The Pagan Madonna - Page 47/141

"Get your duffle," said Cleigh.

"What's that, sir?"

"Get your stuff. You're through. You had positive orders, and you let a

man by."

"But his uniform fussed me, sir. I didn't know just how to act."

"Get your stuff! Mr. Cleve will give you your pay. My orders are absolute.

Off with you!"

The sailor sullenly obeyed. He found the first officer alone in the chart

house.

"The boss has sent me for my pay, Mr. Cleve. I'm fired." Flint grinned

amiably.

"Fired? Well, well," said Cleve, "that's certainly tough luck--all this

way from home. I'll have to pay you in Federal Reserve bills. The old man

has the gold."

"Federal Reserve it is. Forty-six dollars in Uncle Samuels."

The first officer solemnly counted out the sum and laid it on the palm of

the discharged man.

"Tough world."

"Oh, I'm not worrying! I'll bet you this forty-six against ten that I've

another job before midnight."

Mr. Cleve grinned.

"Always looking for sure-thing bets! Better hail that bumboat with the

vegetables to row you into town. The old man'll dump you over by hand if

he finds you here between now and sundown."

"I'll try the launch there. Tell the lad his fare ain't goin' back to

Shanghai. Of course it makes it a bit inconvenient, packing and unpacking;

but I guess I can live through it. But what about the woman?"

Cleve plucked at his chin.

"Messes up the show a bit. Pippin, though. I like 'em when they walk

straight and look straight like this one. Notice her hair? You never tame

that sort beyond parlour manners. But I don't like her on board here, or

the young fellow, either. Don't know him, but he's likely to bust the

yacht wide open if he gets loose."

"Well, so long, Mary! Know what my first move'll be?"

"A bottle somewhere. But mind your step! Don't monkey with the stuff

beyond normal. You know what I mean."

"Sure! Only a peg or two, after all this psalm-singing!"

"I know, Flint. But this game is no joke. You know what happened in town?

Morrissy was near croaked."

Flint's face lost some of its gayety.

"Oh, I know how to handle the stuff! See you later."

* * * * *

Cleigh decided to see what the girl's temper was, so he entered the

passage on the full soles of his shoes. He knocked on her door.

"Miss Norman?"