Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-23
missed Ii !. mus, RIO sore kInd q

hc missed it ! mus, rig sofle kind q
d derrick on him, that's surel"
For the next few days he cudgeled
his brains for some safe means of at
tanning his ends, but without success.
Then chance did what he had failed
to do.
Land hol" was the welcome cry
from aloft one morning just after sun
rise, while the captain and second mate
were asleep, the mate was stumping
the deck and Tom, who had turned
out earlier than usual, was standing on
the topgallant forecastle watching
school of fish play about the bows. He
ran up the forerigging at once to catch
glimpse of the welcome sight.
"Now's my time" said the mate, un-
der his breath, as Tom went over the
foretop and began to swarm up the
topmast rigging. Hell go clean up to
the man on the gallant yard before he
sees it.
The next moment he had stolen soft
ly down the cabin stairs, entered Toms
room and tried the lid of the chest.
To his surprise 1t was not locked, and
there on top, half hidden blythe sleeve
of an old coat, lay John Avery's belt be-
fore him. His fingers trembled as with
feverish haste he pulled it open, and
then furious oath came through his
bristling beard.
The belt was empty!
A rapid search convinced him that
the object he sought was not in the
chest, and hastily rearranging the arti-
cles as he had found them he closed
the lid and stepped out OF the room to
meet Capt Coffin face to face in the
narrow passage.
what are you doing in there?" de-
manded the latter.
"We're going to wash decks and the
portfolio was open," he stammered. II
Just stepped down to close It,"
Whatever comment the old skipper
was about to make was interrupted by
the man aloft, who again gave thatlong
drawn out. indescribable cry, so dear to
the sailors heart:
'Land ho!'
The captain forgot everything else
instantly and sprang on deck at once,
exclaiming:
TITS the Golden Gate or I'm lub-
Der! I've made a record passage this
time for the old barkl We're only 90
days from Boston and We'll keep 1t
down to two figures if the wind holds
and have day to spare! Slap the
canvas on her, Mr.. Rider! There's let.
tiers and fresh grub waiting for US over
the starbeard bowl Sweat her for all
| she's worth!"
His orders were promptly obeyed,
and as Tom reached the deck and came
aft the captain added:
We'll soon be ashore, Mr.. Scott. Il
my reckoning's right, that is the en-
trance to Frisco harbor and we ought
to be tied up alongside the dock to-
| night. You've never been there, have
| you?"
Tom repliedain the negative and the
captain continued:
"Well, see here. don't know hov
1 you're fixed, but always live ABOARD
when I'm in port. It's cheaper and
keep good cook by her. If you like
you can stay with me and it won't cos
you red. I've made rafting tril
and you are welcome"
THANK you,p said Tom. "I'll do Sc
until / start north. shall be glad tt
i have familiar face with me. This Il
my first trip. you know"
i Hes going to-liye aboard, "chuckle'
Obed Rider, who, was standing close by
"and it'll be queer If he doesn' trun int
trouble coming down through Tar fla
some dark night. Things are comm
my way all right. The fool must carr.
that paper somewhere about him an
4 I can easily find some one to help m
in the job"
Without the slightest suspicion Q
what was passing In the mates min
Tom watched him bustling about TIL
deck and congratulated himself that i
q short time he would see the last {
the red-faced sailor Who had brough
the Only faint of disgrace. into his lif'
| Early that evening the Seabird wa
anchored in the mag hificent harbor 0
San Francisco, and the. longvoyage wa
over.