The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-07
BY CUTCLIFFE HYNE.

uczen other things which may mean
anything between jail and confiscation,
and my head isn't big enough to hold
It If you'll be advised by me, sir, you'll
see real frst-class solicitor. and stand
him drink, and pay him down what
he asks right there on the bar counter,
and get to know exactly how the law
OF this business stands before you stir
1oot in it. The law here in England"
SAID the little man, with a reminiscent
sign, is q beastly thing to fall foul of;
II just wickedly ofncious and inter
1erInS; it's never done kicking you
once it's got a fair start; and you never
know where it viii shove out it's ugly
hoof from next. No. Mr.. Gedge, give
me the States for nice. comfortable
law, where 4 man can buy it by the
yard for paper money down, and
straight pistol shooting is always re-
membereG in his favor"
The young man who owned the s. s.
Sultan of Borneo tapped his blotting
paper impatiently. Stick to the point.
Kettle We're in England now and
nave nothing whatever to do with legal
matters in America AS for your. ad-
wee, am not a fool; you can lay your
ticket on it 1 know to an inch how
stand. And 1 may tell you this, the
Shipment is arranged for
I'd like to see us cleared" said
captain Kettle, doubtfully.
No one viii interfere with the clear
ance. The Sultan of Bcrneo will leave
here in coal, consigned to Havana A
private yacht will meet her at sea and
transship the arms out of sight of
Tyne coal for Cuba? They'd get their
coal there from Norfolk, Va, or else
welsh steam coal from Cardiff or New
1T, 1T seems not. This contract was
placed long before a ship was asked
for to smuggle out the arms
Wei, it looks fishy, anyway"
can't hep that" said Gedge. ir-
rltaply, I'm telling you the naked
truth, and if truth as usual looks un-
Ilkeiy, It's not my fault. Now, have
you got any more objections to make ,"
No. sir" said Captain Kettle; none
thaL L can see at present.
very well. then" said Gedge do
you care to sign on as master for this
cruise, or are you going to cry Off"
Iheyll hang me if I'm caught"
said Kettle
Not they. They'll only talk big.
ana the British consul will get Won
clear You bet they daren't hang an
EhsnShman for mere smuggling in
Cuoa. And besides, arn't I Offering to
Idlse your screw from II pound
month to IA so as to cover fhe ris1r9
Y
mo everything ready for you: you1I
SIP the rifles ashore, and then you'll
steam on to Havana and DISCHARGE
your coal in the ordinary humdrun1
way OF business. And there's a 10
pound bonus if you pull the thing IT
successfully. Now then. CAPTAIN
QUICK; you go or you don't?"
go, said Kettle, gloomily. I'm
poor man with a wife and family.
ar. Gedge. and I can't afford to lose a
perth. But it's that coal I can't swal-
low / quite believe what Won saw
look natural; and it's my belief the
coal WIZ trip us up somewhere before
were done, and bring about trouble .
MEN, OF course, you are quite
stranger to-" said Gedge slyIy.
Don't taunt me with it, sir" said
Captaln Kettle. I quite well know
the kind of brute I am: trouble With =
crew or any other set of living mon
al sea is just meat and drink to re-
and I'm bitterly ashamed of the taste
livery time l sit unde" our minister
IN the chapel here in South Shields I
grow more ashamed And if Won
heard the beautiful poetical wav that
man talks OF peace, and green fields.
ard golden harps, you'd under
stand
Yes, yes" said Gedge. "but I don't
want any of your excellent minister's
nuns at ScCUItu IdEU just now. cap
tam, or any of your own poetry.
thanks. I'm very busy. Good morn
ing Help yourself to a ciea1. Won
haul alongside the coal shots to GET
your cargo at , o'clock and I'll be on
board to see you at s. Good morning"
And Mr. Gedge rang for the clerk. and
was busily debating letters before
Kettle was clear of the Office
The little sailor went downAthe erimv
stars and into the street and made
towards the smelling Tyne The black
cigar rested unlit in an angle of his
mouth and he gnawed savagely at the
butt with his even teeth. Te cursed the
fates as he walked. Why did they use
him so evilly that he was forced into
berths like these? As a bachelor he
told himself with a sneer he wouId
have jumped at the excitement of If
AS the partner of Mrs. Kettle and the
father D. her children he could have
shuddered when he threw his eve Owe.
the future. For a week or so she could |
draw his half-pay and live sumptuous-
" at the rate of 81 month. PM
afterwards. if he got caught by Soma /
angry Spanish war steamer with the
Smuggled rifles under his matches and /
shot, or hanged, or Imprisoned nv
otherwise declared from earning income |
at his craft, where would Mrs Kettle /
be them Would Gedge do anything for /
her? He drew the cigar from his Inns /
ana SpaC conlemptuouSly at the hare /
idea.
With the morality of the affair he
troubled not one jot. The Spanish gov |
eminent and the Cuban rebels were (!
two rival firms who offered difTarant I
rates of freight according to the risl. /
and he was employed as carrier Inv,
those who paid the higher price IF /
there was any right or wrong about the
Question it was purely private mat /
ter between Mr.. Gedge and his Cod
He, Owen Kettle. was as impersonai
in the business as the ancient Suitan
of Borneo himself: he was A nera COO
IN some consplex machinery: and if he
was earning heaven, it was bv nia+I,
inside the chapel ashore and NOT Nv
professional eXertions (in the interests
OF an earthly employer elsewhere
He took ferry across the filthy Tyne
and walked down alleys and souaIid {
streets. where coal dust formed tbe
mud and the air was sour with foreieT
vapors. AS he walked he channel
still at the unlit cigar and hrooded
over the angularity OF his fate Rn+
when he passed between the rates Of
the dock company's premises and av
changed words with the policeman IN,
guard, change came over him. He
threw away the cigar stump. frightened
his lips, and left all thoughts of ner-
Scnal matters outside the door sill He L
was Mr.. Gedge's hired servant bic
brain was devoted to furtberino /
Gedge's interests: and all the acid If Il
his fcf,c -