Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-03

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mond, who was acquainted with the
members of the group of capitalists.
MIR. Hammond is my attorney as
well as my friend" said Mr.. Hestor,
land he may be able to throw light
on any legal complications that may
arise during our conversation"
81 have not had an opportunity to
discuss this matter at any length
with Mr.. Hestor," said Sidney Ham
mond, with perfect truth, but I hope
his plans may prove so perfect that
from this time on the services of my
profession will not be needed"
The moment Mr.. Hestor arrived
and found his invited guests present
he gave the signal to Capt. Waters.
The lines were cast off and the boat
headed out past Governors island
and down the bay.
ut is a shame to talk business on
a day like this" said Mr.. Morton, as
the group stood on the bridge while
the yacht swept past the giant Statue
of Liberty.
"We shall talk no business until
after dinner" said Hestor. when
ever you gentlemen are ready ! shall
be pleased to show you the Shark
Capt. Waters and ] are very proud
of her"
: "You have a fine boat" said Mr..
Morton, as the party repaired to the
aft deck-house and engaged the
services of the grinning and dex-
ferrous Bob" "How fast is she?"
I'm an emergency we can drive
her % knots an hour" said Mr.. Hes
tor. He looked at a guage. "We
are. TO- running about eighteen
knots, but l told Capt. Waters we
were in nc hurry. She runs very
smooth at IS knots. Don't you think
500"
Smooth as a watch,'' said Mr..
Kent. You have a fine crew, Mr..
H~estor. They seem to be under ex-
cellent discipline. You must intro
duce us to Capt. Waters. He APP
pears to be the ideal of a marine
officer"
You shall meet him." replied Hes
tor with a queer sort of smile. "He
is the best captain that ever paced
a bridge. Capt. Waters has been in
the employ of our family for thirty
years. He served with my father in
the Asiatic trade, and the map of
the world is as familiar to him as
is your Office furniture to you. He is
accustomed to obey orders, and to
have them obeyed. He asks no ques-
tons and will answer none, once he
has obtained his orders. Did you
notice anything peculiar about the
crew."
you seem to have them under
the discipline of the United States
navy" said Mr.. Pence. 81 started to
go on the bridge while you gentle
men We're looking at the crews quar-
tiers. and one of the men placed him
self s%quarely in my way and stopped
me. He was polite, but decisive. He
said it was against orders"
Every man on this boat. except
Capt. Waters" explained Hestor. sis
an ex-member of the United States
or British navy. They would not be
content except under naval discipline.
They are schooled to it. They re-
gard Capt. Waters. their commander,
as the greatest man on earth. They
respect me only because Capt. Wa
tiers has Informed them that I am
the n But if Capt. Waters told
them to put me in irons they would
not hesitate for a moment to do it.
If he gave the word they would
cheerfully sail up the Thames and
lombard the Houses of Parliament"
Mr.. Pence glanced %nervously at a
stalwart marine who paced slowly
and regularly back and forth on the
after deck.
"Bob," exclaimed Mr.. Hestor. ego
and ask the steward when dinner
will be ready. Sidney, there, looks
as if he could eat a bird and not
know it,"
ST will confess that ] am hungry"
said Mr.. Hammond. "This sea air is
a great appetizer"
"You need not worry, Sidney. there
will be plenty" Mr.. Hestor replied.
eve have provisions on board to
last for two months if necessary"
Again he smiled in a queer sort of
way, and astounded the company by
suddenly retiring to the corner of
the saloon, where he performed with
much agility a song and dance to
the words:
There was an old geezer and he had a
wooden leg;
He had no tohacco no tOhaccO could he
beg;
old geezer was as cunning as a
fox,
he always a tobacco in his old
tobacco box.
(Clog.)
Yes, he always had tobacco in his old
tobacco box"
Hestor terminated his song with
a wild '.break down" which was hard
ly completed before Bob returned
with word that dinner was ready.
THAT is an accomplishment l did
not know you possessed" said Mr..
Rockwell with an air of mingled
amusement and disgust.
81 certainly am a mad wag," said
Mr.. Hestor, who seemed strangely
exhilarated. Sidney gave him a re-
proving look, and received a nom
cimmittal grin in response.
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