Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-09-28
COSTLY ATTENDANCE
tOriginal.J

tOriginal.]
l was standing on the quarter deck
Hhis was before the time of bridges
aboard ship, working out of New York
aarbor when a man came up the com
sanion way, looked wildly about him
and gasped III astonishmcnt.
We'll my man." | sang out. whats
the mattef!"
NJ dent know" he said. GLOW did
j get aboard this ship
"You probably skulked aboard, but
you won't sllulk now you've got aboard.
You'll work your passage
You see we had so much of this sort
of deadbeat that we'd got tired of it,
and didn't propose to be humbugged.
The man WAS well dres:cd-in fact, too
we'll dressed TO make q sailor of or for
Rim to stand hcaying coal into the fur
aAces. j looked him over and made up
MY mind TO make q cabin boy of him.
"'Now, see here" | said; .it is too late
ta ptt you ashore. You know that or
yeu wouldn't have shown yourself till
ater. Tre got to take you to Liver
goal ! on go to the head steward and
rsli him 81 get what he can ont Of you.
While | was speaking the man SEEM
sGS to be trying to recall something
sTben he tLr!lst his hands into bis trou-
sers pocket, then into all the rest Of
Ais pock cts, evidently looking for mon
ny. Then be turned to me and said:
s'put me ashore"
'@2ut you ashore? | would without
setrr asking if l could. I've got the
maits OH board, and darent lose an
hour'
( was watching him like cat and
seIt sure he was playing the emotions
THAT would be expected of him under
The circumstances.
'"M nat am to do, captain?'
ITO what l told you to do-go to the
haa0 ST ward for work"
Ne disappeared from above the COM
~ EaonTay, and | heard nothing more
eS aim till l went to my cabin where
& Fonnd Il protest drawn up in legal
Eor1n against my taking him to Liver
Natt, and demanding to be put ashore
Al first l was staggered, but I'd seen
MANY a sharper dodge than that. and
assumed that the man had brought the
paper aboard with him. | paid no at
sention to it and in few days forgot
aa about the fellow. till one day he
appeared in tue saloon, where [ was
Mt dinner. and handed me plate Of
Saup.
" sed to waiting on tabie?" asked.
"Oh. yes
~Where have you done any waiting?"
"Sulaniers-hotels."
Like it,
"Its the easiest job you could have
given me. but it II he rather expensive
gor you before my bill is paid"
What do you mean!'
~ mean that every time hand you
4 plate of soup it II cost your company
$I,RM''
smiled good humoredly being quite
amused at the mans gall" 1t was
svideut he Was trying to bluff me into
giving him a first class passage out
and home again. Still the next morn
afg | awohe before daylight and got
to thinking about the fellow till be-
galu as il YOU believed him. You'll lose
aothing. Whereas if you don't and he's
al right ne may make trouble for you.
But the matter had gone too far for
1le to rrtleat and | took no action.
On the return trip, the second morn
Ing out, who should | see on deck,
dressed III jaunty English suit, puff
ing q good Cigar. bat my shanghaied
Uaau.
GOOD morning, captain he said.
what Il be tie run todayP
loullod at him pretty steadily for a
moment tlen turned on my heel and
went to tie rarser, who told me the
man was Gown on tie list as Nelson
Brentwood Of flew Yofk began to
fear was III for trouble.
Inst before we reached New York, |
guttl@ into nay cabin one morning, | |
saw on my bunk paper. l opened it :
and read:
TIL T. - STEAMSHIP co.
Re Nelz;on Brentwood, DIR.
Handing the captain five plates of
soup Observation-Disclosures. $1,000 |
Aether serNiaes as cabin boy.......... 5000 |
Los Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 40 900 I
lotal $oO0OV
| began to quake. I'd carried Off |
souae one, Or rather, some one had |
got himself carried off to get up a law
suit 70 bleed the company. However, |,
ahere would he no use now paying any
attention TO the matter. l ignored it,
Enough | confess ii bothered me. 1
Soon after we were d0cked I was
called on by the agent for statement
Goyering the case of Mr.. Brentwood. |
gave ii and heard no more of the mat
ser till the day before l sailed Then
\ received an envelope addressed to