Never-Fail Blake

asserted itself in the matter of his approach to the Luiz Camoes ho

coin in the hand of the half-caste Portuguese servant who opened th

condition where he could do no harm, for Blake felt that he was too near the end of his trail to be put off by any me

the length of the half-lit hall w

boy to wait! Quick,

tiptoed to this door and pressed an ear against its panel. Then with his left hand, he slowly turned the knob, ca

hen with the knuckle of one finger he tap

nvolve too much risk. In one minute, he knew, a fugitive could either be off and away, or could at least prepare himself for any one intercepting that flight. So Blake took two quick steps back, and b

far side of the r

open on his knees. His coat and vest were off, and the light fro

and apparent change on his face as his eyes fell on Blake's figure. He showed neither fear nor bewilderment. His career had equipped him with histrionic powers that were

server might have noticed that the pulse of his beefy neck was beating faster than usual. And over that great body, under it

aged since Blake had last seen him, aged incredibly. His face

ise that rested on his knees. But Blake stopp

ght," he said.

silent tableau each man was appraising, wei

Jim?" asked Binhart

p there under your liver pad,"

nhart. But he made no m

ou," calmly an

stulation crept over

he announced. "You can't

ing to," re

ow

going to

the room

he gun," h

eed chair. He made no movement

f getting rough-ho

gun," repe

cket. Blake's revolver barrel was touching the white shirt-front as the movement was made. It remained ther

clothes on,"

" temporiz

coming

t get me down to the waterfront, in this town. They 'd get

t," announced

dnap a white man. I 'd have you in irons for abduction the first ship we struck. And at the first

was Blake's retort. "I want you

am I

to New

t was a laugh with

me back to New York alive, any more than

ke you alive. I 've followed you a good many thousand miles, Connie, and a l

ng the other man f

e real talk, the kind o

declared Blake,

as he thrust his own right hand do

t out of this," he said, leaning forw

metallic, something which glittered bright in the light from the wall lamp. The record of this discovery had scarcely been carried back to his brain, when the silence of the r

it all. He was still huddled back against the wall when a second surprise came to him. It was the discovery that Binha

hrown him against the wall like a toppled nine-pin. The truth came to him, in a sudden flash; Binhart had shot a

s enemy was running away brought Blake lurching and scrambling to his feet. He was a little

ght, knowing by the staring faces of the street-corner group that Binhart had made the first turning and was running towards the water-front. He could see the fugitive,

ot, at every hurrying stride. But he did not stop, for he could already smell the odorous coolness of the waterfront a

d misty. The voices, as the flat-bottomed little skiff was pushed off in pursuit of the boat which was hurrying Binhart out into the night, seemed remote and thin

of blood. It was overrunning with blood. He r

al loss of blood, that filled him with a sudden giddiness. He

as being carried up the landing-ladder of a steamer. He heard English voices about him. A very

m, suddenly exclaim. And a few minutes later, after being moved again, he opened his eye

inhart?" a

p, you just rest up a bit,

ning Blake was taken

s feet again. He was quite strong by that time. But fo