Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-09-02
close behind him as to suggest a vio-
lent, propulsiye force came the prize

rent, pFupulSlSe force came the prize
| fighter.
He didn't come when l foist asst
him." painted Bunt. so had to JOLT ~
his manners" indicating cut lip and
badly banged eye which the visitor
was ruefully rubbing. Il caught him
down here on the river front He was
tellin' about Johnny Hannerty. Speak
/ up, We dago Swede, or I'll hand yer an
| other
Il donno about no Johnny Hammer
ty,v said the sailor doggedly, but with
an eye to Bunt's twitching left. Il was
telIin' some mates about crazy man
Whist flew aboard the Gioyanna''-
wait a moment" interrupted the
judge. let US get this straight. What
did you say he did,"
.He said he flew aboard said the
sailor Il donno if he spoke true l
never seen him fly. but I donno no
other way he could have got aboard
Tell the rest of it-telI the rest of 1t,
or I'll tear yer ear Off, vociferated the
ferocious Blunt
"Hahno,'' said his honor quietly, cor
der drink for our seafaring friend,
please. and let him spin his yarn unin-
terruptedly."
Being refreshed. the sailor proceeded
with better grace: Wed passed uu-
der the bridge about midnight. on our
way out, last April fools day. Twas
high tide. for we Just scraped under
with our maintop gallant mast down
1t was my watch on deck We was
just gettin' into the hay when | see Il
man comm down the mainmast rat
lines. He wasn't no man we'd shipped
AN he didn't have no clothes, only shirt
an drawers an shoes. was mighty
surprised, an so was the mate. He up
TO hit the man, but the other fciler let
him have it, an the mate didn't wake
up for near an hour. He hit q queer
blow-kinder like this" And the sailor
gave very fair imitation of the driy-
ing blow peculiar to handball players
and thing to keep out the way Of
Then he done queer thing Our tug
was just putin back. He walked to
the rail an threw over little white
package to the tug Mail that where
it belongs, will YEP he calls, an / goes
down after the crew."
That was the badger | exclaimed.
But there is very slim proof that
this was No. 1214," objected his honor.
Tel him about the scrap; tell it just
like You told it before cried Blunt.
".Wait till you hear that, judge
oh the fight" said the sailor. "IIe
done his best. 1t took near the hull
crew to get him in irons. got
cracked rib from it," And he rubbed
his side.
"a short left jolt, wasn't ity' cried
Blunt
Il guess it was. Anyhow, it was
when | was up close an it finished me.
He hit awful quick an awful hard an
every time lie landed he Kissed be
tween his teeth like snake"
John Hannerty by heavensr' cho-
rused the three of us Except that
Blunt put it little stronger. fer there
was no installing that kissing expul-
sion of the breath which followed
every one of No. 1214's most effective
drives.
But how on earth could he have
got aboard when he was on the bridge
five minutes before midnightT dc
manded the judge.
Said he flew aboard like Bird re-
asserted the sailor positively "Never
seen him fly, but lie must ha' got there
somehow
May it please the court ! said, ~
can clear this mystery. Hero was the
Giovnnna going out into the world, and
there on the bridge was No. 1914 with
a soul full of yearning. 1t was only
Il step from tile bridge roadway 10
the ships maintop masthead The soul
full Of yearning gets the best Of 1914
and he makes the step. casts away his
uniform and becomes mysterious dis
appearance
but what has become of him?'
asked the Judge
"Quit us at Bonos Airs" said the
sailor. Found lot of dagoes there
battin' a little baseball round room
with their hands. Went IN an played
one of 'em, then two of en- then three
of 'em, an got all their money. When
we sailed, lie was fixin' up n place of
his own. an said he'd be an alderman
in six months il they had 'em there
''That is No. l214 beyond reasonable
doubt" said the Judge "ShaIl we re-
port the matter.'
Nit" said Blunt. He might want
to git back his job on the police some
day
So we held our peace. and ON the pc.
lice records No. 1914 is still down as
missing.