Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-21
COPYRIGHT. 1890 ~ ne Au1xoa.


COPYRIGHT. 1899 ~ M Aurnoa.
"Are you in the interest Of the own
ers on board this ship. sir!"
II don't understand you" answered
Mr.. Storr.
''Poohv' said Mr. Masters, who look.
ed uncommonly handsome in the de.
ceptive radiance Of sunset and lamp.
light, glancing as he spoke at Miss Mar
garet Mansel, ''the gentleman means
that you want to save the cabin table. >"
Mr.. Storr stared stupidity for fur.
Their explanation.
Pray said Mr. Hankey in o very
airy, gentlemanly tone, addressing the
mate, Mr.. Matthews, where does Mr..
Poole, the second mate. diner
Here, when the others have finished
and l have gone on deck" answered
the mate.
Il came out with that gentleman in
the Golden Ball." said Mr.. Hankey.
He was third mate of her. should
say better sailor never jockeyed q
yardarm.
That's good expression" said Mr..
Matthews, smiling slowly.
Were You ever at sea professional
!y?" inquired the surgeon.
"Ask no questions of q man who has
sought luck in Australia" answered
Hankey with bland smile and bow.
Here the black, Jewish looking man
named Caldwell broke in:
Il did not receive much encourage.
ment when I came out. They told me
that last voyage the son of baronet,
whose father lived in q mansion in
Hyde park, had sailed as saloon passen-
ger for the gold rush. The ship arrived
and was within a day or two of her
sailing for England full up with wool,
when the midshipman at the gangway
| saw scarecrOw crawl over the side. 1t
touched the remains of its hat, its rags
| fluttered, its face was of a beastly vel
low and hollow with famine and suffer
ing Don't you remember me?' it sigh
ed The midshipman, who was without
sentiment, said no. The scarecrow
named himself, He was the baronet's
| son. He had been knocking about for
three months. had found 10 gold, could
get no food, had pawned himself down
to his socks and had come to beg q pas
sage home. They took pity on the poor
devil and gave him an understeward' s
berth; that is, he was not even thought
good enough to wait at the table at
which he had formerly sat. He had to
take the dirty dishes forward to the
| galley and wash them. These were en-
| couraging yarns to q man like me-"
He was about to add something, but
| choked the words down with a glass of
wiue
The conversation prospered after this.
Mr. Caldwell's anecdote set the others
chatting. Those who had looked some
what askance ut one another now fell
into talk, and the captain found him
self at the head of tableful of people
who promised, on the whole, to form an
agreeable and sociable party. There
was some reference to gold.
| "Who knows the latest value of the
nugget" said Mr.. Davenire, the big
man with the bright waistcoat and sill
yer chain.
"Three pun to three pun one per
ounce" answered Mr.. Dent.
| 1T was the story of Hargreaves' dis
covery that brought me out here" said
one of the gentlemen, named Mr.. Peter
johnson. THAT fellow l mean who up
in Bathurst knocked hundredweight
OF gold worth $4,000 out of rock
Good angels, what joy for Hargreavesv'
did the gold rush bring you outT'
said Mr.. Masters. languishing across
hn fol, 10 H.
II came to better myself as govern
ess and am driven home again by colo
NAL indifference to my few gifts" said
the girl, blushing.
Zone and all; one and allv' exclaim-
ed Captain Trollope.
THE colonies are mere rattraps for
the catching Of the vermin of the old
country" said Mr.. Storr.
MANY suicides happen in your ex-
perience. captain, during your runs
home since the gold findr' inquired
Mr.. Hankey.
| "One man died suddenly last voy.
age" answered the old skipper. 1--WE
thought it was suicide till the doctor
discovered that ardent spirits had
burned mp his viscera. Why should q
man kill himself" he continued
thoughtfully, looking at Mrs. Holrnyd,
when he has paid his passage and will
get home by waiting:''
Nobody seemed disposed to consider
the point, and shortly afterward the
whole OF the passengers went on deck.
1t was now evening, q fine, clear
dusk, full OF stars, and moon over the
port bow. The breeze had scanted. yet
the sails slept, and the ripples spread
out thin as silver harp strings from the
BOWS. The awnings had been furied,
and the dew sparkled crisply ON rail
and pinnacle hood. The ocean swept in
measureless shadow to the stars. and
more than one passenger, particularly
the ladies. shuddered when the GONNA.
ny passed through the companicnway
on deck and found the beauty of Inc
night tragic with the tiny ark of hor.
TOR that was somewhere aste-n.
| The second mate. Poole, before div.
ing to his dinner. saluted the captain.
Nothing in sight, sir, but a small
| sail right in our wake scsrcalv visible