The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-17


clean across the deck. His rife went
spinning out of his hands, and quick as
a flash Bolles had whipped 1T up and
sent a bullet through his head.
In the boat little Brow had jumped
Durand and showed his head back over
the splintered gunnle until it was in the
water, and Emilio was on his feet n
boat hook, but fortunately couldn't
reach him.
Cut me loose-damn We, cut me
loose!" 1 yelled. for a man with his
hands tied behind his back is in poor
shape for a general knock-down and
drag out.
Hump, you're so handy with your
feet as the Irishman says. that there
doesn't seem 10 be much need!" says
Boles, in that a~ggravating way of his.
but before | could think of any curse
strong enough for him that wouldn't
shock the lady. she had yanked out a
little knife and cut me loose.
"Brown,' said Boles, let that poor
devil up. DO you thing hats a nice
way to treat an officer and a gentle
NAM"
He's trying TO pull a gun!" said
Brown in a hurt one.
We'll, pull it for him, and if he gets
frisky, clip him over the head with it."
said Boles.
1 called out for Emilio to come aboard
and look after the mate, and, picking
up a heavy line chucked it to the man
who was overheard. He grabbed it
and | hauled him in and yanlled him
up over the side.
Now, young man." said L. eff you
think that you can keep quiet and be-
have yourself, why, ali right-O, but
80 -.s1l 4Js- EN,, trN,, n
l rubbed my arms where his miserable
rope had cut into them--Il just try
and make you as comfortable on that
locker down below as you did me-"
He lay painting and dripping ON the
deck, too MINDED to get on his feet and
without as much fight in him as ,
pollywog. Pretty soon he hauled him.
fellow, and / ~misdoubted that he might
be a Junior deck officer off some trans
port and misled by Durand.
I'm through" says he. but If there's
no hard Feeling, matey. I'd like a sup
o. that liquor below-if We can trust
me-" he added, sort of shamefaced.
1--WE no fear" said /. IF l can't
now that I've cast off my wraps, it's
time to quit. Go oil down and get your
! drink-but just chuck that misguided
greaser overheard before you co."
said /.
Boles and Brown had got Durand up
out of the boat, and he was sitting on
the deck with his back against the bull
lark mighty white and weak looking.
l reckon the crack he got from my foot
and the gunnle of the boat Jared up
his inside some. | looked around for
the lady, being curious to see what
she'd say to him, but she was down in
her berth and didn't show up again
as long as Durand was aboard.
We made sail and got up u hook,
and by . o'clock We're heading for the
westward With Il fair fresh wind. Not
until then did we crack open the treas
ure DON. 1t was pretty we'll lined, AL
though the pearls didn't quite come up
to my idea of what they might have
been, but altogether we valued the
thing at bout $4,000 American: not
much, of course, but worth the trouble
we'd been put to.
We opened it VI on the quarter deck,
and Boles divided it off into three equal
parts; that is, as equal as he could
reckon it. Brown and l were mighty
Interested, but Durand sat right where
he was With a sort of pale, contemptu-
Gus grin on his face.
Bole tore up three little bits of paper
n held them out to me
Knapp, YOU can draw for the lady
it's for choice" says he. 1 drew the
middle size.
'Secone choice" says Boles He held
his fist out to the lieutenant.
whats this damn foolishness?" says
Durand, in an ugly voice. Boles' eye
broWS came together and he gave Du-
rand a looh that brought the blood into
his ace
Its for your share of the loot. Mr..
Otficer-nan," sale he, in thai cold voice
of his; of course, il o don't want it,
you're at perfect liberty to leave it,"
Durand's face grew reader and red
der, and ne tried to stare Boles out OF
countenance.
that L come in on this?"
"of course you do" said Boles in an
impatient voice. GO ahead and draw
and let's get through with IT,
Durand stared at him for a minute
II his jaw dropped; then slowly he
reached out and Toe one of the slips.
First choice" says Boles - third
goes to the ship-not that it makes any
difference that 1 can see"
Durand sort of hesitated, then sud
denly he reached out his hand to Boles.
I've made a mistake-and l want to
apologize" says he. will you shake
hands,"
With pleasure" says Boles.
We shook hands all around then, and
Durand told the little cuss that he'd
see that he didn't lose anything by the
trip. Then we all went down and had
a drink
We got off z%amboansa about sum
down, and there we put the lieutenant
and his mate ashore. His company was
there and not tn Calamba, and | expect
he manufactured some sort of a yarn
about his absence. On the way back to
Manila the lady didn't have much to
say. h left US as 500 as we got
back. and that's the last l ever seen of
her. She really had nothing to COM
plain of, but I've always had a sneak
ing notion that she would rather have
had one of those shots of hers Mt Du-
rand find a bulls eye thar to collar a
bakers dozen treasure boxes.