Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-06-23
CHAPTER XVII.
A PROPOSED PIRACY.
m Ezl2.Aa Ma

he could do for the comfort of his
passengers he did, even going so far
as to drop as many of his "bedads"
as possible. Whenever he had an OPP
portunity, and these came freQuen ~,
he talked to Mr.. Delaplaine. address
ing word or two TO Kate if he
thought she looked gracious. For the
| first day or two Dame Charter kept
below. She was afraid Of the me1.
and did not even want to look at thar7
If she could help it.
But the good woman's all wrong"
said Capt lchabod to Mr.. Delapl line;
my men would not hurt her. They're
not the most tremendous kind of
pirates. anyway, for | could not afford
that sort have often thought that
| could make more profitable voyages
| II had a savager lot Of men. I'll tell
| you. sir, we once tried to board a big
| Spanish galleon, and the beastly for
eigners beat us off, bedad, and we hid
a hard time of 1t gettin' away. There
are three or four good fellows in the
crew, tough old rascals who came with
! the sloop when | bought her. but most
of my men are but poor kuaves, ard
not to be afraid of"
That afternoon Capt. Ichabod found
Kate by herself on deck, and he r}aao
bold to sit down by her; and before
he knew what he was about he va2
telling her his whole story. She is
tened carefully to what he said iir
touched but lightly upon his vie o.
nesses, although they were rl'.~
enough to any lIstevar of sense AM
bemoaned his fearful passion for gam
ing, which was sure to bring him to
misery one day or another.
when have staked my vessel and
have lost It," said he, then there win
be an end of me"
But why don't you sell your vesse,
before you lose IT," said Kate, "and
become a farmer?"
His eyes frightened. Il never
thought OF that" said he. "Bedad-
excuse me. Miss-some day when I've
got a little together and can pay my
men III sell this soop and buy a
farm, bedad---I beg your pardon, Miss
Ill buy a farm"
Kate smiled, but 1t was easy to see
that Capt. Ichabod was in earnest
The next day Capt Ichabod came
to Mr.. Delaplane and took him to one
side, II want to speak to you," he
said, about bit of business"
you may have noticed, sir. that
we are somewhat short of provisions,
and the way Of 1t is this. The night
before we sailed, hoping to make a
bold stroke at the card-table and
thereby fit out my vessel in a man
ner suitable to the entertainment of a
gentleman and ladies, lost every
penny had. | did hope that our pro-
visions would last us a few days
longer, but am disappointed, sir
That cook Of mine, who Is soft
hearted fellow. his neck always ready
for the heel of woman, has thrown
overheard even the few stores We had
left for you the good Dame Gu FER
having told him they were not ct to
eat And more, sir, even my men arc
rumblirg. SO though; | w9ud
'pra. 10 You and explain that 1t would
DC necessary for us TO overhaul mer-
han man and ieIlcn.sh our food sup
ply. 1t can be doe very quietly, sir,
md | doat thnG that even the laGi j
need be disturbr d."
Mir. Dclaplline stared in aml"emcnt.
10 you mean TO say lie eXcl1iHTd
that you Wat me to consent t. yGuE
commit ng piracy for our BENEATH
Yes sir" answered III, clr'ai.
that's what | suppose you would c Il
it; but that's my business"
Now, sir wish yOu 20 know thai
l am Christian and a gentlemen
said Mr.. DelaplNine
That's all very true, bedad," slt
Capt lchabod. but you're also a.
other thing; you're human BE- =
md you must eat"
This is terrible" exclaimed tht
merchant, that at my time of Nc
should consent to a felony at sea. M
to profit by it, | cannot bear to tN'~}
Of the wickedness and the Dig
Of it,"
Most respected sir" said IchahCd
"if the fellows behave them' "
properly and don't offer to tPh'
then thereIl be no wickedness, b.! d
can ma!-a a good enough show o
men to brighten any ordinary lncr
chant crew so that not a blow med b.
struck. And that is what | expect Il
do, sir. | would not have any dis
turbance before ladies, you may b
sure of that, bedad We bear dow
upon a vessel; we order her to sur
render; we take what we want, an
we let her go. Truly, there's no wick
edness in that! And as for the dis
grace, we can all better bear tina
than starve."
Mr.. Delaplaine looked at the pirat
without word He could not com
preherd how a man with such fran
= and honest face could thus avow hi
dishonest principles But as he gaze
! and wondered the thought of schem
! flashed across the mind of the merchant
a thoroughly busness-like scheme
his DOlu young plld'e captain lhi6"
seize upon such supplies as they wer
in need of. but he, Felix Delaplaine, Q
Spanish Town, Jamaica. would pay 70
; them Thus might their necessities b
relieved and their consCiences J. Ell
1 clean. But he said nothing Of this t
4 Ichabod; the pirate might deem sue
a proceeding unprofessional and in
! terpose some objection. Paymen
would be the merchants part of tn
: business, and he would attend to
s himself A look of resignation no.
2 came over Mr.. Delaplaine's face.
J Captain" said he, 81 must yield I
e your reason; it is absolutely neces5ar
d that we shall not starve."
: ITO be Continued)
.