Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-28
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
GROUND BAIT.
Cambei gave the ghost Of a smile and
then laughed. No" he said, Il can't
even boast OF that. Acquaintance are
mine in thousands, but friends-well, all
friendship has its breaking strain. I'm
bit Ike that comfortable contemplate per-
son, the miller of tho Dec. ! believe did
care for somebody once, and she made me
think she cared for me. Probably she
lied, because under persuasion she went
OF with another man. Bah, though, what
docs 1t matter Kettle, we re talking rank
sentiment, AID that's an Improbable en-
ployment for men engaged on piece Of
delicate business. And-hcre's a gentle
.:ian come to tell me that the consignment
OF specie Is Just commencing to arrive
MOI -=ptain, the stuff II be in iron bo;,nd
boxes, and you and / have got to weigh
each one separately and check the invoice.
Then we've TO act rs our own stevcdores
and stow half Of 1t in the cabin next my
room and half of it across the alleyway
next tho mates"
why divide :t.''
Because tho weight is big, and 1t would
GIVE your steamer n heavy list to star
board
''Oh, as to that, never mind. We can
easily bring her up again with n trimming
tank. And shouldn't feel comfortable if
any of the stuff was in that room next the
mates. You see, Mr.. Cambcl, any one on
board can go down that alloyway. In
fact, it's the only road from end to END of
tho ship unless you go up over the bridge
deck. And I'd not guarantee but what
the bait woald make some Of them beau
~ mi nit Ip IT,
big enough to smudge the honesty Of an
archbishop If he was only earning 81 a
month. Now tho room next yours has iron
wills ard opens only into the inner cabin.
There's a good lock on it already, and If
mako the carpenter bend on four more
you'll have a strong room tho Bank of
England might boast about
THAT sounds sensible, commented tho
envoy from the bank.
Very well, said Cambel, ~ believe it
Is the best plan. Now, il you please, we'll
have tho weighing machine in the main
cabin, and IL you, sir, will instruct your
mon to bring In the boxes ono by enc I'll
satisfy myself that they agree with the
tally, and Captain Kettle shall build them
up In the stateroom before US both. It's
very responsible job we have upon us, and
tho moro counter checkings and prccau-
tons wo can put into it tho better for our
several regulations"
It was q responsible job. Not every day
Is specie to the tuno of 500, 600 British
soycreigns Skinned from n Iiyerpool doci,
and because gold boxes are made in con-
ventional pattern the shipment was spot
ted, and crowds gathered to stare at the
cascd in wealth.
AS staring dumbly is dry work, self ap-
pointed orators among the crowd natural
~ distribute gratis their own private
opinions upon the situation, and, accord
ing to their luck or eloquence, these at
tracted larger or smaller audiences. Nc
one took them very seriously, and they,
for the incst part, treated tho subject in a
Jocular vein. 1t was not till Captain ket-
tic and the Mersey pilot had gone into the
upper bridge and the mate on the fore
deck had cast of the first bow fast that a
self appointed prophet arose who spoke Of
the gold shipment in another key.
nc was q wlid, unkempt, knockkneed
man, VINO nrst a.tracteu attention by tying
acri''son hanokerchiel 70 an umbrella and
otanaishing IL above his head Being on
inc lace OF MN a creature who never II he
oouiu "Noiu IL put MS hahu TO honest Ia
, DOE, ne naturaliy addressed the crowd at
i"Ise US hcLiow WORKERS. lhesc Things
49," a.. sns humorous UNI, gu. interest ana oe
ss",,.; o .. LOU 'no gu. Vi Eiio ana
H., e. 49, a W. ..oMu continued 10
...s s" "'''i '"' "f'' prieAihg up Oh 'he'r
,N., oo'fse heeu Hos De report
.u u.'ai. ho was an anarchist, req,
.".pans az" iu.Niess, ana py means Oh
"Isu,ue"s' sohe warpSu. some ialf
~ $50. sc pv.." ou. u ms hearers tnat
,." v .s y. 'nc io,' Hues was another
~. ,rhS .." ap,"i .ilo .hc rioS Oh IA
-, s..,~'s -. me- WIN a very
III ~, . oa, tne anarchist siiehced
. LII we !eeis anu .ne applause Win be,
sns ""'. u, ms haho anu followed
wbirh VIZ, ros ' oonuon un wharf tns s,eame.