Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-02

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mixed up with the foreign enlistment
net and the Alabama case and dozen
other things which M mean anything
between Jail and confscation, and my
head isn't big enough to hold it. II
you'll be advised by me, sir, you'll see
a real first class solicitor aud stand him
n 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 foot in
IL The law here in England, 4" said the
little man. with reminiscent sigh, "ie
a beastly thing to fall foul Of It's new
.er done kicking you, once it's got fair
start, and you never know where it will
shove out its ugly hoof from next No,
Mir. Gedge, give me the States for nice,
comfortable law, where a man can buy
it by the yard for paper money down,
and straight pistol shooting is always
remembered in his favor"
The young man who owned the
steamship Sultan Of Borneo tapped his
plotting paper impatiently. "Stiok to
the point Kettle. We're In England
now and have nothing whatever to do
with legal matters in America As for
your advice, am not fool You can
lay your ticket on il know to an inch
how I stand And may tell you this,
the shipment Is arranged for.
I'D like TO see us cleared. f" said Cap
tain Kettle doubtfuily.
mo one will interfere with tho clear
ance The Sultan OF Borneo will leave
here In coal, consigned to Havans. A
private yacht will meet her at rec and
transship the arms out Of sight Of land Z"
Tyne GOAL for Cuban They'd get
their coal there from Norfolk OK Welsh
steam coal from Cardiff or Newport"
''It seems not This contract was
placed long before = ship was asked for
to smuggle out tho arms"
well, IL looks fishy. anyway"
81 can't help that, said Gedgo irri-
tally. I'm telling you the naked truth,
and If truth. as usual. looks unlikely it's
not my fault Now. have you gos any
more obieotioDs. to make2's~-..
"No. SIR" said Captain Kettle
"None that can see at present"
Very we'll. then, said Gedga EDO
you care to sign on as master for this
cruise or are you going 20 cry off1'
They'll hang me If I'm caught I"
said Kettle.
mot they. They I'll only talk big, and
the British consul will get you clear.
You bet they daren't hang an English
man for mere smuggling in Cuba And
besides. amt Offering TO raise your
screw from e12 month 60 414 so as to
cover the risk? However, you won't get
caught You'll find everything ready
for you. You'll slip the rifles ashore
and then you'll steam on to Havana and
discharge your coal In the ordinary
humdrum way of business. And there &
$40 bonus if you pull the thing of
successfully. Now, then, captain. quick.
You 20 or you don'tf'
81 60" said Kettle gloomily ''I'm
poor man, with q wife and family.
Mr.. Gedge, and can't afford to lose q
berth. But it's that coal / can't swai.
low. / quite believe what you say about
the contract. Only it doesn't look nat
ural. And it's my belief the coal will
trip us up somewhere before we're done
and bring about trouble"
(which, of course, you are quite q
stranger to. " said Gedge slyly.
Don't taunt me with it,, sir, " said
Captain Kettle. II quite we'll know
the kind of brute / am. Trouble with q
crew or any other set of living men al
sea is just meat and drink TO me, and
I'm bitterly ashamed of the taste. Ev-
cry time / sit underneath our minister
in the chapel here in South Shields
grow more ashamed, and if you heard
the beautiful poetical way that man
talks of peace and green fields and gold
en- harps You nnderstand.
Yes yes, ;" said Gedge, "but 1 don'i
want any of your excellent ministers
sermons at secondhand Just now, cap
tain, or any of your own poetry, thanks
I'm very busy. Good morning. He'll
yourself to cigar You haul alongside
the coal shoots to get your cargo at {
O'Clock, and I'll be on board TO see yoJ
at 6. Good morning." And Mr.
Gedge rang for the clerk and was busily
debating letters before Kettle was cleal
of the office.
The little sailor went down the grimy
stairs and into the street and made to
ward the smelling Tyne. The black CT
gar rested unlit in an angle of hi
mouth, and he gnawed savagely at tn,
butt with his eyetesth. He cursed tn,
fates as he walked Why did they us
him so evilly that he was forced int,
berths like these? AS a bachelor, b.
told himself with a sheer, he woul,
have jumped at the excitement of it
AS the partner Of Mrs Kettle and tn
father Of her children he could hav
shuddered when he threw his eye owe
the future. For week or 50 she coul'
draw his half pay and live sumptuousl.
ct the rate of 81 a month. But after
ward, If he got caught by some angr.
Spanish war steamer with the smuggls
rifles under his matches and shot O
hanged or imprisoned or otherwise de
barred from earning income at his craft
where would Mrs Kettle be then
Would Gedge do anything for herr H
drew the cigar from his lips and spa
contemptuorsly at the bare idea.
With the morality OF the affair b
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