Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1901-10-09


mence the descent.
wen, young man." began the lat
ter, trifie brusquely, as he stag
gered back from the shock of the en-
counter, what are you trying to do?
Knock me-
Please, sir-er-captain excuse
my haste, but you are a tramp
er-that is, your vessel, mean-is
she tramp Steamship" interrupted
the excited youth.
"Hey?" snorted the other, wonder
ingly.
Because, if she is, 1 can offer you
a fine charter" went on the guileless
Jimmy, that is-er-if your boat
does not run much over 1000 tons"
Bless me! The boy must be
crazy, exclaimed the portly individ-
ual
If I'm right in my guess that this
vessel is 2,000-ton tramp steamer,
and l do hope / am, you really must
give our firm the chance of charter
ing her" ratified on the enthusiastic
youth.
What is the name of your firm?''
IONAANN thC othCi, W DC
interested by the lads combination
of ignorance and earnesteness.
Greenland q Co., one of the oldest
and the best in our line" declared
Jimmy, proudly.
And what share may you have in
the firm?" questioned the elderly
man.
Ne? Oh, I'm only junior clerk,
the lowest in the Office. 1 suppose l
really ought to be called the GRAND
| boy, but Mr.. Waldron-'
If the Office boy of the concern
runs around hunting up steamships
/ for charter, L wonder what duties
tn head of the firm reserves for him
self?" commented the portly indi-
vidual, much amused
But you have not answered my
question yet" put in Jimmy, fearing
that he was not making a good i'm
preston. Il don't mind telling you
| that it is very important matter for
us. Unless we make this charter by
tomorrow morning, we shall lose our
| biggest uSt1mer."
Dear me. dear me-: cried the
other; that's too bad!-after all
your eXertions, too
Then you're not 2,O00-ton tramp
steamer?" queried the boy. with a
| falling infection in his voice.
No. only a 100000 steam yacht"
replied the portly individual, gravely;
but | like your spirit, and I'll tell
you what we might do. We might
help you to find what you're looking
! for"
| Jimmy was overcome by the friend.
" tones of the other, and stood
abashed, but secretly hopeful
| Capt. Patterson called the other
reckoning n grizzled old sailor to his
side; this young man is in search
of an incoming tramp steamer Of
about 1000 tons, that may be opep
for charter. See if you can help him
out. 1 won't need the yacht again
| till late to-morrnw"
Aye. aye, sir" replied the mariner
touching his cap with forefinger
and speaking as if such an order was
nothing out of the common way
And, by the bye, young man." said
the portly individual, interruptine
Jimmy's torrent of thanks, and turn
ing to descend the gang plank, you
would better send telegram to your
home people, so that they won't be
worried, should you be absent over
night"
And away he went to waiting
cab, with an attendant valet and two
sailors loaded down with small lug.
gage. After having followed the sug.
gestion of the thoughtful yacht own,
er, Jimmy returned aboard, the gang
plank was taken in, hawsers cast off
and the little steamship departed
upon her odd mission, steaming di
rectly down the great New York bay
and into the open sea.
On the following morning the Sc.
nior partner of Greenland & Co
showed some anxiety in his face as
he entered the office.
where's Evans?' he demanded
looking over at the unoccupied desk
Not here yet, sir" chirped Ralph
Conner.
sick. I guess, grow!ed the Office
manager.
"Well. well. | hope not" returned
the kindly old man. Mr.. Lawson has
not been here yet, Waldron, has he %
No but he telephoned that he
would be, in a few minutes. Here he
Is, now"
Good morning. Mr.. Greenland
cried thin, under-slzed parsonage
with bright red hair, entering at the
moment. II hope you've got that
charter all fixed for me-"
MY dear Mr.. lawson commenced
the old broker. in an evidently apollo
getic manner, 81 trust you
Il am man of my word" inter.
rupted the newcomer. 'If you
haven't that steamer for me I'll trans
fer my custom elsewhere. Grimshaw
has cut in ahead of me twice now
and if you can't supply the vessel
While Mr.. Lawson was delivering
this TRADE Jimmy Evans had come in
looking very wh,., about the face
but with excitement glistening in his
eyes. Hastily scribbling a few words
upon scrap of paper he stepped
forward and presented it to his EN-
ployer. He returned to his desk i'm
mediately after doing so.
Mr.. Greenland glanced carelessly al
the little memorandum, started, read
it again, and then stared over at the
now busily-engaged junior, in open