West of Guam Read Online Free PDF

colonel’s new orderly? He told me he contemplated a change.”
    The orderly nodded. “He fired Sam Burker—I’m the new orderly. My name’s Tod Harraker, and at the time the murder was committed I was—”
    Jo Gar smiled. “It doesn’t matter where you were, Tod,” he stated. “Where will I find Burker?”
    The new orderly told Jo where he thought Burker might be found. The door of the colonel’s cabin opened, and Dunbar frowned at him. The orderly stiffened.
    “Why Burker?” the colonel demanded of Gar. “He’s too dumb to know anything about a murder.”
    Jo smiled more broadly. But his voice was as toneless as ever. “Stupidity is sometimes a virtue, Colonel,” he philosophized. “I wanted to know something about music—I hear that Burker plays a mouth organ.”
    The colonel swore. Jo Gar moved forward along the deck. Near the starboard companionway he almost ran into Mrs. Solter. She was rather pale. She looked ill, despite the fact that the Thomas was navigating through a sea of glass.
    “Have you learned anything, Mr. Gar?” she asked in a low tone.
    Jo nodded. It seemed to him that Helen Solter was breathing heavily.
    “Many things,” he replied. “All unimportant.”
    He imagined there was a flickering expression of relief in her dark eyes. But he wasn’t sure. He bowed and moved down the steps of the companionway. On C Deck, aft, he discovered the former orderly. Burker was lying in the shade of a ventilator, with his eyes closed. He was lying on his back. Jo moved up close, careful that his figure cast no shadow in the sunlight beyond the reclining private. His rubber-soled shoes allowed him to move quietly. From a pocket of his white trousers he drew an Army Colt. He squeezed the trigger.
    There was a sharp click. Burker’s body jerked—in a flash the man was sitting up. He twisted around, stared at Jo. There was fear in his eyes.
    “Jeeze!” he muttered. “That gave me a jolt!”
    He smiled sheepishly. His nose was crooked and he had slightly stooped shoulders. His eyes were dark, rather squinted.
    “I noted that fact,” Jo stated quietly. “Why did it?”
    The former orderly smothered an oath. He shook his head.
    “I dunno,” he replied. “But it did.”
    Jo Gar slipped the Colt back into his pocket. Private Burker wet his lips with the tip of a sick looking tongue. He started to get up, but Jo shook his head.
    “Don’t rise,” he stated. “I’m Mr. Gar—perhaps you—know that.” The private nodded. “Guess we all do,” he stated. “You’re that Manila soft-shoe—the guy that always gets his man.”
    He chuckled. It was a nervous chuckle. Jo Gar shook his head. “Not always,” he stated. “Two years ago I failed. China is a difficult country. A transport at sea has advantages.”
    Private Burker looked towards the rail. He kept a half smile on his face. Jo Gar spoke tonelessly.
    “The colonel has been in a bad humor,” he stated. “He replaced you with a new orderly. Why?”
    Burker grunted. “I dunno,” he replied. “Maybe he thinks I’m dumb. Guess it’s the heat—I ain’t used to this sort of thing.”
    Jo nodded. “You took word to the colonel, that Captain Lintwell was dead,” he stated. “You happened to come along, just after Captain Jones found the body.”
    “Major Jones,” Burker corrected. “I had a message from—Captain Drake. I was bringing it up to the colonel.”
    Jo Gar nodded again. His gray-blue eyes held the dark ones of the former orderly.
    “Burker,” he said slowly, “the colonel was right. You are stupid. But you have tried to be clever. Very clever. Get up and come with me.”
    The former orderly was staring at Jo Gar. He got to his feet. “I don’t get you,” he muttered. “You’re on the wrong track—”
    Jo Gar smiled faintly. “Perhaps,” he agreed. “Just walk ahead, please—aft of this spot—”
    Burker stared blankly. “Which way?” he muttered. “I ain’t wise to—”
    “Back, towards the