The Republican journal., 1884-02-21


procure drink if the moist eyed man
was ready with the compensation. The
latter, | noticed, got strangely soon af-
tected. | supposed that the old debauch
was not yet quite dead in him. 1t was
then that the little Jew, taking him aside
impaired to him a secret, which | over
heard:
The Hebraic worthy had two trunks
stuffed with "dutiable goods" on which
he was anxious to make no contributions
to the federal revenues Far gone as he
was, the moist eyed man was promptly
equal to the occasion. "Ask for Colonel
O'Driscol on the jetty, an square him.
know he can be got at Best thing,
before you come ashore yourself, send on
to the wharf little note addressed to the
Colonel with S25 an your card enclosed,
and then strike him as soon as you land.
You'll find him all hunky, you bet. That'll
pass you along as easy's slipping off a log.
Only, never give soul hint put you
up to this !"
"All right, pardner," was the philo-
sophie reply of the astute Hebrew, "guess
the lot on you roosters understand each
other, kinder-eh?"
The moist eyed man winked and hic-
coughed, and Mr.. Moses retired to rest
in the pleasing consciousness of not hay
ing wholly wasted his friendly offices in
circumventing the bar tender.
At Honolulu the Tasmanian embarked
a large draft of passenges for San Fran
cisco rather mixed lot. A large num-
Der of these had to take thier meals in
the empty second saloon, the table seats
in the chief saloon being all previously oc-
cupied. Two nights after leaving Homo
lulu while dinner was being served in the
latter apartment, the gentleman with the
moist eye compromised himself by mis-
cellaneous resort to strong expressions
uttered by no means SottO yoce, and was
summarily elected by the chief steward,
who characterized him in allegorical Ian
guage as having been "as full OF drink as
the Baltic sea"
For myself, | observed with unfeigned
sorrow and 10 little surprise all those
evidences of fallen nature on the part
of a man 10y whose simple and touching
manifestation of purer and better spirit
| had been So much touched at the outset
OF the voyage. But as | grieved because
of the feet, or rather the stomach, of clay,
and very porous clay at that, which dis
figured the golden head, found one con-
ISOLATION, in that recognized this man
with moist eye as a type. He became
to me more and more identified with the
Bret Harte character-ths Pacific slope
man with the chronic crave to see them
''put up" with the call0us disregard of
his principle, with the propensity to grisly
oaths, and yet, withal, with the strange
holy streak OF genuine tenderness. At
the end of the voyage thought him more
like 'kentuck" than had done at the
beginning.
AS the "Tasmanian" steamed by AL
catraz Island, it was an open secret
among a good many of the passengers
THAI the moist-eyed gentleman was to
scramble on the wharf by the first cable
and give quiet, significant intlmation to
'Colonel O'Driscol" and the "boys' that
III certain specific instances pertunctory
inspection would be highly appreciated
and not be quite barren Of compliment
airy recognition.
As he stood in readiness for the aero
batic feat, noticed his vest pocket con-
siderahly bulged by quite a little packet
Of letters, which had reason to believe
all bore a superscription to "Colonel
ODriscol.'
The moment came, and we saw him
slip Oft the cat-head down the haWser on
to the ietty, with an agility which was
much admired by all Spectators some
believing that he was thus urgent that he
might clasp to his bosom the little wife to
whom he had hurried back, others com
mending his alertness to execute the
genial and delicate commissions he had
undertaken. lie disappeared into the
interior OF the shed. and we saw him no
more.
Halt an hour elapsed before the gang
plank was practicable, and then the
passengers streamed down into the she'd
The baggage began to be rapidly dump
ed. | happened to be near the little
American jew with dash of the cock
ney. He asked a customs officer where
he should find Colonel O'Driscol."
''Gonder he is, replied the man steadily,
pointing to a tall man with goldlace
cap, who was standing behind an enclos-
ed desk, with his back towards us, bust
ed with some papers on a nail on the
wall. The jew approached and touched
the tall man on the elbow.
Colonel O'Drscol, SIR" he uttered in
a confident tone.
The Colonel remained engrossed among
his documents.
Colonel ODriscol, sir" repeated the
Jew in tone that had a little ring Of
perhaps not uDiustifiable peremptori-
ness.
"At your service, sir !" said the Col
onel, as he turned sharply round and
from under the visor of the gold lace cap
there beamed upon the jew from under
their long brown lashes pair Of moist
blue eyes. The jew gave one gulp Of
wild establishment, then staggered back,
and sat down in silence on the floor Of
the shed. He was too much discounted
even to swear.
Very few witnessed this little scene
most people being engrossed in the work
of getting their baggage together. The
Colonel sat down and bent his head over
bis desk. Presently little Mrs. Lorne
came jauntily sailing up to the desk.
Colonel ODriscol y she sweetly said.
Sat your service, madam !" replied the
Colonel raising his head.
Mrs. LONE gave little shrek, but she
was woman, and a woman is always
nimbler in a tight place than man. She
rallied with surprising quickness, and
spoke with low emphasis.
"Colonel,' said she, 'there is lady in
the case, and know that you are gen
eyes, madam" responded the Colonel,
with a gallant bow, land | don't 90 back
on my word--to a lady"-the last three
words with a curious, deliberate into
nation. "Here, officer, just open this
lady's grip-sack and then chalk her bag
gage, and call a porter for her. Good
Mrs. Lorne" concluded the
gallant officer, with ineffablc sweetness
and grace.
Mrs. LorDe didn't hang around much.
The same afternoon | noticed the
American Jew and the Australian jewel
er each tramping around the city i'll the
close society of a gentleman in uniform.
1t appeared they were looking for bail, in
default Of which they would have to ''go
across the bay 'Fiji'' in bland despair
Of bail, had gone to the cells direct from
the quay, where, according to personal
testimony, trouble did not cease until
nightfall.
There had been good deal of snug
Cling into Frisco by the steamers of the
Hemisphere line, and smart officer had
L