series of labyrinths on this deck."

"I wanted a big main salon, even if I had to sacrifice some of the rest of
the space. Besides, it keeps the crew out of sight."

"And I should say out of touch, too."

"I'm quite satisfied," replied Cleigh, grumpily.

"Cleigh, I'm through." Cunningham spread his hands.

"What are you through with?"

"Through with this game. I'm going in for a little sport. This string of
beads was the wind-up. But don't worry. They'll be on board here
to-morrow. You brought the gold?"

"Yes."

The visitor paused in front of the rug. He sighed audibly.

"Scheherazade's twinkling little feet! Lord, but that rug is a wonder!
Cleigh, I've been offered eighty thousand for it."

"What's that?" Cleigh barked, half out of his chair.

"Eighty thousand by Eisenfeldt. I don't know what crazy fool he's dealing
for, but he offers me eighty thousand."

Cleigh got up and pressed a wall button. Presently a man stepped into the
salon from the starboard passage. He was lank, with a lean, wind-bitten
face and a hard blue eye.

"Dodge," announced Cleigh, smiling, "this is Mr. Cunningham. I want you to
remember him."

Dodge agreed with a curt nod.

"If ever you see him in this cabin when I'm absent, you know what to do."

"Yes, sir," replied Dodge, with a wintry smile.

Cunningham laughed.

"So you carry a Texas gunman round with you now? After all, why not? You
never can tell. But don't worry, Cleigh. If ever I make up my mind to
accept Eisenfeldt's offer, I'll lift the yacht first."

Cleigh laughed amusedly.

"How would you go about to steal a yacht like this?"

"That's telling. Now I've got to get back to town. My advice for you is to
come in to-morrow and put up at the Astor, where I can get in touch with
you easily."

"Agreed. That's all, Dodge."

The Texan departed, and Cunningham burst into laughter again.

"You're an interesting man, Cleigh. On my word, you do need a
guardian--gallivanting round the world with all these treasures. Queer
what things we do when we try to forget. Is there any desperate plunge we
wouldn't take if we thought we could leave the Old Man of the Sea behind?
You think you're forgetting when you fly across half the world for a
string of glass beads. I think I'm forgetting when I risk my neck getting
hold of some half-forgotten Rembrandt. But there it is, always at our
shoulder when we turn. One of the richest men in the world! Doesn't that
tingle you when yo