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GORDON CRAIG
Soldier of Fortune
by
RANDALL PARRISH
Author of "My Lady of the North," "My Lady of the
South," "Keith of the Border," "When Wilderness Was King."
With Four Illustrations in Color by Alonzo Kimball
[Frontispiece: I clasped the straying hand and drew her to me.]
A. L. Burt Company
Publishers ---------- New York
Copyright
A. C. McClurg & Co.
1912
Published October, 1912
Copyrighted in Great Britain
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE FIRST STEP
II THE CASE OF PHILIP HENLEY
III I ACCEPT THE OFFER
IV AN ESCAPE FROM ARREST
V BEGINNING ACQUAINTANCE
VI WE OPEN CONFIDENCES
VII THE WOMAN'S STORY
VIII FACING THE PROBLEM
IX WE COMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS
X AT THE PLANTATION
XI A PLEASANT WELCOME
XII THE DEAD MAN
XIII I GET INTO THE GAME
XIV THE CONFESSION
XV THE DECISION
XVI COMPELLING SPEECH
XVII CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
XVIII BEGINNING EXPLORATION
XIX A CHAMBER OF HORROR
XX TAKEN PRISONER
XXI ON BOARD THE SEA GULL
XXII I CHANGE FRONT
XXIII THE SECRET OF THE VOYAGE
XXIV I JOIN THE SEA GULL
XXV THE FREEDOM OF THE DECK
XXVI THE NEW PERIL
XXVII THE TABLES TURNED
XXVIII THE CREOLE'S STORY
XXIX UNDER WAY
XXX WE MAKE THE EFFORT
XXXI THE OPEN BOAT
XXXII A TALK IN THE NIGHT
XXXIII WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER
XXXIV THE REVENUE CUTTER
XXXV THE DECK OF THE SEA GULL
XXXVI IN POSSESSION
XXXVII A HOMEWARD VOYAGE
ILLUSTRATIONS
I clasped the straying hand and drew her to me . . _Frontispiece_
I read it over slowly, but it appeared innocent enough
He gasped a bit, rubbing his bruised wrist
"Give me back those papers"
GORDON CRAIG
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
CHAPTER I
THE FIRST STEP
I had placed the lumber inside the yard as directed, and was already
rehitching the traces, when the man crossed the street slowly,
switching his light cane carelessly in the air. I had noticed him
before standing there in the doorway of the drug store, my attention
attracted by the fashionable cut of his clothes, and the manner in
which he watched me work. Now, as he rounded the heads of the mules, I
straightened up, observing him more closely. He was forty or
forty-five, heavily built, with a rather pasty-white face, a large
nose, eyes unusually deep set, and a closely clipped mustache beginning
to gray. His dress was correct to a button, and there was a pleasant
look to the mouth which served to mitigate the otherwise hard
expression of countenance. As I faced him in some surprise he looked
me fairly in the eyes.
"Been at this job long?" he asked easily.
"Three days," I replied unhesitatingly, drawing the reins through my
hands.
"Like it?"
"Well, I 've had worse and better," with a laugh. "I prefer this to my
last one."
"What was that?"
"Ridin' blind baggage."
It was his turn to laugh, and he did so.
"I thought I was not mistaken," he said at last, sobering. "You are
the same lad the train hands put off the Atlantic Express at Vernon a
week ago."
I nodded, beginning to suspect him of being a fly-cop who had spotted
me for a pull.
"I never noticed the name of the burg," I returned. "Why? were you
there?"
"Yes, I came in on the same train. Just caught a glimpse of your face
in the light of the brakeman's lantern. How did you get here?"
"Freight, two hours later."
"You 're not a bum, or you would n't be working."
I put one foot on the wheel, but he touched me on the sleeve with his
cane.
"Wait a minute," and there was more animation in the tone. "I may have
something better for you than this lumber wagon. I 'm right, ain't I,
in guessing you 're no regular bum?"
"I 've bummed it most of the way from Frisco; I had to. I was homesick
for the East, and lost my transportation."
"Your what?"
"Transportation; I was discharged at the Presidio."
"Oh, I see," smiling again, and tapping the wheel with his stick; "the
army--foreign service?"
"The Philippines three years; invalided home."
"By God, you don't look it," his eyes on me. "Never saw a more perfect
animal. Fever?"
"No, bolo wound; got caught in the brush, and then lay out in a swamp
all night, till our fellows got up."
He looked at his watch, and I climbed into my seat. "See here, I have
n't time to talk now, but I believe you are the very fellow I am
looking for. If you want an easier job than this," waving a gloved
hand toward the pile of lumber, "come and see me and we 'll talk it
over." He took a card out of a morocco case, and wrote a line on it.
"Come to that address at nine o'clock tonight."
I took the bit of pasteboard as he handed it up.
"All right, sir, I 'll be there on time."
"Come to the side door," he added swiftly, lowering his voice, "the one
on the south. Give three raps. By the way, what is your name?"
"Gordon Craig," I answered without pausing to think. His eyes twinkled
shrewdly.
"Ever been known by any other?"
"I enlisted under another; I ran away from home, and was not of age."
"Oh, I see; well, that makes no difference to me. Don't forget, Craig,
the side door at nine."
I glanced back as we turned the corner; he was still standing at the
edge of the walk, tapping the concrete with his cane. Out of sight I
looked curiously at the card. It was the advertisement of a clothing
house, and on the back was written "P. B. Neale, 108 Chestnut Street."
The mules walked the half dozen blocks back to the lumber yard, while
my mind reviewed this conversation. There was a bit of mystery to it
which had fascination, because of a vague promise of adventure.
Evidently this man Neale had need of a stranger to help him out in some
scheme, and had picked me by chance as being the right party. Well, if
the pay was good, and the purpose not criminal, I had no objections to
the spice of danger. Indeed, that was what I loved in life, my heart
throbbing eagerly in anticipation. I was young, full-blooded, strong,
willing enough to take desperate chances for sufficient reward. There
was a suspicion in my mind that all was not straight--Neale's
questions, and the private signals to be given at a side door left that
impression--yet I could only wait and learn, and besides, my conscience
was not overly delicate. I had lived among a rough, reckless set, had
experienced enough of the seamy side of life to be somewhat careless.
I would take the chance, at least, in hope of escape from this routine.
All the rest of the day, for this meeting had occurred early in the
afternoon, I labored quietly, loading and unloading lumber, my muscles
aching from a species of toil to which I had not yet become accustomed,
my mind active in imagination over the possibilities of this new
employment. I was not obliged to live this sort of life, but the
uneasy spirit of adventure held me. My father, from whom I had not
heard a word in two years, was a prominent manufacturer in a New
England village. The early death of my mother had left me to his care
when I was but ten years old, and we failed to understand each other,
drifting apart, until a final quarrel had sent me adrift. No doubt
this was more my fault than his, although he was so deeply immersed in
business that he failed utterly to understand the restless soul of a
boy. I was in my junior year at Princeton, when the final break came,
over an innocent youthful escapade, and, in my pride, I never even
returned home to explain, but disappeared, drifting inevitably into the
underworld, because of lack of training for anything better. This all
occurred four years previous, three of which had been passed in the
ranks, yet even now I was stubbornly resolved not to return
unsuccessful. Perhaps in this new adventure I should discover the key
with which to unlock the door of fortune.
I possessed a fairly decent suit of clothes, now pressed and cleaned
after the rough trip from the coast, and dressed as carefully as
possible in the dingy room of my boarding house. A glance into the
cracked mirror convinced me, that, however I might have otherwise
suffered from the years of hardship, I had not deteriorated physically.
My face was bronzed by the sun, my muscles like iron, my eyes clear,
every movement of my body evidencing strength, my features lean and
clean cut under a head of closely trimmed hair. Satisfied with the
inspection, confident of myself, I slipped the card in my pocket, and
went out. It was still daylight, but there was a long walk before me.
Chestnut Street was across the river, in the more aristocratic section.
I had hauled lumber there the first day of my work, and recalled its
characteristics--long rows of stone-front houses, with an occasional
residence standing alone, set well back from the street. It was dark
enough when I got there, and began seeking the number. I followed the
block twice in uncertainty, so many of the houses were dark, but
finally located the one I believed must be 108. It was slightly back
from the street, a large stone mansion, surrounded by a low coping of
brick and with no light showing anywhere. I was obliged to mount the
front steps before I could assure myself this was the place. The
street was deserted, except for two men talking under the electric
light at the corner, and the only sound arose from the passing of a
surface car a block away. The silence and loneliness got upon my
nerves, but, without yielding, I followed the narrow cement walk around
the corner of the house. Here it was dark in the shadow of the wall,
yet one window on the first floor exhibited a faint glow at the edge of
a closely drawn curtain. Encouraged slightly by this proof that the
house was indeed occupied, I felt my way forward until I came to some
stone steps, and a door. I rapped on the wood three times, my nerves
tingling from excitement. There was a moment's delay, so that I lifted
my hand again, and then the door opened silently. Within was like the
black mouth of a cave, and I involuntarily took a step backward.
"This you, Craig?"
"Yes," I answered, half recognizing the cautious voice.
"All right then--come in. There is nothing to fear, the floor is
level."
I stepped within, seeing nothing of the man, and the door was closed
behind me. The sharp click of the latch convinced me it was secured by
a spring lock.
"Turn on the light," said the voice at my side sharply. Instantly an
electric bulb glowed dazzling overhead, and I blinked, about half
blinded by the sudden change.