Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10

piled the other. I'll prove II to you. too
Unconsciously he had been feeling through
his clothes He knew they were his OLD
ones. In his breast pocket he found
paper. which Ellington Okeefe had placed
there. Smith thought perhaps that his own
paper still there. He pulled tbs out,
however. glanced at it in amazement but
handed IL over.
There's my name" he said; there on
that paper. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Smith.
And know you like book"
The captain took the paper and howled
with delight. He called to his mate.
'Mateyr yelled the captain, heres the
same old duck still insistin' that he's Con-
stitutional Smith. He says he can prove It,
What's more, he says this proves 1t. what
dye Think"
The mate looked at the paper and then
burst into a roar of laughter
Hal ha! hav' yelled the mate.
"Ho, no. hor' laughed Captain jerks
You've got a nerve, covey," said Captain
jerks TO Constitutional Smith; "a cast-iron
nerve. to play the same old tricks to us in
the same old way. That's what. what
dye mean by it, anyway? He slapped
Smith with his open hand. Smith flushed
to the roots OF his hair, but he kept his
temper.
You wouldn't do that If you knew who
was" he said. Il tell you I'm Constitu-
tional Smith. Understand? If l can't
prove II TO you in one way can in another.
Do you remember the case of the highway
robbery on Stadelheimer, the Flushing mil
lonaire. that you and l were mixed up IN?
DO you remember that? Well, you were in
that and ] was in that, and we got through
by the skin of our teeth. Now, do you see
that m Constitutional Smith? How about
that?'
Instead of opening his eyes in surprise.
Captain jerks opened his mouth and roared
again with laughter.
You blamed idotr' he said you re
worse and worse. told you all about that
case on this here deck. and not so many
months ago, when l did think you were
Constitutional Smith You fooled me.
You've fooled me once and you give me
the slip once, and III fix you. So far you
amt proved anything but that you're g big
ger fool than / thought you were. But
you've got nerve, that's what"
Constitutional Smith thought a moment.
I'm show you" he answered. Immediately
he rolled up his sleeves and barred his
breast.
You'll know me by the marks anyhow"
he began. And then he stopped. For he
was confronted not by his familiar tattoo
marks. but by the strips of sticking plaster
with which he had been decorated by Bill
ington O'Keefe. and which completely COW
cred every vestige of India ink.
At this exhibition the captain and his
mate went into Mysteries.
''Ho! no! ho!'' they laughed again. This
is too good" They staggered about the
boat, couvulsed with uncomfortable laugh
ter. Finally the captain subs.d ed, and. APP
preaching Smith, cuffed him once more.
We've had about enough of this" he
said ftercely. by Godi I'm going to do
you up. But I'm goin' to give you fair
fight. This time you'n have all the show
] can give you. You can rest up for a
couple of days. and get in shape. and then
it'n be your show 10 come up on deck and
meet Captain jerks the champeen of the
world. for the last time. I'm gvin' you
fair warning that this will be a sluggin
match. but a fair one. But, by George he
added III in the meantime you try to ge,
away, God have mercy on you. | won't
III kill you In your tracks You fooled me
once. and you give me the slip once. and
now you don't get away from me. You're
my meat and If / don't kill you In the
fight. by George, you'll be my slave for life
I'll have the upper hand and don't you
forget II. But it'll be a fair fight. 1 won,
kill no man in cold blood, or without a fail
fight. You kin eat up and brace up IL you
want to, and get strong. II you don't
want to. you needn't. But I'm givin' you 8
chance that don't give to many men,"
For the next two days Smith was kept
under constant watch. But he had al
he wanted TO eat. and he allowed
plenty of light and air and exercise.
Drink rum If you want TO. don't care -
said the captain. do anything you want
thatn get you in shape"
Constitutional Smith did not drink rum
Nor did he again attempt to force the fac,
his eye, however. on the captains face. II
there was ever systematic and scientific
murder in any mans eye, II was in the eve
of CAPTAIN jerks.
In the meantime Captain jerks, In his
usual approved manner commenced to gel
himself ripe and In shape for the approach.
Ing battle. He ripsnorteo about here ant