The National tribune., 1902-01-30

clothes and luggage lay around in wild
confusion, and emptied brandy and soda
| bottles rolled and clattered over the floor
with every motion OF the ship.
BE good enough to come hin, Mr..
| l\lagG-Ili understand that's your name -
weakly issued from the pdllid lips. Hi I've
sent for you because Hi must We some
one, hand Hive thought you must be re-
lated to the Klaggs of Somersctshire-
very worthy peOpie-in the lower walks
Of life, but still hupright and trustworthy.
Him probably dying, hand
Nonsense. You're nothing of the
kind" broke in the Deacon. ''Seasick
Eess never kills anybody. You've been
sOaking in too much Tanslc-lcg. The
Worm of the Still has bit you, and''-
Don't contradict me, my good man,
interrupted Mr.. HigsinbottOm. Hi didn't
call you hin ere for advice. Hid give
that to you, not hask hit from you. Hi
want you to do something for Il dying
man. Hit serves me right for coming to
this bcastly country. But that's nyther
ere nor there. Hive ere my last will
hand statement wich Hive drawn hup
vile hin mortal hasony. BE good he
Hough 10 pour me hout another drink of
that ere brandy and soda"
III do nothing Of the kind said the
Deacon firmly. You've had already much
more than's good for you. So longs l
neighbOr's mouth
''Aw-yourc one of those blasted Tee
t0talers," snccrcd HigginbOttom. Hi had
heXpcctcd hit. Hall the Klaggs hare
But they're honest. hall the same. But
Iii must ave something TO stiffcn me hup
for Il few minutes
He called the cabin boy, who handed
him the drink of brandy and soda that
lie felt he must have, and he continued:
Hi want you to witness my signature
to this paper, hand then put hit hin that
bag, with my hOthcr papers"
lie produced Il pen and ink, and seiz-
ing relatively quiet moment affixed his
signature, and the Deacon signed as wit
ness.
The document was then placed in a bag,
and with the assistance of the cabin-boy
was sealed with a splOtch of red wax.
upon which the Englishman put the i'm
preston Of his signet ring.
There" he said, Hi want you to
promise me to deliver that to the British
Consul at Savannah, hand tell i'm that
Hi died a true and loyal subject of 'Er
Gracious Majesty, God bless err
He was so exhausted that the cabin
boy had to administer another dose of
brandy and soda, and the liquor stencil
i'll the room upset the Deacon so that his
sickness returned, and he rushed up on
deck 60 fill his lungs with fresh air, and
donate the late inStallment of ham and
potatoes to the monsters OF the deep.
He felt that, if anything, he was sicker
than before, but consOled himself that it
was the liquor fumes which were respon-
sible for this.
At length the cold air revived him
somewhat, the ship seemed to get into
calmer water, and he was again sensible
that there was n yawning cavity in his
midst. He really didn't feel hungry, but
all his traditions were against his remain
1Va.r l.. L
way to the cooks galley, where he Sc
cured a liberal allowance of corned beef
and cabbage, with Il cup of coffee from the
preparations for the crews supper.
Il guess III manage to hold on to this.
he said after he had finished. ITS tetrr-
ing around down there q little. but my
stomach must have something to employ |
itself beside slinning a cat on my back |
bone, and trying to crawl out through my
throat"
He was having fair success with the |
process of digestion when the cabin-boy |
brought another message:
please, sir, Col. Bonesteel wants to
see you down in his room on something |
very partickler, and right away. sir"
With some missivings as to The result. |
the Deacon rose and made his way to the !
ColOneIs room.
An overpowering odor of camphor and
bay rum rushed out as he opened the !
door. The room appeared in the prim-
NEST order, in strong contrast TO the con-
dition of the Englishman's apartment. Col |
Boncsteel had gone about his illness with |
the same dignified deliberation that char
acterized his every act. His uniform coat
and vest had been put over the wire
frame which preserved their shape, his
pantalOOns in the stretcher which took OUT
the tendency to bag at the knees, and
his hat was in its sole-leather box. His
underclothing and linen were folded into
a neat pile. and his false teeth were In a
glass of water. With everything about
him as it should be on retiring, he had
donned an Immediately white night
shirt, and lain down to be as sick as the
sickest in the most gentlemanly way.
The odor of camphor aud bay rum gave
a severe jar to the Deacon's digestion but
there was nothing morally offensive about