The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-28

ssYo-ho, yo-ho, yo-hoH In regular
sailors shout. came pealing up the stairs
beading to the reception room at the
Central Office. one afternoon in summer;
ana we all started round in surprise and
feeling much as II pure whiff from the
briny deep had suddenly been waited TO
our sitting quarters.
Following the shout came a bury ana
rather handsome seaman. I'm first mate
xo-ashcre dress, smiling all round Win
the utmost good-humor, and eviuen'ls
blissfully unconscious I'm his slmplcltS oi
having disturbed officials at their WORK
The man was n shaggy. powerful fellow.
some years under forty. ana though not
drunk. had evidently drawn some OF ms
1oIlity and friendliness from The bottle.
"Morning. mates morning TO you an
rad 10 see you.if I'm in the right bunk
lac said saluuns ~ generally WIN
beaming look before which scoWls Mste
bound 10 vanish II want 90 see that de-
tertive chap as writes the hook. IT'S nm
want nonc ~ ypIr common ones l"I
me. / want 10 clap my eyes on him, ana
speak 10 him particular--on business
s.D've name Jamie there, or mcH IN
ouIringly interposcd NJ Sweenyy win
some pagerness. ITO be sure h. had the
writing down of the things. but DegoT
l.. meself that figures most IN II. N
MSwceny.'
.,No. II ain't you-it's the real detective
chap-the one that licks You all-the one
that wrote the book, said the saiior,wlth
steady persistence and unfatiering frank
ness you're no use but 60 get him into
trouble. and get awful wallopings and
ropes-endings--oh. | read sboUt YOU, aho
I'm not TO be cheated that way. Fact Is
I'm ny--I.r about the hcst \. y. ahoat
or ashore and they'd be very smart chaps
that would do me.
ats Jamie MGovan you mean, said
The servant. as N sweeny moved back
some what precipitstely. We'll, that's
him. over there.
The sailor advanced towards me, and
dubiously and wonderingly extended his
hand. and at last exclaimed, In manifest
surprise
'WelI-Tm--blowed. You're just like an
ordinary man
80 / am an ordinary man. ! laugh
ingly observed. after rescuing my crushed
fingers from his tremendous grip.
Hold hard there-I can't allow that,
YOU know" he determinedly returned.
'.you amt an ordinary man; fact. it's
regular crammer 10 say so, but you're not
what expected 10 see for all that
thought you'd he a reg lar swell, with
white Kid gloves on. and lots OF starch
and black clothes. Are you sure you're
NJ GoNan?'
quite sure
.'Wel, well, and I'm a holding on To the
hand that wrote that book ss we all piped
our eyes over, last voyage" he reflec-
rfvefy Ubsprveri- with -t+r--tt,-.E- al nlX
squeezed fingers. I'VE read your book.
turns about. when we'd nothing to do,
an sometimes IL took two on us 10 nm
ish a story--got kinder choked up, ye
know. I'd ..Ne 20 see Sparrow. too. that
poor lad that made the awful fight 10
keep square, but s'pose he amt
about7"
1 replied that Sparrow was no lad.
hut a prosperous man years ago. snd that
even had not seen him for years; and
then, az he had spoken OF coming - see
me on business. ! added nQuiringly--
II suppose you have into trouble since
you came ashore gone and lost your
money or your watch, or something
'you think so?" he returned With great
Glee and exutation, "Yo1, the fly de-
tective. think I've been done? Well, that's
good" and he had a delighted slap at his
thigh. "yeure wrong. for I've got every
blessed stiver of IL here-my own pay
and grannes money--all in this bag
and he quickly produced canvas bag,
such as they use I'm banks for silver. and
gave IL huge rattle. which convinced
every one withn hearing that II contain
ed good sum IN solid coin OF the realm.
''Ana look here: and still more sleeful-
ly he produced massive gold. chrono-
meter, which he pulled ont much as he
would have pulled out his rope knife. al
the end of a bit Of common twinC. and
showed bodily into my hands for inapoc
ton. Now, amt ! n downy one? There
they are safer than the bank. and that's
just what brought me here.
How? what do yoa mean?'
want you 60 take care OF them for
me- lie said, with the most perfect re-
liance. I'm going TO knock about among
old friends. and when / get too much beer
in my head, / just throw my money away
that's a fact, so | brought IL 10 YOU"
] was staggered, and not sure whether
20 look grave or amused.
Really" ! began, I'm gentle demur,
"fhat IL not quite in nv line.
"Oh yes. " Is" he confidently returned.
You're al al holding ON 10 things-sce