Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-14
PART III.
9CHAPTER XV.-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER XV.-CoNTINUED
All this time he had been feeling the
stuff of my jacket. smoothing my hands,
looking at my boots, and generally, IN
the intervals of his speech. showing a
childish pleasure in the presence Of a
fellow creature. But at my last words
he perked up into kind of startled sIy-
ness.
IF you ever get aboard again, says
you?" he repeated. why, now, who's
to hinder your"
Not you, know" was my reply.
And right you was" he cried. ''Now
you--what do you call yourself, mate ?''
"Jim,' told him.
Jim, JIM" says he, quite pleased, ap-
parently. well, now. Jim, I've lived
that rough as you'd be ashamed to a
hear of. Now, for instance, you
wouldn't think 1 had pious mother
to look at me?'' he asked.
"Why. no, not in PARTICULAR I an
swered.
-'Ah, WELL" said he, "but had-re-
znarizably pious. And 1 was a civil,
pious boy, and could rattle off my cate
schism that fast, as you couldn't tell
one word from another And here's
what it come to, Jim, and it begun with
chuck-farthen on the blessed grave
stones! That's what it begun with,
but it went further'n that; and so my
mother told me, and predicked the
whole, she did, the pious woman. But
sdt were Providence that put me here
I've thought it all out in this here lone
ly island, and I'm back on piety. You
can't catch me tasting rum so much;
but just thi1nbleful for luck. of
course, the first chance I have. I'm
bound I'll be good, and see the way to.
And, Jim" looking all around him,
and lowering his voice to whisper
I'm rich"
I now felt sure that the poor fellow
had gone crazy in his solitude, and
suppose must have shown the feeling
in my face, for he repeated the
statement. hotly:
"Rich! rich! I says. And I'll tell
you what; I'll make man of you, Jim.
All, Jim, you'll bless your stars, you
will, you was the first that found
mel"
And at this there came suddenly low
~ering shadow over his face. and he
frightened his grasp upon my hand, and
raised a forefinger threateningly be-
fore my eyes.
ANow, Jim, you tell me true; that
amt Flint's ship?" he asked.
At this I had happy inspiration.
began to believe that l had found an
ally, and answered him at once.
Its not Flint's ship, anc Flint is
dead; but I'll tell you true, as you ask
me-there are some of Flint's hands
aboard; worse luck for the rest of US
Not a man-with one--leg?" he
gasped.
"Silver?' I asked.
'Ah. Silver." says he: "that were his
name'
He's the cook; and the ringleader,
too"
He was still holding me by the wrist.
and at that he gave it quiet wiring.
IF you was sent by Long john" he
said, I'm as good as pork, and 1 know
1T. But where was you. do you sup
poser
I had made my mind up in amoment,
and by way of answer told him the
whole story of our voyage, and the pre-
.dicament in which we found ourselves.
He heard me with the keenest interest,
and when I had done he patted me on
the head.
You're good lad, jim he said;
anu you re ali III Il Grove n1ICn. ain
you? Well, you just put your trust in
Ben Gunn-Ben Gums the man to do
it. Would you think it likely, now,
that your squire would prove liberal
minded one in case of help-him being
in Glove hitch. as you remark? ''
told him the squire was the most lib
eral of men.
''Ah, but you see,'' returned Ben
Gum, 81 didn't mean giving me gate
TO keep. and a suit of livery clothes
and such: that's not my mark, jim
What l mean is, would he be likely to
come down to the toon of, say 1000
pout of money that's as good as mans
own already?"
ST am sure he would said 1. LAS it
was, all hands were to share
''And passage home?" he added,
with look of great shrewdness.
why" I cried. 1.-The squire's a gen.
,tieman. And. besides. if we got rid of
the others. we should want you to help
work the vessel home
''Ah.'' said he. $50 you would" And
he seemed very much relieved.
snow. I'll tell you what" he went
on. $50 much I'll tell you. and no more.
were in Flint's ship when he buried
the treasure; he and six along-six
strong seamen. They was ashore nigh
ON a week, and us standing off and
on in the cd sWalrus.' One fine day
~. Il