Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
SHE PREFERRED A PIRATE.
,0O%~N-O
IOriElnaIl


sailor collar and Tam O'Shanter cap
was leaning over the gunwale.
Better not try it, captain" said Cur
-ly. It'll result in a muddle. These
tiger gals is dangerous"
Cant give it up now. We've gone
too far
The mate went forward and the cap
tain paced the deck nervously.
Ralph Gordon was terribly in love
with Nancy Greene, a shrew. In or
der to tame her he had invited her for
a sail on his schooner and concocted 4
sham mutiny TO be led by Gurley.
They were TO brighten her into Obedi-
ence and a promise TO marry Gordon
to whom she had been long engaged
and whom she had put off from year TO
year
Presently Gurley walked aft from
the fOrecastle, followed by the crew,
and began complaint about the meat
that was served them, at the same
time demanding duff" three times 3
week. Gordon feigned to reason with
them, whereupon they made Il rush
for him. bound him hand and foot, and.
taking him below, locked him in his
cabin.
Nancy Greene looked upon this mu-
tiny, and especially the want of re-
sistance on the captains part, with
dumb astOniShment and the flashes OF
an approaching thunderstorm in her
eye. No sooner had the captain been
disposed of than Gurley approached
her and ordered her below. Her only
reply was with an iron bolt, which
she had picked up at the first dawn
of trouble, and had not Gurley lodged
eXpertly the ringleader would have
been put out of the fight. The crew
roared like bulls and brandiShed
knives. but Nancy was no more APP
palled than if they had been so many
bleating sheep. She was finally taken
in rear by il laughing sailor whose
face she could not see, her arms PIN
toned. she was thrust down the fore
castle companiOnway and the hatch
closed.
There was no sound from GOrdOn'S
stateroom aft, nor was any expected
But some sound was expected from the
forecastle. The crew listened for such
cries and imprecatiOns as might come
from an enraged woman. Half an hour
passed, and not whisper came from
below.
It's my opinion. Mr.. Gurlcy," said
an old salt, that when either gals or
children is quiet there's mischief brew
in"
wonder what shes up to-
What she WAS up to was soon plain
~ and painfully evident, for smoke
i tal,rE
1t did not require long time To re
move the hatch and for the crew to
scampcr down the hatchway. They
found Nancy with her face up to a
hawse pipe for air, while several of the
many mattresses piled i'll the middle
OF the floor We're SmOlderinS and
ready to burst into 4 flame. \ little
water put out the fire, but Gurleys
wrath had been kindlCd and was not
to be so easily QuenchCd. He deter
mined on Il supreme effort. He went up
on deck and gave orders to two of the
men to lower Il boat over the port
bow, then told two others each to take
Nancy by wrist ana bring her up on
deck. There she saw man running
out Il plank on the port side. Gurley
suppose he was in earnest without as
Stunning any harshness of manner
Pointing TO the plank, he said to the
girl:
You may as well understand that
by this mutiny we've put our necks
in Il halter. You and the captain are
the only witnesses against us. You're
altogether too desperate TO let live.
Now. walk straight out on that plank
and into the water"
Il didn't know you were a pirate"
Kissed Nancy.
Got to be Il pirate. Mutiny means
Il swing to the yardarm for every man
of us. Come. get along"
Since Nancy didn't move. Gurley mo-
toned the men to close around her, and
she was edged out OH TO the plank
Gurley ordered man to go to the port
bow to make sure the men in the boat
were ready, as soon as they heard a
splash. to pull around and rescue her.
The man reported the oarsmen resting
on their oars.
There's one way TO save yourself"
said Gurley. land only one-get spliced
TO Captain Gordon and both sign arti-
Giles indemnifying this crew Of all
blame"
Marry him, Neverr'
"Shove her off, boys"
stop" cried the girl, by this time
quite frightened. III sign
'All right. Let her come aboard"
Gurley drew up the agreement, which
the girl asked TO take below to read
over. Her request was granted. and
when she came up she had signed it
Gordon was brought up from the cabin
and informed that there was to be
Scotch marriage. The pair were asked
to stand side by side, when the girl ex-
claimed:
I'm not going to marry that whipped
cur. l didn't agree TO. Read the pa
per"
Gurley cast his eye to the paper and
for the first time noticed that the name |
Of Ralph Gordon had been erased and |
that of Tom Gurley substituted
well. I'll be jingoedr' exclaimed the |