The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-12
SINFUL PECK,
THE
DOC CATCHER
By Morgan Robertson.

enough 10 make q IOOl-DeI, AdIdLS
enough to pay it, skiIful enough TO
make his opponent and twelve interest
ed friends pay it with him. and WRECKED
enough to engineer the whole party in
to bad conduct and consequent incar-
ceration IN a Chinese Jail, that he could
be heartIess enough to gloat over their
suffering. And Sinful Peck justified
such predication. When Captain Jack
son returned from the trial and in
formed the small third mate that the
consulate Jail wa a much more rOOmy
and comfortable place than the Gore
castle. Sinful lightly replied that it
was not in accordance with the eternal
fitness OF things for such s~cOundrels
to b. comfortable. and formally applied
for the address Of best American tailor
IL Shanghai, money with which to pay
6Ur clothing, and shore ave on which
to wear the cIoting whenever the ship
could dispense with his service for the
whole day Captain Jackson obliged
with all three: Sinful was measured
on board; the tailor tOOk ashore with
him instructions for the procuring Of
all articles of apparel outside of his
own line that u well-dressed American
citizen might need; and when the goods
had been delivered he dressed himself
after breakfast IN the following day
and stepped out on deck. They hardly
recognized him.
His small. trim me symmetrical fig
ure was clad in immaculate creased
trousers, COlOTed WaiSt-cOat and Albert
frOck coat Of the finest material, and
the latest cut and fit He wore Il stand
ing collar and q puff tie with n taste
full pearl pin Small gold links peeDed
out from under his coat sleeves: suede
gloves. matching his tie. covered his
hands, patent feathers, his feet; n
Dunlap silk hat his head. and over all
he wore the raglan cut overcoat which,
on far away Fifth Avenue, was that
winter adjoining fashionable clubdom;
while, to complete the transformation,
ne balanced iii one hand a horn-headed
cane, and gripped betw een his teeth a
fat perfectO, which he puffed gently, as
became a gentleman. Captain Jackson
was so impressed that he personally
escorted him to the gangway, and en-
joined upon Ningpo Sam, the boatman
he had engaged fo' his own t~ranspoT-
tation back and forth. to take him
ashore and 20 st; nd by to take him
aboard in the e-ening. Sinful gra-
ciOusIy thanked his superior, stepped
down to the sun pan, and NlESpO
sculIed him to the nearest landing.
There he engaged a rickshaw-a light
but strong, two wheeled vehicle with a
Chinaman for 4 hors-seated In which
and smoking cigar after cigar, he put
in most of the day at the ardUous
task Of siejt seeing But though his
proud and Confident horse rOwded all
other 'rickshaws from his path, and
was allow &C the right of way by a
great many larger, more p~retent1Ous
vehicles. Sinful displayed no interest
in the STIR he was c~reating.-his heart
800 ~N-.rrI1~1 1rI oF+lr 11rfYT1t0Ci1-
viewing the sights of the American,
English and French quarters. and see
ing and smelling the denominations of
ChinatOWn-Shanghai prOper-he drove
back to the American COnSulat" and
asked leave to visit the prisoners. SO
suave, polished and prosperous Dpaar
ing q gentleman could be refused moth
ing; an obIiging official furnished him
q permit, and the information hat rs
the consulate Jail was being repaired.
the prisoners were now confined IN a
compound near the outskirts OF the
American Concession. AS he was tired
of riding Sinful dismissed his horse,
and, procuring u bunch of flowers for
his b~uttOn-hOle from a nearby hot
house. w Iked to the compound, arriv-
ing about half-past four, when the af-
ternOn VS. beginning to darken-
The compound was Il square. gate
less enclosure. with walls about twelve
feet high and fifty from corner T. cor
ner. n surrounding on its far side a
small house whose o was the only
entrance to the interior. Before this
door n soldier in the uniform of the
American Legation guard paced up and
down with ShOuldered rifle. which he
grounded rs Sinful approached with
his pass.
Certainly. sir" said the soldier.
when he a examined it. Come
right in and go through. They're all
in the compound"
Are they irOned. manacled. dashed
down. or otherwise restricted in their
mOvements?' asked Sinful.
Why no" answered the soldier in
surprise. They can't climb he wall.
and the inner door is locked. So they're
loose with dogs"
Dogs. queried Sinful.
This IS the dog pound. the only
place to put them while the Jail s
being fixed. Come in.
Not at all. 1 have no desire to play
Daniel in the lions den. and l always
had n wholesome fear of dogs-two
or four. Can you get me a
I only wish to speak with
them. and the top of the wall is Il
good. safe place. You see. I am third
mate Of their ship"
oh. well. yes.-there'S no danger Of !
You giving them guns. or tools. I sup
pose
Not rs I value my life. 1 want the
top Of the wall for the same reason |
but might want to toss them a cigar
Two. Have one yourself"
The soldier took the preferred per
fecto. called within. and when n Chi
raman appeared. said to him: Cook, |
the Step-ladder and put it up out
side SayVHyH Outside for the gentle
to climb Up. top-side. Savage"
By III" way" said Sinful. when the
cook had brought the steps AS what I
wish to say IS something of a private, |
personal nature. YOU Will not object. |
1 hope. to placing the ladder down the
4 short distance. u of a shot??'
"Well-nO." answered the man 4 lit
doutfuIIy. however. Your pass
permits you to go among them. talk
TO them anywhere YOU like. I can't
leave the door. and the cooks busy"
So the ladder was placed on the r