Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-29

was a well hammered pause.
''The mates may now search for them.
selves" said Captain Trollope. twisting
on his heel. and pulling out cigar case
he strolled CONTEMPORARY and leisure
~ toward the quarter deck.
''Troilope." ehouted Hankey. 1.-THE
captains cabin hasn't been searched
yet"
by thunder, nor' cried Trollope,
coming hastily back to the group
you'll not enter my cabin II you
please" reared the captain through the
akylight.
Captain Benson" said Mr.. Dave.
nire, going under the slylight and look
ing up through an eyeglas. you have
affronted M. the first class passengers
Of the Queen, with your suspicious. We
now choose" be went on with . well
contrived drawl. ito suspect you of
having plundered the arms chest"
The skipper looked down with the
spirit of murder aflame in each deep
seated little eye. He was dumb with
wrath till, finding his voice, he shouted
to Mr. Matthews to come on deck.
Some of the men were then for going
at once to the captains cabin. Trollope
restrained them.
"We'll do better than that" said he.
"We'll get red herring Of an apology
out of him for the trail"
Gentlemen" said the mate, coming
down tine companion steps after few
minutes, "by order Of the captain the
search is over. Follow me to the fox sle,
Mr.. Poole
81 say" here bawled Mr.. johnson,
"aren't Mr.. Dent and Mr.. Storr's cab
ins to be searched?"
''The innocence of us all aft" said
the mate, with a grave smile, 'has con-
verted the whole thing into a joke. The
captains desire is that it may 60 no
further
"a JOKE" growled Mr.. Caldwell,
pushing his scowling face close to the
mate, whose fists instantly doubled,
while his smile fled like shadow of
cloud from his features. "You search
my cabin as if was o thief. and you
call it joke"
''It's you who've made joke of it.
| was obeying ORDERS" exclaimed the
mate, with slight shade of green en-
tering his complexion as he looked
| round him.
'Thc culprit is the commander. not
his officers, CALDWELL" said Captain
Trollcpe.
"Cheer up, Poole" said Hankey,
slappinS the second mate on the back.
Jump forward now. and carry the
mate along with you. It's the sailor
| who hoped overheard that's the thief,
and you'll find the weapons in his sea
boots.'
Mr.. Dent came ont of his cabin and
stood with Mr.. Storr.
| 81 say" exclaimed Captain Trollope,
striding mp to them with an unlighted
cigar in his hand, 1--WE mean to make
the skipper apologize for this affront.
You expect an apology, suppose"
Tho captain is within his rights.
don't wish TO NEEDLE Where are the
1rearms:" answered Mr.. Storr, STAN.
mering with uneasiness.
Captain Trollope looked down Mt him
with so inini;table q countenance Of
anger and disgust that tho little man
trembled.
"Come ON deck. 4" said Mr.. Dent, and
the two men climbed the companiou
steps.
The ladies low came forth. Mr. Burr
officiously offered his arm to Mrs. Dent,
who declined, with the courtesy of 9
cook. Mrs. Peacock was conducted uy
the steps by Mr.. Hankey. The other Ia.
dies helped themselves. They vert
briskly followed by the ten gentlemen
with Captain Trollope at their head. I,
was hard upon noon, and the captair
was calling through the skylight TO tn,
steward for his sextant. Forward tn,
ship looked deserted. In fact the mes
kids had been carried from the galley
and the men ate their dinner while tn,
two mates went the rounds of jack
sea parlor.
This was the situation at this hour
The captain was about to take sights
and the ten knew their business too
well to hinder him. They lounged unit
eight bells had been made, the old skip
per sharing his fiery glances between
them ond the sun, and when the bel
was Oeing struck by the seaman, Wit