Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-09-03
The Earl bowed. Piracy was on

The Earl bowed. Piracy was On
stills this windy morning.
What ring are ye talking Oft" says
Crystal jealously.
Pope pulled it out Of his waistcoat
pocket, and said: Give 1t to his lord.
ship when you have examined It,"
This is worth three hundred
gEineas," says Crystal, with greed in
HIS eyes, while his strong jaws ehewed
like bulls. Pope said nothing, and
my lord, receiving the ring from Crys.
tai, pocketed 1t.
Who are your bankers, my lord?"
said Pope, after short silence.
The Earl, family smiling, answered,
"Child's."
II will at once" continued Pope, In
his most affable manner, explain
Captain Crystals and my intentions
toward your lordship and your peo-
pie. Such Of your crew as will not
join us will be transferred to the first
vessel that will take them; but it is
our intention to keep you with us for
the present, and to part with you only
on condition that you give us draft
for two thousand guineas for your
liberty"
you shall have my draft" cried
the poor old gentleman, suddenly los
ing his self-control; "but | implore
you, for Gods sake, not to detain me
long in this miserable and terrifying
situation"
you shall be sent home" said Pope,
"and we two captains will trust the
eloquent Earl Fitzgibbon up to the
very hilt as a man of the strictest
honor"
The old nobleman bowed his white
head with a gesture Of dignity mingled
with indignation and grief. This ex-
traordinary conversation then termi-
mated.
When Captain Pope went on deck
he found the breeze moderating, and,
after searching the sea with his eye,
he ordered the boatswain to make
sail.
Then, standing at the main rigging,
and looking at the people in the fore
part, Pope spied the skipper of the
schooner. The mans left eye was
black, his face showed signs of his
having been savagely knuckled, and
one arm was slung in piece Of rope
round his neck. Pope roared out:
Send the captain and crew of the
schooner aft"
They arrived presently, and made a
group close abaft the mainmast. After
cool and critical survey, durint
which he nodded cigar with both
hands, Pope sung out:
you look a likely lot; do you
know our character"
The schooner's men made no an.
swer, save that one broke into low
satiric grunt Of laughter.
ours is jolly rowing life," con-
tinued Pope, while at this moment the
Earl came out of the cabin and stood,
holding on by the companion, looking
and listening. you were late cap
tain of the schooner" he continued,
taking no notice of the injuries the
man had received; will you join us
you shall hear the terms"
mo, by HI" roared the skipper.
Pope looked in silence with a red
face at the livid-eyed master, turned
his head with a gesture of whitening
contempt, and, catching sight Of the
Earl, called out, "He runs too fast to
make pirate, my lord"
"He has a wife and children" an
swered the Earl swaying to his clutch
of the companion.
There's a man that should join
u.s." said Pope, pointing with an iron
ical forefnger to the valet, who stood
among the little crowd, limp, yellow
and shuddering.
~ am not used to fight, sir" cried
the poor wretch. II am his lord
ships servant, and cannot desert
him"
Pope gave short laugh, which was
echoed among his men, and turning to
the Earl exclaimed, He'll not desert
you, my lord" The contempt in his
tone was perhaps reflected in his lord.
ships silence and gaze. But not a
man Of the schooner's crew would
join the pirates, and when this was
made clear, Pope swung on his heel
and walked aft to Lord Fitzgibbon
Ito be contlnued.)