Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-07
4 FRIEND IN ED

rtght-hand seat OF the smoker was awak-
ened by the scurrying past him of men
whose Journey was finished. He rubbed his
eyes with his huge paws and gazed about
him.
What port is this, mater he inquired of
one of the departing passengers
Philadelphia, !" replied the passenger. do
you get on here?'
mo. I'm for Washington replied the
deep-sea sailor. pulling of his cap and
scratching his head and then settling back
in his seat YEARLY, with the cap over his
eyes.
He drove his tongue in and out of his
mouth as If he might be pretty dry. He
was a big, broad-shouldered man. under
forty. with a ruddy, open, rather fine coun-
tenance, albeit somewhat swollen, mixed
gray hair, and muscles that sweffed prodig-
iously beneath his blue mastering shirt. His
cap ribbon bore the name of a ship re-
Gently returned from the Asiatic station,
and now lying at the Mare Island. navy
yard. Cal. On his starboard arm was the
silver eagle, with the worked wheel be-
meath and below that the chevrons denoting
him a auartermaster first class. United
States navy.
When the train began to fill up for the
trip to Washington, fat. genial-looking
man entered the smoker and took a seat
directly In front of the blueJacket, who kept
his cap pulled over his eyes. and retained
that indefinable look worn by men who can
not see many better things in life that a
good, stiff drink when they stand in need
of the same. But no drink was in sight.
and SO, when the train was again under
way, the bluejacket gave his cap an addi-
tional tug forward over his eyes and set
tied back still deeper in his seat.
When the train was well out OF Philadel-
phia the fat, genial-looking man In the seat
ahead of the bluejacket opened his valise
and pulled out a large silver flask. He ex-
tended the flask to the parched-looking sail
or man.
Hey, pal,'' he said to the sailor, take a
hack at this It's something pretty tidy"
The bluejacket took the extended flask
and grinned wanly.
Thanks, mate" said he, Il wouldn't care
a boot IL it. was mixed shellac and wood
alcohol. so IT'S got the jolt. I'm In proper
need of bowl all right"
He put the flask to his lips and let three
heavy gulps roll down his throat
That amt no drink" said the fat, genial
looking man, deprecatingly. when the sailor
offered him back the flask. Take real
dip, and then I'm with YOU.
The bluejacket took two more swallows
and handed the flask back to his deliverer,
who took pretty big swig himself.
Maybe that wasn't just like gettin into
a coral-locked harbor half bell before a
typhoon," said the bluejacket, wiping his
lips with the sleeve Of his blue shirt. Il
needed that mate. First, I've had since
| breakin' out O. Pittsburg. Wait till we get
to Washington and I'll blow you back
Then they fell to talking.
IT'S a good thing l shipped meself the
$500 bunch before l left Frisco" said the
sailor to the fat man with the flask. 1T
was the foxiest move ever made, and I've
been swingin' around for long watch in
this uniform. Been tryin' to get back to
Observation-Disclosures my home-for twelve
year. Never made it stick yet. Always
took all O. me payday along with me when
me time was up out on the Pacific sta
ton or the China station, and always went
broke before got half way along here. This
%f TOW bot o1,o
after buyin me ticket straight through
from Frisco to Washington, and sent me-
self, by express, to Washington, the other
$500 of me payday. All l got to do when
press office and pass em me name and
get the $500. Then I take brace and go
and see the old folks
How bout the $500 pocket changer"
! asked the fat, geniai-loolking man. not In
an inquisitive tone, but just to keep the
talk a-going.
TOO deep for me- replied the tar. ut
went this way and that. / got left every
time / got off the train once at place
called the Needles, down in the southwest,
and again at punk little place called La
Junta, in Colorado l think that is, and in
Kansas City and in Chicago, and last at
Pittsburg. Don't know where me kit is, but
/ guess it went right ahead and is waiting
for me in Washington. The $500 wasn't no
better'n feather bed down below, consid-
erin the number of times the train pulled
out without me, and blew me last yen in
Pittsburg 1t I'D ha' been all the same ii
I'd had the other $500 along with me, and
that's why I'm giving meself this admirals
salute for sending 1t on ahead
A Washington detective happened to be
seated right across the way from the fat,
genial-looking man and the sailor. 1t struck
the Washington detective that the blue
jacket was giving up a trifie too much in
formation to a stranger with reference to
that $500 bundle awaiting him at the Wash
| i-~-~ - = 4, Iof1
Guided to follow after the pair when the
train reached Washington, to see If the fat,
genial-looking man had any idea as to
something doing with reference to the $500
awaiting the bluejacket in the Washington
express office.
Follow after them he did. He waited out
side while they dropped into a saloon near
the station for drink Immediately upon
the arrival of the train in Washington, and
he was In the same avenue car with them
when they started for the express office
where the sailor was to get his $500. The
sailor appeared to be real glad and happy
with himself by this time, but the fat,
| genial-looking man accompanying him was
as sober as a judge.
The Washington detective wasn't far
away from the express office counter when
the sailor man, lurching bit. walked up
and demanded his $500. The fat, genial
| looking man. Juggling his valise, was right
alongside the bluejacket. After pulling sun
| dry and divers letters addressed to him
| from the bosom Of his mastering shirt and
thus Identifying himself the sailor got his
| $500. all sealed up with treble seals in a
| thick yellow envelope. He broke open the
envelope, counted the money, rammed 1t
| into his shirt bosom as If 1t were a ban
danna handkerchief, and turned to the fat.
| genal-looking man. The Washington de-
| tective, standing bit away, closely watched
| the moves of the sailors fat companion.
| We'll, come on, Bill,'' said the tar, land
| femme blow you. It's the first peek I've
had at the old town in a dozen years, and
guess 1 can spare hundred to mix it up
| some.'
| Hey, where do the old folks live chum?'
| inquired the fat, genial-looking man of the
| sailor.
| The tar named an address in South Wash
| ington.
| "But amt a-going there YETI he add
| ed. Pm a-going to stake you to the big
| gest bunch o. wet
The fat, genial-looking man was at the
| curb, whistling for cab. The cabman
| pulled his rig alongside the curb. The fat
| man pushed the sailor inside the cab, and
| the Washington detective, who had been
| overlooking the incident, was just about to
| nail him from behind and ask him what his
| game was. when the fat man, with one foot
| on the cab step, addressed the blue-jacket
thus:
| Twelve years Is long time, PAL and
| now that yOII'ye made II this IA yOlf WA Mt