Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-11-30
The Alaska Pirate
BY Charles Z. Brimblecom.



keeper or bank clerk, for / felt compe
tent for almost anything, having lust
graduated from the high school. The
small sum of money possessed began
TO snrink aiarmingly, and my gorgeous
dreams 10 wear sickly and faded hue
One day while walking one of the
principal streets l saw in gilt letters on
the upper windows of a large building
the words: Detective Agency" A
brilliant thought came to me. puttina
to flight my temporary discourage.
ment.
l climbed two flights of stairs and
arrived at glass door, on which was
inscribed: Chiefs office. Walk In" ]
entered. A short man with gray mus,
tache stood beside large office desk
He looked at me inquiriagly.
Il wish to see the chief" said.
What do you want to see him for ~
he asked, with perceptible Irish ac.
cent.
II would like to get employment as
a detective" 1 replied.
I'm the chief" he said. "But you're
almost too young for the business, me
boy. 1t takes expayrience, and plenty
OF sand, and often handy knowledge
of gun fighting to be detective"
Il wish you'd try me, SIR" I said
courageously. "Fm young, but can
learn"
True enough" he assented. "Well
don't mind giving you little trial
Are you willing to take your life in
your hand, me boy~
"Yes, sir" l answered, seriously, try.
ing to avoid turning pale.
"Very WE'LL" he said, approvingly
snow, of course, you've heard all about
the Klondike gold mines. They're very
rich, and the steamers that come from
there are every one of them loaded
with gold-millions and millions oi
dollars. Now, there are train robbers
on the land, and there are pirates on
the sea, and what finer haul for 9
pirate, do you think, than one of those
Alaska steamers loaded down with
gold dnst and nuggets?
II suspect that there's bloody band
Of pirates fitting out an expedition
right here in San Francisco for the
purpose of capturing some of those
steamers. want you to go out and
discover them If you can. Find out
xuhara fbai,- va~ca1 &c apJ bou hi IN q
crew she carries, and all about it. One
false move, and likely as not you'll be
found floating in the bay tomorrow
Good-by, and good luck to YOU"
1 walked along the wharves very
much on the alert. examined two
vessels that were loading for the north
but everything about them seemed
honest and commonplace. continued
my patrol, and at last, at small, re
mote wharf, found steam schooner
bound for Alaska. Her name was tn,
Gadfy, and learned that she was t.
sail that very afternoon.
Something about the craft, do no
know why, aroused my suspicious
The sailors were as busy as ants load
provisions and stores. approached
and tried to engage one of them il
conversation, but he repulse6 me in {
rude and surly manner. A large new
deckhouse had been built on th'
schooner, evidently to accommodate
quite a number OF men.
Even at that retired place there wer'
a few idlers gazing and gossiping.
Joined them, and sat down on an over
turned boat, determined to watci
everything that occurred. The frs
confirmation to my suspicious cam'
from two roughly dressed men wht
paused near me.
"They say the Gayfly is going to Cop
per river" said one, with kind o
sneer. "They can tell that to th'
marines"
"Naw!" replied his companion. "Sh'
draws too much water. She couldm'
git within 20 miles Of the mouth"
In an hour or two some heavy case,
were brought down and CAREFUL.
hoisted on board. They were marked
mining Machinery" but from thei
appearance l suspected that they con
tanned cannon.
Among the passengers / saw bo.
about my own age. He wore fur cal
and a heavy wooden coat of Arctic cut
He carried rife on his shoulder, and
big revolver and sheathknife in his bel
A large shaggy black dog kept at hi
heels.
Several times one of the officers hat
come on the wharf and looked up to
ward the city with an air Of impatience
I resolved to wait until I discovere'
what this person or thing was.
Between 10 and II o'clock heav.
truck came rolling ponderously dow
the wharf. 1t was loaded with larg
barrels. about 30 of them. / hear
sharp, suppressed orders on the Cad
Av. and instantly the sailors swarme'
out on the wharf and began to unloa'
the barrels and roll them on boar
with every appearance OF apprehen
siye haste, urged on by the profan
mate. In my eagerness I walked bold,
among them.
"What is in those barrels?" asked
perspiring sailor
"Gunpowder, sonny" he growled, a
he hurried away.
But the mates blodshot eyes ha
snied me. He caught me by the shoul
der and sent me staggering back
wards.
"You git out of here!" he snarled.
deemed it prudent to retire, .espe
cially as / had discovered what the bai
reIs contained. What would mer
neaceable passenger vessel do with 3
barrels Of gunpowder? ] set out at fuI
snsed for the detective agency.
when / entered the chiefs office an
Ian was seated at the desk