The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-11

GUS games at ninepins with virtue and
character. and to read about a pretty girl is
better than to go about carousing with an
ugly and debauched one AsSanoho Panza
says about sleep, God bless the man who
invented books"
Books, however, were the subjects OF our
bytalk only. Oftenest our conversation
was about India, Arabia and our compan.
ions.
'Just look at them, Mr., Kilgour,n he
said once. AREN'T they a pretty sets
Haven't they the look of having been born,
bred, trained, educated, for the special pur-
pose OF wallowing in crimef Without ocu-
lareyidence cpld you imagine that SO much
rascality could be condensed within few
skinsf They are the very essence of vii
Atns. sir, or rather the dregs, with not an
heRest or honorable instinct among them.
yRily believe old Nick would be ashamed
Of tsem, for he, II reports be true, is an
artiseand gentleman, but they-they are
mere butchers. II justice were any more
than Ching of courts and fine talk, there
isn't a man Of them that shouldn't long
ago have adorned a gibbet."
And how in the name of wonder do they
come to be pn Mr.. Matheson's shipi" I
asked. Mr.. Watson screwed his face know
ingly and winked.
"Ah. hal there you are,n he laughed.
"How comes the purse to rule the con-
sciencei Mr.. Mntheson wasborn ayont the
Tweed and knows the value OF bawbees.
These rinsings Of creation are got cheap be-
cause they're flying from the scnffold."
Flying from the seaffoldl How do you
knowf"
From experience and the modicum OF
wit heaven gave me. Res apectability's a
thing we don't care to payfor on East In
dia traders. And that reminds me, are You
armed, Mr.. Kilgour"
"As nature armed NEIL reioined. "I
did not think 1t was necessary come on
board Mr.. Matheson's ship armed.
"Neoessity's just as you take it, he said
significantly. "In this golden cline II
might not be necessary to wear ciothesA bus
you do 1t all the same. A pistols mot
heavy, and sometimes it'svery handy.
always carry one, and this little thing bA.
sides" and turning up the edge of hisN
waistcoat he revealed the handle Of a dag
ger.
That's to prog them who might take
thought of progging me,n he exclaimed.
81 have found it useful at close quarters
more than once. Come this way, Mr.. Kill
gour,"
He led me to his cabin, which was Office
and bedroom In one. When we were inside
he carefully closed and fastened the door,
then getting upon his knees he unlocked a
heavy iron box, which Notwithstanding its
immense weight was fixed TO the floor with
iron rtvets.
"This is for the ships papers, he ex.
planned, looking up with smile of intel
llgence, but you can put more than hat;
In bandbox. Here. take your choice Of
these" and he lifted an arrhful of pistols.
drew back a step with a quick sensa-
tion Of ohiiliuess. The startling discoverie
were crowding too closely upon each othel
for my nerves
"Oh, you'd better have dne,". he said 1,
his matter of fact way. tits nasty to be
caught unprepared. l dare say you know
something about firearms.n
II know more about fowling pieces than
pistols" ] answered, taking one with q
trembling hand.
well, well, you'll soon get used to #.
Nothing trains a man with the pistol like
knowing he may be turned into target at
less than moments notich."
"And do you really mean to say there.
dangerf"
THAT'S inst as you lobk at Il. Ifthe
risk of being killed without prayers is
danger, then we are not In the safest piacs
on earth That's good one. Mr. Kilgour;
take II with you."
Istowed the weapon away while he rum
maged In the box.
aa..sSEs 40. - 49, 49,
asked moment later, holding up a sheaf
Of dsggers. But they were too suggest
i've and.I declined the Offer.
"Well, well, so be it." bio remarked, put
ting back daggers and pistols into then
place. "Since you won't have a dagger,
suppose it's no use offering you a sword,
No, thought so. Well, now for the cope
stone Of the counsel" he poutinucd, stand
ing erect and looking me straight in the
eyes. Don't let any one get too familiar.
The moment you smell trouble, draw and
blaze away. II you don't kill. you will bs
respected; II you do kill. it's but justice
anyway. II you deliberate you're lost. And
now, lest they should suspect plot, let's
20 out" saying which he opened the door
and we went on deck.
For the rest of that day was hot. nery-
Gus, depressed and i'll al ease, yet with
certain feeling of consequence Firearms
give courage as the saddle confers author
ity. The touch OF my pistol hilt thrilled
me, and many time did surreptitiously
slip In my hand Just to gain assurance By
graspinR 1t.
kept, N you may think, a keen eve on
the crew, for though thdre was not a whit
more danger now than there had been from
the beginning l detected treaehery and
murderous intent In every act and look OF
the men. / expected bloodshed and tried
to convince myself was prepared for 1t.
But indeed 1t was to matter little to me
whether were armed or not, The feeling
of heat and depression grew upon me hour
by hour At first naturally referred IL to
my conversation with MI. Watson. But In
this was mistaken. went to bed deadly
sick, to toss In feyerish phroxysns through
the long night, and next morning was so
giddy that on attempting to rise / stag.
gered and sank to the floor. When gath.
cred myself together, the room was whirl
ing like huge spinning wheel, carrying
me with it in its gyratio1s Steadying my
self little, managed tb crawl back to my
berth on hands and knees, my ewes well
nigh sightless aud my btows throbbing as
II there were steam machinery inside. My
skin burned with a prickly heat. and nv
throat and tongue were parched, sore and
swnlia~