The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-26

nm. tho girl he mad found on board
of the bark, the ruddy. fair haired girl
Of the fine and hardy Morse type that
was the daughter, of course; that was
Moran" Instantly the situation adj
justed itself in his imaginatlon-the
two nseparahles father and daughter,
sailors both, their lives passed together
on shipboard, and the Lady Lefty their
dream their ambition, vessel that at
last they could call their own.
Then this disastrous voyage, perhaps
the first in their new craft: the com
bustion in the coal, the panic terror OF
the crew and their desertion of the
bark. and the sturdy resolution of the
father and daughter to bring the Lefty
into work her into port alone. They
had failed The father had died from
gas. The girl, at least for the mo-
mcnt, was crazed from its effects. But
the bark had not .heen abandoned. The
owner was on board Kitchell was
wrong. She was no derelict. Not one
penny could they gain by her salvage,
For an instant a wave of bitterest
disappointment passed over Wilbur as
he saw his $4,000 dwindling TO moth
ing, Then the instincts of habit reas-
him was stronger than the freebooter
after ALL He felt that it was his duty
10 see to 1t that the girl had her rights.
kitchell must be made aware of the
situation must be told that Moran. the
daughter, the captains heir, was on
hoard the schooner; that the kid
found in the wheel box was a girl. But
on second thoughts that would never
do Above all things. the brute kitchcll
must not be shown that a girl was
aboard the schooner on which he had
absolute command, nor, setting the
question of Moran's sex aside. must
Kitchell know her even as the dead
captains heir There was a difference
in the men here, and Wilbur appreci-
ated 1t. Wilbur, the law abiding tax
payer. was a weakling In comparison
with Kltchell the freebooter and beach
comber. in sight of his prize.
Son. said the captain, making a
bundle Of all the papers, take these
over to my bunk and hide EN- under
the donkey's breakfast Stop a BIZ"
he added MS Wilbur started away "Tn
go with YOU Wen have to bury the
old man"
Throughout all the afternoon the cap
tain had been drinking the whisky
from the decanter found in the cabin
Now be stood up unsteadlly. aud, rails
ing his glass. exclaimed
Sonny, here's to ISitchell, Wilbur &
Co.. bcachcombers, unlimited. What
do you say heyT
Il only want to be sure that we've Il
right TO the bark answered Wilbur.
Fright TO 'er ri-hight TO err" hie-
coughcd the captain. "Strlke me blind,
I'd like to see any one try an take her
away from Alvinza ktchell nowT
And be thrust out his chin at Wilbur.
We'll, so much the better, them
said Wilbur, pocketing the papers.
The pair assembled TO the deck
The burial Of Captain Sternersen
was n dreadful business. Kitchell, far
gone In whisky. stood on the house Is
suing his orders, drinking from one of
the decanters he had brought up with
him. He had already rihed the dead
mans pockets and had even taken
away the boots and fur lined cap.
Cloths were Cit from the spanker and
rolled around the body. Then Kitcheli
ordered the peak halyards unrove and
used ms lnshings to tie the canvas
around the corpse The red and white
flags, the distress signals, were still
bound on the halyards.
Leave 'em on! Leave 'em onF'
commanded Kitchell Use 'em rs a
shrou'; AN ready now; stan by to let
her got'
Wilbur looked over at the schooner
and noted, with immense relief. that
Moran was not in sight Suddenly an
abrupt reaction took place In the cap
tain's added brain.
Cant bury 'um 'ithout lis teeth"
he gabbled solemnly. He laid back
the canvas and replaced the set. "Ole
man d ha'nt me T KEEP s teeth.
Strike. look a that! put 'em in mp
side down. New min, upsi down,
downsi' IN. whaz odds, all same with
ole Bill. Hey, ole Bill. all same with
you. hey?" Suddenly he began to
howl with laughter. IT think o bein'
buried with your teeth upsi' down!
Oh. me. but that's good grind.
stan by 10 heave ole Uncle Bill over,
Ready. beave. on away she goes'' He
ran to the side. waving his bat and
looking over "Goo'bv. ole Bill. by by!
There you 90. an the signal o distress
roun' you'll n I'm In need OF as
sistance.' Lord. here comes the
sharks. Look. look. Look at uni
fight Look at 'um takin' ole Bill.
I'm In need of assistance ! sh'd say
you were. ole Bill >
Wilbur looked once over the side In
the churning. lashing water. then drew
back, sick to vomiting But in less
than thirty seconds the water was
quiet. Not shark was in sight
get over L the Bertha with those
papers. SON." ordered Kitchell. I'll
hide here and dig up sh' more loot. I'll
gut this ole pill box from stern TO stem
post fore III leave. ] won't leave