“Hullo!” cried Hank. “Who’s that and what d’you want?”
A thud came on the deck followed by the voice at the companion hatch. “May I come below?” The stairs creaked and at the saloon door appeared a man.
The sun glow from the skylight struck him full as he stood there, a huge, red-bearded, blue-eyed sailor man, neatly dressed in dark serge and wearing a red necktie. His eyes were most taking and astonishing liquid sparkling blue—the eyes of a child.
Contrasted with the hatchet-faced Hank and the sophisticated Bud, he seemed youthful, yet he was older than either of them.
CHAPTER X
THE RED BEARDED ONE
“HULLO!” said Hank. “What the devil do you want?”
“Am I speaking to Mr. Fisher?” asked the newcomer, addressing himself to the town lot speculator.
“You are.”