HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1909-07-01, Page 7Tide WINGIAM TIMES, JULY' 1 1909
7
HE MYSTERY
Bp STEWART EDWARD WHITE
And SAMUEL, HOPKINS ADAMS
COPYRIGHT. 1907. BY McCLLiRE. PHILLIPS ei CO.
f "Be careful what you are about,'"
;:warned Tremdon, addressing his supe-
rior officer sharply, for Barnett had all
'but let his charge drop. Its face was
'.a puckered mask of amaze and lucre-
i dulity.
"Did you hear hftn speak my name—
'or am I dreaming?" he half whispered.
"Heard him plain enough. Who Is
be?"
'Che man's mouth closed, but he
silted a little—a singular, wry mouth-
ed. winning smile. With that there
sprung from behind the brush of
beard, filling out the deep lines of
en' cation, a memory to the recogni
lid , of Barnett—a keen, and gay coun-
,tr mce that whisked him back across
s . e years time to the days of Dewey
a: • t he Philippines.
• .:,tlph Slade, by the Lord!" he ex-
'elt. aned.
"Of the Laughing Lass?" cried Tren-
don.
"VP the Laughing Lass."
S ch a fury of eagerness burned in
the face of Barnett that Trendon cau-
tioned him. "See here, Mr. Barnett,
you're not going to fire a broadside of
disturbing questions at my patient yet
awhile. He's in no coneition."
But it was from the other that the
questions came. Opening his eyes be
whispered: "Tile sailor? Where?"
"Dead," said Trendon bluntly. Then,
breaking his own rule of repression, he
.asked;
"Did he come off the schooner with
you?„
"Picked him up," was the straining
answer. "Drifting."
The survivor looked around him,
then into Bernett's face, and his mind,
too, traversed the years.
"North Dakota?" he queried.
"No. I've changed my ship," said
Barnett. "This is the Wolverine."
"Where's the Laughing Lass?"
Barnett shook his head.
"Tell me," begged Slade.
"Walt till you're stronger," admon-
k shed Trendon.
"Can't wait" said the weak voice.
'The eyes grew wild.
"Mr. Barnett, teII him the bare out-
line and make it short," said the sur-
geon.
"We sighted the Laughing Lass two
days ago. She was in good shape, but
deserted—that is, we thought she was
•deserted."
The man nodded eagerly.
"I suppose you were aboard," said
Barnett, and Trendon made a quick
,gesture of impatience and rebuke.
"No," said Slade. "Left three—four
--don't know how many eights ago."
The officers looked at each other.
' $o on," said Trendon to his com-
panion.
"We put a crew aboard in command
of an ensign," continued Barnett, "and
picked up the schooner the next night,
•deserted. You must know about it
iWhere is Billy Edwards?"
"Never heard of him," whispered the
other.
"Ives and McGuire, then. They were
there after— Great God, man!" he
,cried, his agitation breaking out. "Pull
yourself together! Give us something
to go on."
"Mr, Barnett," said the surgeon per-
emptorily.
But the suggestion was working in
the sick man's brain. He turned to
the officers a face of horror.
"Your" man, Edwards—the crew-
-they ieft her? In the night?"
"What does he mean?" cried Bar-
nett.
"The light! You saw it?"
"Yes. We saw a strange light," an-
swered Trendon soothingly. Slade
half rose. "Lost! All lost!" he cried
and fell back unconscious. Trendon
exploded into curses. "See what you've
done to my patient," he fumed. Bar-
nett looked at him with contrite eyes.
"Better get out before he comes to,"
;growled the surgeon. "Nice way to
treat a man half dead of exhaustion."
It was nearly an hour before Slade
same back to the world again, The
New Zea th for
kk io I Girls
Restorative treatment which brings
new vigor to the nerves and new
4 color to the cheek*.
Ts a girl's health to be sacrificed in
order that she may pass high at exam-
ination time? Is her future happiness
to bo risked for examination marks!
Mrs. S. A. Beney, 02 Charlotte St.,
Brantford, Ont., writes: "My daugh-
ter was attending school and the close
eonenement and application to her
school work exhausted her nervous sys-
tem so that she suffered a great deal
with headaehee and was very nervouie
irritable and easily exeited.
"I procured Dr. Chase's Nerve Pend
for her and we soon noticed marked
improvement in her health. The head-
aches were entirely cured, her color be-
came bettor *rid her eyetem was
strengthened and built up. I consider
Dr. Chase's Nerve rood a splendid
medicine for ehildron,"
There is nothing like preventing seri-
ous ditto*se by keeping the blood rich
nn rest, the aerating trident ,stroftg -end
healthy find the vitality of the body'
.at high water mark. Dr. Chase's Nerve
rood accomplishes these results. 50
.cents t> box, at ail dealers or Ldnfamian,
Bake k Co,, Toronto.
doctor forbade him to attempt speech.
But of one thing he would not be de-
nied. There was a struggle for utter-
ance, then:
"Tbe volcano?" he rasped out.
"Deadahead," was the reply.
"Stand by!" gasped Slade. He strove
to rise, to say something further, but
endurance had reached its limit. The
man was utterly done.
Dr. Trendon went on deck, his head
sunk between his shoulders. For a
minute he was in earnest tack with the
captain. Presently the Wolverine's en-
gines slowed down and she lay head
to the waves, with just enough turn of
the screw to hold her against the sea-
way.
B
CHAPTER VII.
Y the following afternoon Dr.
Trendon reported his patient
as quite recovered.
"Starved for water," proffer-
ed the surgeon. "Tissues fairly dried
out. Soaked him up. Fed him broth.
Put him to sleep. He's all right. Just
wakes up to eat. Then off again like
a two-year-old. Wonderful constitu-
tion."
"The gentleman wants to know if
be can come on deck, sir," saluted an
orderly.
"Waked up, eh? Come on, Barnett.
Help me boost him on deck."
The two officers disappeared to re-
turn in a moment antn in arm with
Ralph Stade,
Nearly twenty-four hours' rest and
sleilll'ul tle'eatment had done wonders.
TIe was still -a trifle weak and uncer-
tain, was stili a little glad to lean on
the amts of his companions, but his
eye was bright and alert and his hoI-
low cheeks mounted a slight color.
This, with the clothes lent him by Bar-
nett, transformed his appearance and
led Captain Parkinson to congratulate
himself that he bad not obeyed his
first impulse to send the eastaway for-
ward with the men.
The officers messed forward.
"Mighty glad to see you out." "Hope
you've got your pins under you again."
"Old man, I'm mighty glad. we came
along."
The chorus of greeting was hearty
enough, but the journalist barely paid,
the courtesy of acknowledgment. His
eye swept the horizon eagerly until it
rested on the cloud of volcanic smoke
billowing up across the setting sun. A
sigh of relief escaped him.
"Where are we?" he asked Barnett.
"I mean since you picked me up. How
long ago was that anyway?"
•"Yesterday," replied the navigating
officer. "We've stood off and on look-
ing for some of our men,"
"Then that's the same volcano"—
Barnett laughed softly. "Well, they
aren't quite holding a caucus of vol-
canoes down in this country. One like
that is enough."
But Slade 'brushed the remark aside.
."Head for it!" he cried excitedly.
"We may be in time! There's a man
on that island!"
"A man!" "Another!" "Not Billy
Edwards?" "Not some of our boys?"
Stade stared at them bewildered.
"Hold on," interposed Dr. Trendon
authoritatively. "What's his name?"
he inquired of the journalist:
"Darrow," replied the latter. "Per-
cy Darrow. Do you know him?"
"Who In Kamchatka is Percy Dar-
row?" demanded Forsythe.
"Why, he's the assistant: It's a Jong
story" --
"Of course it's a long story. There's
a lot we want to know," interrupted
Captain Parkinson. "Quartermaster,
head for the volcano yonder. Mr.
Slade, we want to know where yon
came from, 'and why/ yogi left the
schooner and 'Who Percy Darrow is.
And there's dinner, so we'll adjourn
to the messroom and bear what you
can tell us. Balt there's one thing
we're all anxious to know-how came
you in the dory which we found and
left on the Laughing Lass later than
two days ago?"
haven't set eyes on the Laughing
Lass for—well, I don't know lion+ long,
but it's five days anyway, perhapa
more," replied Slade.
They stared at him incredulously.
"Oh, I see!" he burst out suddenly.
"There were twin dories on the schoon-
er. The other one's still there, I sup-
pose. Did you find her on the stern
davits2"
eyese,
"That's it, then. You see, when I
left"—
Captaltt Parkinson's raised hand
checked him. "If you will be se good,
Mr. Slade, let us gave it all at once,
after mess."
• At table the young officers at a sharp
flint front Dr. Tr'ettdon conversed on
indifferent subjects until the journalist
had partaken heartily of what the phy-
sician allowed hint. Slade ate with
keen appreciation.
"I tell you, that's good," he sighed,
When he bad finished. "Ileal, live,
after dinner coffee too. Why, gentle -
Men, I haven't eaten a civilized meal,
with all the trimmings, for over two
years. Doctor, do- you -think at little
of the real /stuff would hurt late? It's
n pretty dry yarding"
"Clue glass," growled the surgeon,
"no snore:"
"Scotch highball, tbeu," noted Slade,
"the higher the better,"
The steward braught a tall glass with
ice, in which the newcomer mixed kis
drink. Then for quite a minute he sat
silent, staring at the table, bis Angers
aimlessly rubbing into spots of 'wet-
ness
etness the water beads as they gathered
on the outside of his glass. Suddenly
he looked up.
"I don't know how to begin," he con.
fessed. "It's too coufounded improba.
ble. I hardly believe it myself, now
that I'm sitting here ill bateau clothes,
surrounded by human beings. Old
Scrubbs and the nigger and Handy
Solomon and the professor and the
chest and the—well, they were real
enough when 1 was caught in the
mess. But I warn you you are not go-
ing to believe me, and hanged if I
blame you a bit."
"We've seen marvels ourselves in the
last few days," encouraged Captain
Parkinson,
"Vire ahead, man," advised Barnett
Impatiently. "Just begin at the begin-
ning and let it go at that."
Slade sipped at bis glass reflectively.
"Well," said he at lengtb, "the best
way to begin is to show you how I
happened to be mixed up in it at all,"
The officers unconsciously relaxed
into attitudes of greater ease. Over-
head the lamps swayed gently to the
swell. The dull throb of the screw pul-
sated. Stewards clad in white moved
noiselessly, filling the glasses, defer-
entially striking lights for the smok-
ers, clearing away the last dishes of
the repast.
"I'm a reporter by choice and a de-
tective by instinct" began Slade, with
startling abruptness. "Furthermore,
Pm pretty well off. I'm what they call
a free lance, for I have no regular
desk on any of the journals. I genes.
ally turn my stuff in to the Star be-
cause they treat me well. in return It
is pretty well .understood between us
that I'm to use my judgment in regard
to 'stories' and that they'll stand back
of the for expenses. You see, I've
been with them quite awhile."
Iie looked around the circle as
though in appeal to the comprehension
of his audience. Some of the men
nodded, Others sipped from their
glasses or drew at their cigars.
"1 loaf around here and there in the
world, having a good time traveling.
visiting, fooling around. Every once in
awhile something interests me. The
thing is a sort of instinct. I run it
down. If it's a good story, I send It
in. That's all there is to it." He
laughed slightly. "You see, a'm a sort
of magazine writer in method, but my
stuff is newspaper stuff; also tate game
sults me. That's why I play it.
That's why I'm here, I have to tell
von about unyself this wan so vou'will
understand how I came to be mixed
up in this Laughing Lass matter."
"I remember," commented Barnett.
"that when you came aboard the
North Dakota you had a little trouble
making Captain Arnold see it." He
turned to the others with a laugh. "He
had all kinds of papers of ancient date,
but nothing modern—letter from the
Star dated five years back, recommen-
dations to everybody on earth except
Captain Arnold, certificate of bravery
in Apache campaign, bank identifica-
tions and all the rest. 'Maybe you're
the Star's correspondent and maybe
you're not,' said the captain, '1 don't
see anything here to prove it.' Slade
argued an hour. No go. Remember
how you Caught him?" he inquired of
Slade.
The reporter grinned assent.
"After the old man had turned him
down good Slade fished down in his
war bag and hauled out an old tatter-
ed document from an oilskin case.
'Haid on a minute,' said he, 'you old
shellback. I've proved to you that I
eau write and I've proved to you that
I have fought, and now here I'll prove
to you that I can sail. If writing, fight-
ing and sailing don't fit me adequately
to report any little disturbances your
antiquated washboller may blunder
into I'll go to raising cabbages.' With
Diarrhoea,
Dysentery,
Colic and Cramps
Nearly every one is troubled with
bowel complaint during the summer
months. But, do they know what to do
tolcure it. Thousands do, many don't.
WE CAN TELL YOIUI
DR. FO'WLER'S
Extract of
Wild Strawbe
• "J
WILL DO ITI
It has been on Lb* market ti4 yeaarr,
and is universally used in thousands
of feMilies.
There are many imitationd of this
sterfitig rerrk'd'r, so do not be led into
taking something "just as good" Which
some uneerupulous druggist tries to talk
you into taking.
Dr. I'owler'ais the otigitnal. There are
none just "as good. It aures Sunnnaer
Omer/bent, Cholera Morbus, Choler* In-
fiisntum, Seaaicknese and all Bowel Com-
pla;inte.
I'riite 36 tents. Matnuisctured only by
The T. Milbutkt Co. Limited, Toren/°,
Oat. , ewe,.
e,.
eak women Four
"Mehaanndsd.the,, 2 mate aud'the cook a
"And you could go—soon?"
TO weak and ailing women, there is at least ono
lvay to help. Bub with that way, two treatments,
must be combined. Ono is local, ono is constitu•
tional, but both are important• both essential,
lsr. Shoop's Night Cure is the Local.
Dr. l hoop's Restorative, the Constitutional.
The former—Tlr.Shoop'sNight Uunr—iss topica',
mucous membrane suppository remedy, while 1>r
Snoop's /Restorative is wholly au internal treat.
went. The Restorative reaches throughout the
entire system, seeking the repair of all nerve
all tissue, and all blood ailments.
The "Night Cure", as its name implies, does its
work while you sleep. It soothes sore and infam.
eil mucous surfaces, heals local weaknesses and
discharges, while the Restorative, eases nervous
excitement, gives renewed vigor and ambition,
builds up wasted tissues, bringing about renewed
sr>,•ngth, vigor, and energy Take 1)r. Whoop's
1i •storative—Tablets or Liquid—as a sideral nada
to the system. For positive local help, USA as wed
Dr Shoop's
Night Cure
WALLEY'S DRUG STORE.
that he presented a master's certifi-
cate! Where did you get it anyway?
I never found out?"
"Passed as 'fresh water' on the great
lakes," replied Slade briefly.
"Well, the spunk and the certificate
finished the captain. He was an ofd
square nigger himself in the civil war."
"So much for myself," Slade con-
tinued. "As for the Laughing Lass"—
CHAPTER VIII.
COINCIDENCE got me aboard
the Laughing Lass. I'll tell
you how it was. One evening
late I was just coming out of a
dark alley on the Barbary Coast, San
Francisco. You know—the water front,
where you can bear more tongues than
at Port Said, see stranger sights and
meet adventure with the joyous cer-
tainty of mediaeval times. I'd been
down there hunting up a man reported
by a wharf rat of my acquaintance to
have just returned from a two years'
whaling voyage. He'd been "shang-
haied" aboard, and as a matter of fact
was worth nearly a million dollars.
Landed in the city without a cent,
could get nobody to believe him nor
trust him to the extent of a telegram
east. Wharf rat laughed at his yarn,
but I believe it was true. Good copy
anyway—
Just at the turn of the alley I nearly
bumped into two men. On the Bar-
bary Coast you don't pass men in nar-
row places until you have reconnoiter-
ed a little. I pulled up, thanking for-
tune that they had not seen me. The
first words were uttered in a voice I
knew well.
you've all heard of Dr. Earl Augus-
tus Schermerhorn. lie did some big
things and had in mind stili bigger.
I'd met him some time before in con-
nection with his telepathy and wire-
less wares theory. It was picturesque•
stuff for my purpose, but wasn't in
It with what the old fellow had really
clone. He showed me— well, that;
doesn't matter. The point is, that
good, staid, self neutered, or rather,
semicentered, Dr, Schermerhorn was
standing at midnight in a dark aIIey
on the Barbary Coast in San Francisco
talking to an individual whose facial
outline at least was not ornamental.
My curiosity or professional .instinct,
whichever you please, was all aroused.
I flattened myself against the wall,
The first remark I lost. The reply
came to the in a shrill falsetto. So
grotesque was the effect of this treble
"1 hell been told you, Inipht rent her,"
said the doctor.
from a bulk so squat and broad and
lin iry as the silhouette before me, khat
i almost laughed //loud.
I gness you've made no mistake on
tint. I'm her master and her owner
too."
"Well, I bitf been told you might
rent her," said the doctor,
"tient herr' mimicked the falsetto.
"Well, that --yes, I'll rent her!" he
laughed again.
"/'loch recta," 'Tate doctor was plain-
ly at the end of his practical resources.
After w:titieg a moment for some-
thfng more definite, the falsetto in-
quired rather dryly:
"How long? What .to 'y4 batt for?
Who are t'ott anyway?'*
9 am Dr, Schermerhorn," the latter
answered.
"Seen pieces about you to the pa-
pers."
"Bow many men hat` you in the
crew?"
"Soon as you want—if I go."
"I wish to leaf tomorrow."
"If I eau get the crew together I
/night make It. But say, let's not bang
out here in ibis run of darkness. Come
over to the grog shop youder, where
we can sit down,"
To my relief, for my curiosity was
fully aroused Dr. Sebermerhorn's
movements are usually productive— -
this proposal was vetoed.
"No, Nil" cried the doctor, with
some baste, '"this iss well! Somebody
might oferbear."
'file huge &pure stirred into an atti-
tude of close attention. After a pause
the falsetto asked deliberately:
"Where we goin'?"
"1 brefer not to say."
"1I'm! How long a cruise?"
"I want to rent you' schooner and
your crew as long as I please to re-
main."
"IJ'mi How Tong's that likely to
be?"
"Maybe a few months; maybe sefer-1
al years."
"Ii'm! Unknown port; unknown
cruise. See bere, anything crooked in
this?"
"No, no! Not at all! It iss simply
business of my own."
"Not that 1 care," commented the
other easily, "only risks is worth pay-
ing' fon."
"There shall not be risk."
"Pearls likely?" hazarded the other,
without much heed to the assurance.
"Them 3ap gunboats is getting pretty
hard to dodge of late years. However,
I've dodged 'em before."
"Now as to pay — how mooch iss
your boat worth?"
I could almost' follow the man's
thoughts as he pondered how 'much
he dared ask.
"Well, you see, for a proposition like
that—don't know where we're going,
when we're going to get back, and
them gunboats—how would a hundred
and twenty-five a month strike you?"
"Double it up. I want you to do ass
I say, and I will also give your crew
double wages. Bud I want goot men
who will stay and who will keep the
mouth shut."
"Gosh all fishhooks! They'd go to
hell with you for that!"
"Now you can get all you want of
Adams & Marsh. Tell them it iss for
rue. Brovislons for three years any-
how. Be ready to sail tomorrow."
"Tide turns at 8 in the evening."
"I will send some effects in the morn-
ing."
The master hesitated.
"That's all right, doctor, but how do
I know it's alt right? Maybe by morn-
ing you'll change your mind,"
That cannot be. My plans are all"—
"It's the usual thing to pay some-
thing"—
"Ach, but yes. I leaf forgot. Dar-
row told me. I will make you a check.
Let us go to the table of which. you
spoke."
They moved away, still talking. I
did not dare follow them into the light,
for I feared that the doctor would
recognize me. I'd have given my eye
teeth, though, to have gathered the
name of the schooner or that of her
master. As it was, I hung around un-
til the two had emerged from the cor-
ner saloon. They paused outside, still
talking earnestly. I ventured a hasty
interview with the barkeeper.
"Did you notice ehe two men who
were sitting at the middle table?" I
asked him.
"Sure!" said he, shoving me my glass
of beer.
"Know them?" I inquired.
"Never laid eyes on 'em before. Old
chap Iooked like it sort or corn doctor
or corner spellbinder. Other was prob-
ably one of these longsliore abalone
men."
"Thanks," I muttered and dodged
out again, leaving the beer untouched.
I cursed myself for a blunderer.
When I got to the street the to J men
had disappeared. I should have shad-
owed the captain to his vessel.
The affair interested Inc greatly.
Apparently Dr. Schermerhorn was
about to go on a long voyage. I prided
myself on being fairly up to date in
regard to the plans of those who in-
terested the public, and the public at
that time was vastly interested in Dr.
Schermerhorn. I, in common with the
rest of the world, had imagined him
anchored safely in Philadelphia, im-
mersed in chemical research. Here he
bobbed up at the other end of the con-
tinent, making shady bargains with
obscure shipping captains and paying
a big premium for absolute secrecy.
It looked good,
Accordingly I was out early the xtext
morning. I had not much to go by.
Schooners are as plentiful as tadpoles
In San Francisco harbor. However,
I was sure I could easily recognize
that falsetto voice, and I knew where
the supplies were to be purchased.
Adams & Marsh are a large arra and
cautious. I knew better than to make
direct inquiries or to appear in the
salesroom. but by hanging around, the
door of the shipping room I soon had
track of the large orders to be sent
that day. in this manner I had no
great difficulty in following a truck to
tiler 10 nor to identify a consignment
to Captain Ezra Selover as probably
that of which 1 was In search.
The mate was in charge of the stow-
age, so 1 could not be quite sure. Here,
however, was a sehoonef--of about
1a0 tons burden. I looked her over.
You're all acquainted with the
Laughing Lass and the perfectistpx of
her lines. You have not knovin her
under Captain 'Ezra Selover. She Inas
the Cleanest ship I ever saw. Don't
know how be accomplished it, with a
crew of four tinct the cook, but he dM.
The deck looked as though It had
been ho1ystoned every morning by a
crew of jackies. The stays were 'Whip-
ped and tarred, the tna:tt new meshed
and every. toot of roodoittettr r;olltd
New
The Hind You /Iave Always nought, and which. bas beet*.
is use for over 30 years, inns borne the signature or
�,.,.,�...... and has been made under his pelt..
• Id4 sonnl supervision since its infancy.
Allow no one to deceive you in this.
All Countcrfefts, Imitations and "Just -as -good." are but
Experiments that trifle 'tvitlh ant/endanger the health of
Infants and Children,—Experience against .ixperiment•
hat is CAST RgA
Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor 011, Pare.
toric, Drops arul Soothing Syrups. .It is Pleasant. It
contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic
substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms
and allays Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind
Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation
nod FIatulency. It assimilates the Flood, regulates the
Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep.
The Children's l a,uacea--.'.Title Mother's Friend,
GENUINE CAS • M® ALWAYS I
MA
Bears the Signature of
Tho lad You Hae Always Bougilt
in Use For Over 30 Years.
THE CENTAUR CUM►ANY. T7 MURRAY FTRECT. NEW YORE CITY. 1
e! xwn shipshape and Bristol fashion.
'1 here was a good deal of brass about
It shone like gold, and I don't
bslleve she owned an inch of paint
Cast wasn't either fresh or new scrub -
b ed.
I gazed for some time at this marvel.
es unusual enough anywhere, but
aboard a California hooker it is little
short of miraculous. The crew had all
turned up apparently, and a swarm
of stevedores were hustling every sort
of provisions, supplies, stock, spars,
lines and cahvas down into the hold.
It was a rush job, and that mate was
having his hands full. I didn't wonder
at his language nor at his looks, both
of which were somewhat mussed up.
Then almost at my elbow I heard that
shrill falsetto squeal and turned just
in time to see the captain ascend the
after gangplank.
He was probably the most disheveled
and untidy man I ever laid my eyes
on. His bair and beard were not only
long, but tangled and unkempt and
grew so far toward each other as bare-
ly to expose a strip of dirty brown
skin. Ills shoulders were bowed and
enormous. His arms hung like a goril-
la's, palms turned slightly outward.
On his head was jammed a linen boat-
ing hat that had once been white.
Gaping away from his hairy chestwas
a faded dingy checked cotton shirt
that had once been brown and white.
His blue trousers were spotted and
splashed with dusty stains. He was
chewing tobacco. A figure more in
contrast to the exquisitely neat vessel
it would be hard to imagine.
The captain mounted the gangplank
With it steadiness that disproved my
first suspicion of bis having been on a
drunk. Ile glanced aloft, cast a spec-
ulative eye on the stevedores trooping
across the waist of the ship and as-
cended to the quarter deck, where the
mate stood leaning over the rail and
uttering directed curses from between
sw".lut beaded lips. There the big man
roamed aimlessly on what seemed to
tie a tour of casual inspection. Once
lie stopped to breathe on the brass
binnacle and to rub it bright with the
dirtiest red bandanna handkerchief 1
ever want to see.
Ills actions amused rue. The dis-
crepancy between his personal habits
and his particularity in the platter of
his surroundings was et<'eeeling'ty in-
teresting. 1 have often untitled that
such discrepancies scent to indicate ex-
ceptional characters. As I watc•bed
him his whole frame stiffened. The
long gorilla arms contracted, the hairy
head sunk forward itt the tensenves
of a serpent ready to strike. ate ut-
tered a shrill falsetto shriek that
brought to a standstill every stevedore
on the job and sprang forward to seize
his mate by the shoulder.
Evidently the grasp hurt. T can be-
lieve it might from those huge hands.
The man wrenched himself about with
an oath of inquiry and pain. I could
hear orae side of what followed. The
Captain's high pitched tones carried
clearly, but the grumble and gravel of
the mate were indistinguishable at that
distance.
"How far is it to the side of the
Chip, you hound]" shrieked the cap-
let,.
b7Cumble—•surprised—tor an answer.
"`iYell, I'll tell you, you swab/ It's
just two fathom from where you stand.
dust two fathom! itow long would
it take you to walk there? How long?
Just about six secondsi There and
back! You"-- I won't bother with all
the epithets, although by now I know
Captain Selover's vocabulary fairly
Well. "And you couldn't take six aee-
onds off to !spit over, the side! Couldn't
Walk taco fathom! -Had to spit on. my
trestles deck, dict you?"
/Unable teem the mate.
"No, by trod, you won't eel up any
.444.11. • 01110'4 lo1i11 strIklkiiii,tt0
It yourself! You'll get a hand swab
and get down on your knees! I'll teach
you to be lazy!"
The mate said something again.
"It don't matter If we ain't under
way. That has nothing to do with it.
The quarter decks is clean, if the waist
ain't, and nobody but a son of a sea
lawyer would spit on deck anyhow!"
From this Captain Selover went on
into a good old fashioned deep sea
"cussing out," to the great joy of the
stevedores,
The mate stood it pretty well, but
there comes a time when further talk
is useless even in regard to a most
heinous offense. And of course, as you
know, the mate could hardly consider
himself very seriously at fault. Why,
the ship was not yet at sea and in all
the clutter of charging, He began to
answer back. In a moment it was a
quarrel. Abruptly it was a fight. The
mate marked Selover beneath the left
eye. The captain with beautiful sim-
plicity crushed his antagonist in his
gorilla-likesqueeze, carried him to the
side of the vessel and dropped him
limp and beaten to the pier. And the
mate was a good stout specimen of a
seafarer too.
Then the captain rushed below,
emerging after an instant with a chest
which he flung ager his subordinate,.
It was followed a moment later by a
stream of small stuff—mingled with
language—projected through an open
porthole. This in turn ceased. The
captain reappeared with a pail and
brush, scrubbed feverishly at the of-
fending spot, mopped it dry with that
same old red bandanna handkerchief,
glared about him and abruptly became
as serene and placid as a noon calm.
He took up the direction of the steve-
dores. It was all most astounding.
Nobody paid any attention to the
mate. He looked toward the ship once
or twice, thought better of it aid be-
gan to pick up his effects, muttering
savagely. In a moment or to he threw
his chest aboard an outgoing truck and
departed.
It was now nearly noon and I was
just in the way of going for something
to eat when I caught sight of another
dray laden with boxes and crated at-
(To
t(To be Continued,)
60 YEAR''
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