The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-19

That be haneed"' says l.. This Is the
most comfortable ship on the Western
ocean. and you've been treated a thousand
times better than you deserve. You're NO
more a clergyman Than / am. You're just
a malinger=r that wants a cHbin passage
and u private waiter and a piano amt
champagne every day. why" I continued.
getting prSttv mad at the fellows impu-
dence. or all the lying Sea-laWy-rS that
ever / r1U foul Of. you're the worst ami
the most aggravatihg. II YOU ever open
Your ugly mouth again to me about that
yarn Of yours. you'n be mighty sorry"
Il shall keep silent until the time comes
10 speak out. sir" he answered. civilly
enough as / must admit. But. sir. II YOU
viii excssf me for adding a word. il was
You Whc hegan thi- conversation
on. shut up saYSIL Your ansuase
is df gusting- The nen fine you have 20
speak TO me. talk like "A sailorman. and tot
like a hca$tiy lawyer"
! was pretty considerably mad at the
man. but couldn't help admitting to my
SELF that he WAS right in saying that / had
begun the conversation. and so I didn'S
say anything more TO him. In the mean
time he dill his duty as well as any Officer
could have asked him to dc-it. and their
wasn't a more willing ora better sailor ia
the whole crew. though he always had q
sort Of sd and -olemn AR. as II he was
getting ready To go To church. or had lost
hts pockstbook. or something OF that gem
erSl SORT.
The next afternoon Smedley SAYS to me.
Mr.. Foster. h do you make out az
that man Thompson
u make ont. sir" said I. that he is a
hrst-ciass .sailorman. and the champion liar
OF the Western ocean"
D YOU know" says Smedley. that I
amt qpite absolutely everlasting sure
about him. Suppose he was TO turn out 10
he a clergyman. after all, He'd sue the
owners and he'd sue me. on account OF hav-
ing been shsnghaied. and the chances are
that he'd sue YOU and the second mate for
cruel treatment; and his people would back
him up. end the papers would make the
biggest kind or a row over IT,. They'd call
il 'KidnaEing a Clergyman and 'Inhuman
Treatment OF n Minister OF the Gospel l
hope We haven't made any mistake. I don't
like the notion OF having been unjust 10
my fellow man II he's going TO sue me for
damages
Il was taIking with him yesterday. when
he was at the wheel" says /. and he sort
OF limited that II you didn't take him into
the cabin. and treat him as a hrst-class
passenger. you'd regret H."
'4e did. did he?" says Smedley. Come
TO think pf II. that's no more than what I
ought to do. provided he IS really a clergy
man. and would promise not TO sue Us.
Anyhow. II I did give him a cabin passage,
the court wouldn't be hard on me"
But" says /. you don't really think
that the mans yarn has any truth In liz
Just imagine a clergyman proving to be the
best sailor aboard ship Why the things
clean impossible
Il suppose you're right" says Smediey.
but | wish 1 could prove to my own salts
faction that the man amt anything but a
sailor. and that i could hammer him with
out fear OF consequences"
You leave Il to me. SIR Gays ]. 'Iiil
prove 10 you that he's no more a clergyman
than l am. and when you're satisfied. you
can just relieve your mind by learning him
that lying don't pay"
After that / went to work to prove that
I was right. / took pains to.drop n marlin
spike on the mans foot. accidentally IKE.
and stood BY to hear him swear. which be