Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-30
eo0rRusHr. ress. ~ nR AvY,soa.

the matter with a sudden surprise-"hc
said the gentleman named Hankey, dur
ing his visit to the ship the night before
we sailed, asked. among other questions.
about the CITES chest and burst into a
laugh when the hex was shown him
and the contents stated
"Stated-stated," blew the little
man il great ct Of passion. "What
right had the second officer to state tie
contents, rs you call ito receive n
visitor, to talk to him, say: Was he
drunk.''
Looks to me, Cir, as if Mr.. Eankcy
was tho prime joker III this job
who's to prove it:'' Kissed the fer
SKIPPER. "EiS cabin was searched, sup.
rCse:"
ono nan Ct the ten is fool enough TO
hide two CT three kurdI edwcicht Of cid
iron ard steel in his cabin with tie
stewards in and out and the stuff itself
plumber, sir.
sis the seccrd officer to be trusted:
Give NE reason to doubt hin. and Iii
break him oct OF hand. lie shall to rl.-
der lock and key for the rest Of the vcy-
age
The mate reflected ard answered ear.
Mostly, "You'li find he's perfectly kon-
est and Trustworthy, sir.
"Ycu don't forget what we're carry.
ing homo, co you:"
81 do rot, answered the mate firmly.
Give tic men to understand that
we have our suspicious Of tie ten ouddy
passengers and start them Oh keeping Il
bright lookout for themselves Let them
know it may como to tLeir saving their
Threats by doing it.
The mate. with establishment slowly
growing i, his face. said: Ave. ave
sir. But what name and shape am / 10
give to cur suspicions!''
The old skipper was'at a loss. He
stared vacantly through the large cabin
window, then exclaimed: 1--WE must
watch 'ern. You will keep your eye up-
on him, sir. You will keep your eye
upon Mr.. Poole also''
The captain called the steward, went
to his cabin, and there questioned the
man closely. He had faith in this fell
low. His name was Trickle. He was
legged like his master and was about
80 years old, and the Jacks would tell
him he walked on his fathers legs and
it was right the skipper should take a
fatherly interest in him. He had moth
ing to tell the commander of the ship,
had no suspicious. He was of Mr.. Mat
thews' opinion. 1t was practical joke
| with some deeper meaning in it than
fcoling-as, for instance. it might have
ham the work of one who disliked the
second mate ard hoped to get him ir,o
| trouble.
go and send the second mate to me. -
Poole was eating his lunch il the
| chief mates place. Ee arose nervorsIy.
$50 it seems. SIR let fly old Benson
in a broadside Of sputters the instant
the young fellow presented himself,
! that you did not give me the whole
truth when questioned you about you,
knowledge OF some OF the passengers "
II told you all ] then recoilectcd,
cir. -
Did you tell me tia. you had shown
the arms chest and stated its content:
to the gentleman named Hankey wher
he visited the ship il Sydney bay:''
II forgot all about that, sir. air
heartily sorry. God knows I'd have
stove his beat in sooner than have al
lowed him aboard could / have foresecr
this
Benson's passion rose high. He thun
dered and swelled. "D'you know what
my power as commander is. sir:''
"Tco well" sighed Poole, standing
upright like private
''How am l to know you're not il
league with certain people in this SHY
Tor some purpose that l mean to watch
and Illustrate, sir: D'you know your re
sponsibiliries? If CATCH
His speech was arrested by sensa
ton of choking 1t was over in n min
ute, but the second mate was greatly
alarmed and asked if he should prOcur.
some brandy. The skipper waved asid,
the question with stout hearted flour
ish OF his arm ard was about to speal
when Inc was again halted by his eye
lighting upon the barometer close Pas
the second mate.
THAT will co, sir" Ard tie office
left the cabin.
I
eight bells, q film drew ever the sky
1t was laden with delicate beading O
cloud. In places it looked like netting
The sun lost his shape and flooded twic
his diameter Of sky with al cozing O
draining Ct SICILY light. The sails O
the ship took an odd, sulky glare q
brass, and there hcing little wind TIE,
sucked hard into the clasts TT every rol
upon the mCun;air swell ont Of tn
south.
The glass had continued 10 fall
There was storm il the face Of the heav
ems, III the wecGy smells cf the sea
The sun went Cut il blood red, sn,ok
glare and TIE night FELL black as inl,
with light air ont CT the eastwar
and avid mean in each g-,st. which til
heavy dip Ct the chip Oh The large swell
forced between her rrasts. But long CT
this she had been snusgc,i dow Il to
few cloths CT canvas Fall Of snvac
beauty was the picture she made whSi