Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-23
CAPTAIN kAv,s HAT.


captain Kay. as VIC will call him,
then In command Of H. NJ. s. s., at
anchor in Alden harbor. having been
three years ON the East Indian station,
was clearing out his cabin prior to be-
ing ordered home. and finding his Lon
don hat case opened it, and, as may
costly b credited, three years moth
and damrness had reduced its tenant to
. dilapidated condition, besides which
sundry pictures in illustrated journals
had made the gallant captain aware
that his once fashionable tile had teen
superseded by q shorter and more curly
brimmed description Of the hatty genus.
Wanting In shape. color and condi-
ton. the captain said to his servant.
Throw il overheard" and overheard it
went, hut was not got rid Of, as events
quickly showed. Ono Of the crew Of
boat from the flagship coming from the
shore, espying the hat floating in the
water, picked it MP, and seeing the
name inside the coxswain brought ii
to tho commander Of his ship, and he
srnt IL ON board Captain Kay's ship
With his compliments, thinking Of
course that IL had fallen overheard by
accident.
'Dash tho HAITI" said Captain Kay;
"herc, chuck IL overheard again, and
tell your commander I'm very much
obliged" and down he went to his
cabin.
Two hours afterward the hat return
Cd, looking sadly out of repair, with
Captain n. = compliments. This time
II had been picked MP by the boatkecpcr
In one If the boats lying astern Of Cap
tain n. 'sship, nm American man-of-war
lying farther down Alden harbor, and
having bscn dried In the sun was sent
beck 10 its proper ship and owner. TELL
Captain n. I'm very much obliged to
him." said the now wrathful captain.
and tho American officer departed.
"Confound the HAITI" said Captain Kay.
II shall have 10 ask n. 90 dinner. Here,
bring mo . shot OF . lump If coal or
something else heavy" A lump Of
coal was produced. IL was placed in
side, and by the captains directions the
hat was taken down the accommodation
ladder, carefully allowed to fill with
water, and u sanki
"Well, Two seen the last Of that
blessed hat" said Captain Kay. and
whistling cherrfully descended to the
cabin, but again he underestimate that
hats resurrcctivc powers, for two days
afterward . parcel arrived addressed TO
captain Kay, II. NJ. =. s." with
. rupees y annas 10 pay. The money
paid, the parcel was opened, and inside,
looking still more disreputablc and dis
sipated, was the hat again, together with
. very civil note from the superintcnd-
ent of police. saying that one Of the
diving boys-and there are swarms Of
them. ~ any one who has been in Alden
harbor knows-had found the inclosed
hat, which he saw from the name inside
belongcd 20 Captain Kay, and - he
knew Captain Kay would wish the div
ing boy 70 10 rewarded for his honesty
he had presented him with a rupee.
which action he hoped would meet
with the captains approval. Police
station feex, I rupeo and boat hire, I
rupee . annas!
Then Captain Kay smiled graciously
q tho hat, and he ordered . big fro 10
b lie In tho stokehold, and when IL was
veTy bot 10 took the hat below. and
having jumped On Il directed 1t to be
pushsd into the hottest part If tho fur
mace, md then he gloQted over it, de-
stsuctioa, but even % it crumbled to
ashes. 90 Captain Kay. r. n, was see,
iuside 10 the last. Ca
sstte.