The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-05-20
81 surely am up against it good

w
joy.
"You don't drink enough, Dick"
said Seymour. "You are social re-
cluse. Your abstinence has become
matter of common gossip You
should thaw out once in a while and
become a mixer"
"Never mind my failings. An
swer me some questions" said Mr..
Bender, resting his foot on the rail,
and swinging his arm in an easy posi-
ton across the mahogany. What
are you doing in New Orleans?"
"None of your business
"True, but not to the point. I
know what you are doing. You are
on the kidnapped millionaire case
Some one must have told you. The
witness refuses to commit himself.
Will you have another drink?"
They had several. Under their in
fluence Seymour told Dick Bender
his mission, but was too discreet to
reveal any information which had
been received from New York He
invited Mr.. Bender to take dinner
with him, and that gentleman was
too polite to refuse.
When Mr.. Seymour awoke the fol.
lowing afternoon he was in narrow
bunk, which seemed to rise and fall
as to the heave of ship. He as
cribed this to natural causes and
went to sleep. When he again awoke
it was dark. For a moment he lay
quiet. To his ears came the splash
of waters and the groaning and NUT
tering of ship. By the smoky light
of lantern he found his clothes
scattered on the floor. He put them
on as fast as possible, but the opera
ton was delayed by the swaying of
the room. The heavy breathing of a
sleeper in an opposite bunk seemed
to beat time to the motion of the
ship. Seymour opened the curtains
and peered in. 1t was Mr.. Dick Ben
der. Seymour shook him savagely.
"Wake up, Bender!" he said as he
clawed the sleeper around the bunk
wake up! We are Kidnapped by pl-
rates!''
Bender opened his eyes, blinked,
groaned, and dropped back into an
untroubled sleep. Seymour again
| aroused him.
I'VE are kidnapped, I tell you'll"
he said in hoarse whisper. Wake
up, and prepare to die like a mani"
Forget it," said Mr.. Bender. and
he again closed his eyes. But Sey-
mour was persistent, and finally sue
ceeded in arousing the drowsy Ben
der. While he was dressing, the
door opened and Il broad-shouldered
sailor stepped into the apartment.
Seymour looked for weapon, but
there was none in sight. The man
surveyed them calmly for a moment
and said:
II thought | would come and wake
you-all up. When you gets on your
togs, come on deck. You must be
hungry by this time"
Seymour looked at him doubt
fully.
"Who are you?" he asked.
First mate" said the man.
"First mate of what? You don't
look like a pirate
The man laughed with chuckle
which rumbled from the depths of a
massive chest.
Guess you gents is bit mixed"
he said. Forgotten me. hev We? I'm
first mate of the schooner Sam Wal
kerr You knew me last night all
right
You have slipped my memory
SINCE" said Seymour. Where are
we, and where are we supposed to
be going?"
Come on deck" said the first
mate. st is hot below. Come on
deck and meet Captain Parker.
Probly you know him BETTER" and
the sailor opened the door and went
away.
"Well what do you think of this %
said Seymour as he sat down on the
edge of the bunk to collect his
thoughts. ''Do you know anything
about it, Bender??'
Not a thing" said that gentle
man. IS remember meeting some
sai!2r men somewhere. That's ALL"
They stumbled through passage
way and up q narrow fight of stairs
\ draught of fresh night air struck
their faces and was delightfully."- cool
and refreshing. The outline of a
short, stocly seaman, with Il CLEAN
of gold braid on shoulders and cap,
was silhouetted at the head of the
winding stairs. He stepped forward
as Seymour and Bender came in
sight
"Haouw de We dew, Mr.. Seymour?"
he said, extending a large, freclled
hand, which Mr.. Seymour grasped
rather cautiously. "Haouw air We,
Mister Bender? Did We sleep sound p"
81 should say we did," said Sey-
mour, treasured blythe cordially of
the greeting and by the honest face
of the Yankee skipper. 1--WE are
bit mixed about this voyage, Captain
How did we come aboard, and where
are we headed for?"
81 reckon you boys war bit
slowed up last night, OF rather this
mornin'," said Captain Parker. "Ain't
We hunorv2 I reckon ca rrbar oool.