papers on the
desk. "Careless way to carry such evidence around--shows the amateur.
Thought it would add to the appeal to justice for Henley to have a
wife, I presume. Why not a child also? Permit me to state, my dear
sir, that I possess no such encumbrance."

"It happens," I contended coldly, "that I have seen the marriage
certificate."

He sat up stiffly, the sarcastic grin leaving his face, and replaced by
an expression of vindictiveness.

"Oh, you have! As much a forgery as some of these other precious
documents. You win certainly grant that I ought to know whether I am
married or not?"

"I made no assertion relative to that."

"What did you assert?"

"That Philip Henley was married, and that his wife--or widow, as the
case may be--is the lady who accompanied me to Carrollton."

He leaned forward, both arms on the desk, his black eyes narrowed into
mere slits.

"Oh, I see," finally. "Driven out of one position, like a good
general, you have another in reserve. You are more of an antagonist
than I had supposed, Craig. So now it is the widow who claims the
ducats. Am I also to understand that you are prepared to submit proof
of the death of Philip Henley? By the saints; I am becoming
interested."

"Naturally, if you claim to be the man. I have not said he was dead,
for I do not know. I came down here believing him alive. His wife is
almost convinced otherwise. All I am actually certain about now is
that you are not the man."

"You are extremely free-spoken for a fellow in your condition. You
will at least confess that I am master on board this ship; that my word
here is law, and you are in my power."

"Yes."

"Then why expose yourself, and that young woman, to unnecessary danger?
To be frank, Craig, I sent for you just now in a friendly spirit. You
can be decidedly useful to me, and I can afford to pay well for
services rendered. Now wait! don't break in until I am through. I
know who you are, and how you originally became involved in this
affair. You have no personal interest in the final outcome, so you
receive the amount promised. You are a mere soldier of fortune, an
adventurer. Good! Then it is certainly to your interest to be on the
winning side. What did Neale, and that other fellow--Vail--offer?"

I sat looking at him steadily for a moment. That he was a shrewd,
scheming villain I had no doubt, but the one question which controlled
my answer was the thought of how I