Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-29
Now you see it," said the mate.

Now yea see il. said the mate.
Hankey examined The lock and ex.
claimed, eyes, Eewly smashed, by
Jove! No doabs of that"
The second mate lifted the lid, and
Captain Troliope, looking down into
the open box over his folded arms, said,
what were the weapons?'
"Blunderbusses, Eorse pistols, cut
1asses and SO on" said Poole, scarcely
able to hold his face as he gave O name
to the ridiculous parcel.
TIE mates were half stunned BY the
roar CT laughter that attended this.
GOOD booty" exclaimed Captain
Troliope, wiping his lips He burst into
another laugh. 'Blunderbusses and
horse pistols. eh: Think see old Cap
tain Benson taking aim, the wrong eye
shut. a p.rple face glowing at the butt
end like the August moon at the tail of
q shoal. the piece all trigger and the
flint gone
Another shout of laughter.
Suppose VIC begin the search here"
said Mr.. Daverire. looking with crook.
ed eyebrows at the portrait Of Poole's
mother, while Mr.. Caldwell advanced
his black head to view the crucifix.
The mate looked q remonstrance. He
did not relish the officiousness Of these
gentlemen. But he had overheard the
skipper's answer to Captain Trollope on
the poop and bad nothing to say. The
search then began. The locker was open.
ed, the mattress tGmbled; they peered
under the bunk; they beat the buikheads
as though for secret panels aud mystic
rious hiding places.
They next went in q body to the
mates berth. Ten gentlemen were now
assisting the two officers to find the
plumber, and they made q considerable
crowd in the little cabin. Their num-
Der was a troubis. Nothing could be
done for elbows and showing.
There's no good in all this skylark-
ing" said Burn. II mean if tho thief
&c bo discovered. -
There's nothing here" said Captain
Trollope, looking around him with
slight disdain over the head of the mate.
"Bet your hottest prospects on that, -
said Mr.. Matthews slowly, cap in hand,
wiping his face, for indeed the whole
of them shone with perspiration and
mos. of them with good spirits.
"Next cabin" shouted Mr.. Masters,
and the heap dashed in huddle into
| tho cudGy, bearing the two mates help.
less in the thicl, of them.
| Aren't you going to search the ship
with us:'' bawled Mr.. Hankey to Mr..
Storr, who stood in q posture Of uncer.
tainty at the head of the table. The
little auctioneer responded with q pale
smile ard a weak. meaningless flourish
| of the hand.
"There's the captain looking" said
| Shannon in n low voice to Caldwell,
and they both laughed. Sure enough,
4 in the open frame Of the skylight wa
the head of the skipper. He gazed down
with his face full Of blood, amazed and
enraged, but he, like his officer, had
nothing to say.
| TIE next cabin attacked was the ont
shared between Mr.. Dixie Caldwell an6
Mr.. Isaac Cavcrdish. The 10 filled thil
little room like burst Of wind There
was hardly space for an elbow to jerl
itself. Shouts Of laughter reached the
captains cars. They tumbled the mat
tress; they roared over an old razol
strop. A toothbrush was flung through
the open portfolio. It,was Caldwell's
and he turned savagely upon the joker
"That portmanteau?" said the mate
"No, you don't ~ said Caldwell, will
one Of his Ugly, black scowls, and b,
sat down upon it,
| "Mr. Matthews. I appeal to you
common sense" exclaimed Captain
Trollope, cndeavoring to fan himself
with his hat. lis it conceivable, evel
suppcsing Mr.. Caldwell were the cul