Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-03

to auction. Alexander strolled into
the room by accident and bought at an
exorbitant figure. He came and an
nounced his purchase to Isaac, declar-
ing it as an instance of his fine bust
ness instincts. Isaac set it down to
whisky, and recriminations followed.
Alexander in huff said he would so
out and overlook the salvage opera
lions in person. But forthwith Alex
andcr, still in his cups, gets to brawl-
ing and is next discovered in hospital
with broken thigh.
81 have found Alexander's depart
ment of the business very tangled"
wrote Isaac, "and the thought of this
new complication drove me near crazy
Salvage is out of our line. Alexander
should never have touched 1t. But
there 1t is; money paid, and I've had to
borrow. And engaging that Italian
firm for the job was the best thing
could manage. What English firms
wanted was out of all reason. don't
wonder at Lloyd's selling wrecks for
anything they will fetch. A pittance
III CuSll Is DCllCl ttuuA Sctll1S tiIS
hands of these sharks. And what guar
antee have that the firm will see even
the money outpaid again, let alone rea-
sonable interest? None"
There We're several words erased here,
and the writer went on with what was
evidently considered dramatic finish.
"'But stay say to myself. You
have Kettle. He is down in the Red
sea now doing well. You had all along
Intended to promote him. Do it now
and set him to overlook this Italian
salvage firm while the new boat is
building. He is the one to see that
Isaac Birds foot doth not fall, for Cap
tain o. Kettle is godly man also.'"
The letter was shut of conventional
| ly enough with the statement that the
writer was Captain Kettles truly and
| ended in postscriptum tag to the ef-
feet that the envoy should still draw
his 2h per cent on net results. The ac-
tual figures had evidently not been con-
ceded without a mental wrench, as the
erasion beneath them showed.
However, although in his recent pros
perity Kettle had assumed a hatred for
risks and bred a strong dislike for all
4 those commercial adventures which lay
beyond the ordinary rut and routine
of trade, he took up his duties on the
salvage steamer with stout heart and
a cheerful estimate for the future.
Murray footed him cheerful farewells
on the Parakeets siren as the little
Italian salvage boat steamed out Of
Alden harbor, and ensigns were dipped
with due Formally. Tazzuchi was al
hospitality. He invited Kettle to dam
age his palate with n black Italiar
"Virginia' cigar with straw up the
middle; he uncorked a bottle of the
| Scotch whisky and put 1t ready for ref
erence when his guest should fee
athirst.
Kettle accepted it all with a dry
civility. He had every expectation Of
upsetting this mans plans for robbery
later on. Though it was Tazzuchi who
presented the Yirglnias. he took 1t TO
granted that Messrs. Bird, Bird & Co
had paid for them, and he was no
averse to accepting little luxury from
the firm.
The wreck of the Greclan was out O
the usual steam lane. She had, 1t up
peared, got off her course in a fog, tw,
of her compartments had been stove in
and then she had been steered for tn,
shore in the wild attempt to beach he
before she sank. She had ceased float
ing, however, with some suddenness
and when the critical moment cam
not all of her people managed to scrap
OFF with their lives in the boats. Thos
that got away found themselves in 4
gale, and when they were picked Vi
could only give her whereabouts vague
". However, they stated that the Gre
clans mast trucks remained above TIL
water surface, and this fact wa
brought out strongly by the auctionee
who sold the wreck and had due lnflu
ence on the enterprising Alexander.
The salvage steamer wandered 70
several days among an intensely dar
gerous archipelago and many time
over had narrow escapes from pilin
up her bones on one or another of thos
reefs with which the Red sea in tina
quarter abounds. Tazzuchi navigate
her in an ecstasy of nervousness. an
Kettle, who regarded himself as pa:
senger for the time being. kept a pr
vate store Of food and water bottle
handy and saw that one of the quartz
boats was ready for hurried lowerin,
But nowhere did they see those muc
70 nj, a
not sight SO much as scrap of foa
ing wreckage.
There seemed, however. good man
lhow coasters lodging about In an
among the reefs. and from these Ke
tie presently drew deduction.
Look here" he said to Tazzuchi on
morning, WHAT prevents ,nuec GEM
ashore from having found the wrec
already? guess they aren't out hel
taking week end trippers for sixpenn
yachting cruises"
NO" said Tazzuclli "and they al
. not fishing"
"Well. give you the tip for what 1t
WORTH" said Kettle, and that afternoo
: the steamer was run up alongside
/ dhow, which tried desperately to e
z cape. Her captain was dragged Q
board, and ut that Juncture Capital
Kettle took upon himself to go beloy
He knew what would probably tall
place, and. though he disapproved {
such methods strongly, he felt he coul
not interfere.
But presently came noise of be
> lowing from the deck above, and the
{ that was followed by shrill ssueams q
the upper gamut of agony was reache,
. Kettle was prepared for rough hal
I ding. but ut information gained by al
solute torture he drew the line. 1t wa
clear that these cruel beggars of Ita
ians were going too far.
"By james," he muttered to himsel
t Owners or no owners. / can't stan
this!" And he started hurriedly to 6
back to the deck. But before ne reacl
. ed the head of the companionway I'll
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