Gordon Craig

Gordon Craig

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Gordon Craig, by Randall Parrish,
Illustrated by Alonzo Kimball
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Title: Gordon Craig Soldier of Fortune
Author: Randall Parrish

Release Date: February 13, 2006 [eBook #17765]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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CRAIG***
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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;