha center of the stage. The easy,
graceful way in which she jumped to
the float, a little recklessly, it seemed
•t n distance, won Dick's Admiration;
bat her companion, who had leaned
forward to forestall her action, ap-
paared annoyed and distresaed.
'Ton should be more careful, Hiss
Alice,” be protested, landing dumslly.
"Please don’t be so redtlesn”
reply the girl laughed merrily.
, fudge! Fm. old enough to look
after myself. There’s uncle waring
jife ■ ■ . <
daunted a strip of gauzy lace
air la response to *9«stMng
white fluttering over the rail of v’hc
yacht.
.. Ifeanwhlle. the sailors hsd keen
dismissed and were rowing lustily
hack to the parent craft. The girl
continued watching antil^ the small
boat was hauled out of the water and
swung to the davits of the yacht.
“1 -wish uncle had come with* us,’’
she observed; then,, speaking half
petulantly, “I don’t see why—"
A sudden gUKt of wind tore at her
"lace scarf, and in her effort.to recover
it she jerked both hands upward.
Something light and glittering flew In
the air and landed with a splash In
the water. A III tie exclamation of
dismay escaped her lips.
“Oh, my hand bag!” she cried. "It'a
In the river, Mr. Blake! I’leasC get It!
It’s full of my papers and cards—
Oh, what shall I do!”
She ran to the ?'lge of the float as
If to plunge In after the hag, but a
restraining hand detained her. ^
“I’ll signal for the boat to come
back and pick It up. Miss Alice,” re
plied Mr. Blake calmly. “Don’t do
anything rash now!"
“But it’s sinking, and the tide's
carrying It sway. Oh, can’t you get It
for me?"
“I’m a poor swimmer, Mis* Alice,”
he apologized weakly, “and the tide Is
strong. I’ll have the boat buck in a
few minutes."
“Oh, dear. It will sink before they
get here.”
At this Juncture both were startled
hy a voice (list seemed to come from
the air directly oVer their heads. Dick
hud risen from his hiding place, and
stood in clear view on the end of the
dock.
"I think 1 can get It for you,” he
announced calmly.
They glanced up st the tall, lithe
figure, as if It were an apparition, Mr.
Blake frowningly and Miss Alice with
the light of expectation in her blue
eyes; but If either thought to see him
J plunge recklessly into the river the
disappointment was mutual.
Dick was calmly gathering In Ins
line for a cast. In more than one
casting tournament he had won out
against all contestants. The l>«g was
flouting down on the Mde. fifty feet
away, sinking gradually below the sur-
face us the water soaked in it.
The long bamboo |M>le was not the
kind he would choose for a easting
tournament, and lacking sll pretense
of a reel to control it, the line was
liable to whip and snarl in the wind;
hut there was a heavy sinker on the
end, nnd Dick gauged this against the
wind before he threw.
The two hidow’ watched the book
und sinker describe an arc In the air.
hesitate a moment over his head, and
The Two Below Watched the Hook
and Sinker Describe an Arc in
the Air.
then as if propelled by some invisible
force both went hurtllnf In s graceful
curve directly for the. floating bag. It
seemed for an Instant that Dick had
overestimated the distance, and some
thing approaching a sigh escaped the
girl's Ups; but a second later it was
changed to an exclamation of pure de
light. S
"Oh, you’ve got it!" she cried, clap
ping liar hands.
The hook bad caught in the lacy
mesh, and pa If he were hauling a
trout out of the stream Dick lifted the
bag from the water, and swung It with:
in reach of-the eager owner.
“If you’ll uhhook my catch,” he saM,
smiling, “III be obliged." i
Before she had the dripping hag
clear of the book, Mr; Biakt^ was
tiotiii ring tHe steps to the dock. A
near view of the man’s face was not
friendly; He was clearly annoyed.
“That was a lucky throw of youra,
my toftn," he said.' "Of course, you
knew fthing Is forbidden on this dock,
but as you've done Miss Cutler a serv
ice wc^f overlook that" -
Hk rambled in his pocket and drew
out a bill, *TU reward you for saving
the bag,” he added. “But you must
positively leave the dock, und not re
turn. Here, take this!" v ' — +
Dick glanced froth the man’s face to
the bill extended to him, a slow, slum
berous anger in his eyes. Then ho-sud
denly smiled nntHook the bill. Crum
pling It ID Ids bund, lie made a wad of
It, and deliberately thrust the hook
through It. - -
“This might be good halt for suck
ers,” he remarked. “Anyway, 111
try It.”
'He flung the money-halted hook back
in the water,, and Calmly resented him
self on the pier. Mr. Blake glared
furiously at him, his eyes glinting dan
gerously; hut before lie could speak
Alice Cutler was up the steps and hy
his side. Dick could feee by the amuse
ment; in her eyes that she had wit
nessed the whole proceeding.
"Oh, let him fish here as long as he
wants jto, Mr. Blake,” .shp erclainted
impulsively. “I owe-Hdm-tlrst much.”
^ Dick smiled. Into her eyes, but when
she fumbled into her bag for some
thing his face grew red and hot.
"Now please don’t use this for halt.’*
she said merrily, “but* keep It until
some day you may need it. It’S more
than a card of introduction. I’ll re
deem It In any way you ask at any
time^*
Dick looked at the white piece of
pasteboard thrust Into his hand. 1 It
was an ordinary visiting card, wijjl her
name engraved neatly across the faces,
CHAPTER II !
About the shabbiest trick that fate
cab play on us is to bring us into the
world with a silver spoon In the
mouth, and then, when we grow accus
tomed to It, change it Into cheap pew
ter metal. It leaves an unpleasant
taste lor years after, nnd some never
quite get rid of that tlu-copi>ery-brassy
flavor. , -
Dick Van Ness was an amiable
young man, without more than his
share of faults and possibly with ss
many virtues Hi u potential state as
the average man carries around In his
system, when fate subjected him to
this acid test.
How he met it Is not necessarily
nearly so Interesting and spectacular
ss many fiction writers would invent
for their heroes. He was a bit put
out by It, considerably chagrined and
disappointed, but being young und in
fine health he thought the world was
his oyster, and he could open It. ,
A chip of the okl block, why couldn't
he make a fortune as easily as his
father? There was no reason, except
that apparently he didn't Inherit the
peculiar quality of mind that hint made
the elder Van Ness a power In the
financial world.
Dick didn’t know It at the time, but
it was revealed tuJiiui in the course of
years. Combined A with the utter lack
of all experience and training, the
handicap was fatal. Ho drifted and
floundered, driven from pillar to post,
making fool mistakes that an office
boy could have put him straight on,
and in tke end he returned in disgust.
Dick had a vein of romance in his
system, inherited from his mother per
haps, and a love for adventure; but
neither of these had found lodgment
in fhe elder Van Ness, which may have
accounted for his remarkable SUei’ess
in finance. They are not necessarily
incompatible with achievement, but
they have to be held In subjection
when business calls.
Self-acknowledged, nnd by common
consent admitted by the world, to be
a failure, Dick had no senrples in giv
ing full vent to his imaginings. For
getting his fishing, he dreamily pic
tured scenes quite different from the
reality until suddenly aroused by the
footsteps of the watchman.
He effected his escape from the pri
vate dock with much greater celerity
and safety than the previous owner of
bis fishing tackle. Once on solid land
again, be gave a last wistful look at
the I’eUcan.
“I’d sell yiy right hand for a long
cruise in her again,” he slghet). “I’d
even be willing to go as a deck hand."
He stopped, and looked startled at
'his own suggestion. WJiy not? Then
he answered Jilin self with a sad sha&a
of the head. Because he had no expe
rience or references, they would not
employ him even as a deck hand.
Deck hands had to know something.
"And I don’t know anything worth
knowing!" he blurted out in disgust.
Nevertheless ail that afternoon and
evening the fancy clung to him that
his future was in some way Inex
tricably mixed up with his-father’* old
yacht and the girl who had rewarded
him with the gift of her flsiting card.
She hud promised to redeem it in any
way he asked, at any time, and if ha
went to her and begged a berth on her
ancle’s yacht she would undoubtedly
grant his request; but such a course
was repugnant to him, and not to be
considered. *
Late In the evening Dick, still linger
ing in the vicinity of the waterfront,
as If fasclnatfed by the smell of the
ships and the salt brine across the
harbor, nibbed elbows with a couple
bound in the opposite direction. The
night was dark. and. the waterfront
poorly lighted; but for all that Dick
recognized one of the men. He
stopped .abruptly In his tracks, and
watched the receding figures.
“Mr. Blake." he mused, placing
ironic emphasis on the name. '“Wom-
der If he's going aboard the Pelican:*
He meditated In silence a few mo
ments, and then followed.*’ It was easy
to keep the couple within sight without
exposing himself to view. They were
going In the direction of the private
dock, and Dick had no doubhs ghout
the'r abjective. He took advantage of
every favorable street Itmp to study
their backs, and pnee, when the second
man stopped to light a cigar, lie got a
glimpse of his f face.
“Hutt isn’t old man Cutler, either,”
he said, frowning. “Too young for
him. und too big and husky. If I re
member rightly he was a small, wiz
ened, dried-up man.”^ ,
The one accompanying v Mr. Blake
was anything but that,. Tall, square
shouldered und bony of anus and legs,
he was the very picture of health and
muscular strength. Dick caught a
glimpse Of gold braid on an arm
sleeve, and the flash of something on
his cap.
“The captain of the Pelican,” he
breathed.
He smiled- as he recalled the amount
of gold bntid und emblems that his
father’s skipper wore. Captain Johns
ton ! Where was he? Had he lost his
Job with the sale of the old Beacon?
Apparently he had, for this one was
the very antithesis of the short, fat
navigator of the yacht under its former
ownership.
The dock was in dense gloom, except
for red lights burning at fhe end, and
a white one at the entrance. There
was no sign of a watchman, nnd as
the men were unchallenged Dick fol
lowed. Wh*n they stopped abruptly
at the head of the steps leading down
to the float Dick was within twenty
feet of them. He slid behind a spile
and remained motionless.
“You’d better coal early in the
morning, Captain Brent,” Mr. Blake
was saying. "Take enough aboard for
a couple of montba. We may need it.
We don't want to get caught short."
“Reckon not, Mr. Blake," replied the
other chuckling. "’Twould .sort of let
the cat out of the bag If we had to
sneak into some harbor for coal be
fore the time was up.”
“Yes. we must guard against any
such contingency. I'll phone
Blank’s pier theHrst thing In the me
ing for ail fhe~coal you can s(
abonrd.” —* ' *
puffing volcanically at his cigar
“Shortly after suiideiun. Lay off
here at sunset, und when you see the
signals send the bouts ashore."
“There’ll be a lot of dunnage, I
a’pose?”
... “No, nothing but light traps—chiefly
personal things of Miss Cutler's. Most
of the baggage will go aboard earlier.
I'll see to that."
“You say there'll be four of’em?"
“Yes, Mr. Cutler. Miss Alice, her
maid and Doctor Alster."
“And yourself?”
“Certainly 1” said Mr. Blake, a little
tartly, “I’ll come down with the
party.”
"All right! I’ll have ever)thing
ready. Iteckon, now, If I don't have
any trouble finding that Island we’ll
have a pleasant voyage.”
“Why do you say that?" demanded
Blake uneasily. “Havq you any doubts
about finding it?“ ’
“Why. no. If the map you gave me’a
correct."
“Well, It la!” snapped the other.
*Tve verified it In every particular. 1
You don't think I’d slip up on such a
small thing as that when there's ao 1
much at atuke?”
“No, 1 reckon not, hut It’s a bit pus
sling in places. Some of them dots
and marks looks like as If they’d been
put there for private use. You don't
s'pose, now, that captain was up to
any misleading tricks, marking the
TAX LEVIES BT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR TfeR- YEAR 1925.
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Barbary Branch - ----
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Old Columbia |
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Pleasant Hill * —
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Williston
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Books open October 15th, 19*25 and close March 15th, 1926. January 1st
a penalty of 1 per cent.; February, 2 per cent; March, 7 per cent. After
March 15th all unpaid taxes will be turned over to the Sheriff for collection.
DOG LICENSE fl.25 payable in January, 1926. ;
J, B. ARMSTRONG,
County Treasurer.
V ’ *
LONG TERM MONEY to LEND il
" ■ -
n
6 per cent, interest on large amounts
Private funds for small loans.
BROWN & BUSH
LAWYERS BARNWELL. SOUTH CAROLINA.
t
location wrong and afilTt 1 »g r lhY~cKan-
nel buoys, do you?”
Mr. Blake smiled and shrugged his
shoulder*.’
“You forget,” he said coldly, "that
I'm running this little expedition, und
I never make mistakes. The chart is
correct." -
“All right!” replied Brent, moving
toward the steps. “Then we’ll pick
up the islahd in a couple of days.’! He
stopped and stared out into midstream.
“Why don’t they send that boat
ashore?” he added irritably.
“Here it comes now!”
“Well, I’ll be going. I got to put in
a night doing some figuring.”
Blake nodded, and waited for him to
descend the steps, then walked to tha
end of the float. A few minutes later
the yacht's tender appeared, and Cap
tain Brent was whisked out into the
gloom. The man on the end of the
dock remained motionless until it was
gone, and then turned and walked
briskly away.'
Dick’s first impulse was to follow
and then he changed his mind. He
came from behind his hiding place afld
stood near the steps, watching tha
lights flickering on the river and run
ning over again In hia mind the words
be bad heard.
They were ‘a little puzzling; but
the main fact waa dear to him. Steve
Cutler and hia niece were starting on
a long cruise in the Pelican the fol
lowing evening, saUlng under the cover
•f darkness, which might or might not
me«n anything unusual. Mr. Blake
waa to accompany them, and, accord
ing to his own statement, he was run
ning the expedition.
Their destination was some island
whose exagt location was a mystery
to Captain Brent Who was Mr. Blake,
and what island was it? Dick puzzled
over the situation for a long time. He
recalled the reference to some mykterl-
ous captain who might have played a
trick on them by marking the map
wrong. Who was he? ‘
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Farm Loans 6 per cent, large amounts. Town prop*
erty in Barnwell, residential and business, 7 per cent
Lo&ns procured promptly at lowest cost.
Allendale, Bamberg andBarnwell-Counties. —
THOMAS M. BOULWARE
Attorney-at-law - Barnwell, S. C.
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