Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-05-27
COPYRIGHT 1856 BY DOO0 MEAD AND COMPANY.


blanket. Tie rum tossed of grateful
ly, but the blanket / declined.
Every well, " said Hughes. "But you
look as white as q - sheet already,
and you'll find it none too warm going
back in the dingey wi nothing on"
"I'm not going back in the dingey
with nothing Oh, my good fellow" /
replied calmly. you've got a fro CT q
stove of some sort below, suppose, and
I'm going down to sit by it while you
row back and get my clothes for me-
Then you can put me ashore, and shall
have much pleasure in handing you
over the sovereign I've promised you,
ON condition you give me your word not
10 speak nf this FOOLS game of mine. 1
don't want to be made the laughing
stock of the island. I told them l was a
good swimmer, and if they heard that l
had to sing out for help and had to be
taken back to shore like drowned kit.
ten / should never hear the last Of it, es-
pecially from that big brute Of q Muir,
who's always Dragging about his own
swimming"
Something like grin stole over the
fellows forbidding face.
"Muster Muir, o don't like no soft
plucked uns, o don't, and you did sing
out - loud, and no mistake! You
told un you could swim, did you? Why,
Muster Muir, I seen him swim out two
mile and more, and them
"Confound Mr.. Muir" interrupted
sngrily. "Do you think I'm going to
stay here all night while you stand
there jawing and grinning? Be off with
you and get my clothes cor me, or you
won't zee halfpenny Of the sovereign I
promised you."
"It was GO as you promised me, "
said the fellow, lying insolently now
that he had-as he thought he had-mo
in his power, "and - little, too, for q
man wot's running the risk of getting
the billet by letting strangers on boord,
dead against the roofs. But l dom
leave my ship for no - 60, don ii
You'll ave to come along wi me in the
dingey, and, mind, I as the money afore
you as the clothes. None Of your mon
key tricks wi me, l tell you. Come,
wot's it to be? Are you going back WI
me. or will you wait for Mr.. Muir to
come and fetch you? can let i'm know
in the morning (this with an impudent
GRIM as you've been rescooed"
II don't go ashore without my clothes
il l stop here all night" I said firmly.
"It's inhuman to ask me. What harm
could I do to the confounded ship for
the few minutes you're away? dom t
want to stay here any longer than can
help, I assure you. 1t was sovereign
l promised you. but if you'll row ashore
as fast as you can and get my clothes
and promise to keep your mouth shut
you shall have So. Will that please
you?"
MAKE it e3," said he, "and I'll say
done. "
Every well," answered, "only be
as quick as you can, for the sooner I'm
out Of this thieves den and have seen
the last Of your hangman face the bet
ter And now I'll 60 down out of the
cold, and perhaps you won't grudge me
another dram of that rum of yours, con.
sidering how you've bled me tonight. "
Motioning me to follow, he led the
way to the stern of the ship, where, as
l knew, the hulk keepers quarters were
situated, the dynamite being stored, as
I have already said, in the hold.
A cockpit, from which there shot uE
into the night all inverted pyramid ol
yellow light, marked the entrance to the
cabin. and into this Hughes, disdainful
of stairs, shufled feet foremost, swing.
ing moment with his palm resting or
either ledge and his body pillared by
rigid arms before he dropped out Of
sight, like stage Mephistopheles re-
turning to his native hell. Not being
familiar with the place, decided tc
content myself with less dramatic en-
trance, and picked my way accordingly
down the steep stairs and into the little
cabin which served as kitchen, sitting
room and dormitory. A lighted oil stove
stood in the center, beside which
Hughes placed wooden chair.
you've got very comfortable quar-
ters here" said, looking round ap
provingly after l had seated myself. 81
one doesn't mind lonely life Ct il
lonely. l suppose), one might do worse
than turn hulk keeper. Z"
Hughes grunted by way Of reply, bu
whether this was to be taken as signify
ling acqdiescence or dissent was unabl,
to say, his face being at the moment
hidden in a corner locker, whence ht
presently emerged with a bottle of OLE
Tom and glass.
"There's the - rum, and there'
the - glass, and now don't you stil
out of that ---- chair" he said. with I
liberal use of his favorite adjective
Then, much to my relief, he betool
himself up the stairs and on to the deck
where I could hear him muttering ant
swearing to himself as he unlashed tn
dingey.
That I was excited and eager tn
reader may believe, but though th
moment Hughes back was turned m,
eyes were swiveling in their sockets an,
weeping the sides Of the cabin with tn
lntentnsss of searchlight. ! did no
think it advisable to leave my seat an
set about the search In earnest until h
had actually left the hulk. But n
sooner was he we'll out Of the way thai
I was at work, with every sense as poise
and ready to pounoe as lowering hawk
Not often in my life have / expert
enced SO bitter a disappointment. ha
hoped great things Of this visit to th
Cuban Queen; but. though ! searche
CA9ToRIAs
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