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.