The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
CHAPTER uI.-THE LAST OF MR.

CHAPTER 1II-THE LAST OF MR..
NORMAN.
A number of passengers left us at Co
lombo, and amongst them Mr. Walters.
whom we were all sorry to lose
A few days before We reached Ceylon
Mr. Norman decided to have his beard
shaved
when he made known his decision. II
either wear a full beard or else get shaved
clean"
You never wear a moustache only?''
asked Mr.. Wyllie, quietly.
Il haven't done so yet" replied this I'M
suspecting impostor, who had not seen the
likeness of Lafranc.
Il would try that fashion this time If
were you: think it would suit your style
of face"
Half-an-hour after this we had the pleas
ure of beholding Mr.. Norman shaved and
trimmed la Lafranc, and could better
draw our comparisons, while, seeing so
many interested in his alteration, he went
about as full of vanity as a girl with her
first long frock. He seemed a simple
minded runaway after all
we thought that his nerves were quite
restored now that he was clear of the Aus
tralian coast; but il appeared that his hor-
ror extended to land of any kind, for as we
approached the Spicy Island he once more
became excited, and passed a night pacing
the deck in a distracted manner
There is something more than wife de-
sertlon haunting that man." whispered
the clergyman to me, as we watched his
wild-beast pacing and garing eyes II
jump overheard, for / never saw a man in
such .cIl condition of mind before"
Perhaps he Is an escaped lunatic, he
looks ike one just now.'
For the first day while we were in the
harbor he stopped below, and towards
nlSht ne plucked up some courage and
went ashore, and after a couple of hours
ne came back bringing with him the
ffourth mate of another ship, whom he in
formed me had been a former shipmate Of
his. He did not tell me this, however un-
I'll the young sailor had left
It was the Welshman who discovered
chanced, this stranger came from his own
part OF Wales, and told him casually that
ne ne had never known Norman before, but
or the hotels. Hearing from Norman that
he was also sailor and looking out for a
snip, ne had lent him some money and Of
Tered to speak to his captain for him
Norman paid another visit ashore in the
morning, and came back boasting that he
had been offered the captains post on a
private yacht at six hundred rupees per
month, but he did not consider 1t good
enough to break his passage for. so had
declined. This story we ali doubted very
much; however, one improvement we OBJ
served, and that was he was no longer
afraid of Ceylon, but went staggering
about Boosting that he had purchased q
considerable quantity of jewelry, which he
him. - 'Ni
had by this time given him up as a
man the anthithesis of Gen. George Wash
lngton, one who could not even by acct
dent tell the truth. His mendaeity and
cant disguised me, for he borrowed aud
accepted everything except intoxicants,
ana these only he would not indulge in
He said it excited him too much we be-
lieved he refused because it might make
MIN talk about what .hAA wished 10 guard.
ana liked him none the better for his en-
forced abstinence. His arrogance and
senselessness also required a constant and
strong, check In this ] was fairly sue
t tSs, u pg Keeping MN at arms length, so
that ne treated me with a little more re-
spect than he did our remaining compan-
ION the Weishman, whose peculiarities he
tried to make sport Of Also he had NOT
as yet attempted to borrow from me- He
seemed to have an instinct that he would
be refused, perhaps.
One day Taffy told me that he had made
up MS mind to avenge his ruined overcoat
by giving this humbug proper thrashing
'lI warn him first, IL he attempts any
more, liberties. / think that will stop
1 thought it would for the welshman
was bigger, and what / had seen of Mr.
Norman up TO this time did not impress
me that he was a fighting man.
We Welsh don't fight so much with our
nStS as with our feet" remarked Taffy,
with warlike flash of his eyes. IF he
rouses me III kick his bowels out"
1t was a terrible threat, and that same
afternoon he got an opportunity for giving
ms warning. Mr.. Norman was extra
ed at him savagely.
1T strikes me you want good hiding.
Mr.. Norman. and if you don't behave
yourself I'll give il to you"
We all expected the liar to become alb
Ject and apologize, but as usual, he disap-
pointed us. Raising his head he stared
strailght INTO the others eyes, and replied
IAN right, Taffy, I'm ready to take that
hding, II you can give 1t me, whenever
you ike TO begin. Now, If you like, or
any other time, only tell me when you are
inclined"
This answer staggered us all, while IL
made Iafy grow suddenly subdued The |
tight didn't come Off but Norman won a |
little respect for his cool reception of the |
warning.
A few days after this as we were near
ing Alden, and Norman was as usual. |
Doastng and laying down the law, / cor
rected palpabe mistake he made about |
some tribe. Instantly he offered to wager |
me thousand pounds that he was right. |
me wager was as ridiculous as the sub |
ject of contention, and laughingly | took |
II up and quickly convinced even him that |
! mad won. The question Of payment was |
now discussed, but the bettor had no |
means; therefore he was put up at auc- |
ton, and as no one would bid against me
he was handed formally over to me as my
We carried on this farce for the rest of
the way, and he was good-natured enough |
10 play his part, calling me his "bossi
touching his hat to me. and Yowing that |
he felt easy now respecting his future
since 1t was the owners duty to provide
Tor his slave
so We came to Naples and Genoa. Al
Naples he again won some admiration by
diving from the upper deck and swimming
as none Of the rest could, He had now |
proved that he had as good as well as
weak qualities. He was not afraid TO
face fight, and he was a fearless SWIM
mer. l began then TO wish he could give
me his complete confidence, for / felt al
most tempted to befriend him The
others, also, | saw, were more kindly dis
posed towards him after that swim.
Genoa was our last place of call before
reaching England, and we stopped there
two days.
on the night before we sailed, l had
come back from an exploration through
the churches and museums, and was
on the deck when my slave Nor
man, came to me and said.
Il don't feel well tonight Boss and
want to 20 into town 20 get some medi-
cine. could you lend me your overcoat TN
come backg"
looked at him, surprised. for the night
was hot one.
Yes. Norman, you can have my coat;
but what you want Il for on a night like
this Is beyond met"
II feel cold"
An right, take Il then"
came back.
See here Boss will likely meet some
fellows ! know. and I'd like to have some