The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-01-19
the bark bad not been abandoned. The
owner was on board. Kitchell was
wrong She was no 0prelict Not ono

the bark bad not been 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 100000 dwindling to moth
Ing. Then the instincts Of habit reas-
serted themselves. The taxpayer in
him was stronger than the freebooter
after all. He felt that it was his duty
to see to it 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 Oh
board the schooner; that the kid"
found in the wheel box was girl. But
On second thoughts that would never
do. Above all things, the brute Kitchell
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 difference
in the men here, and Wilbur appreci-
'Rted it. Wilbur, the law abiding tax
payer, was Il weakling in comparison
with Kitchell, 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 'em under
the donkey's breakfast. Stop bit"
he added as Wilbur started away. ''I'u
go with you. Well 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 he stood up unsteadily, and, rails
ing his glass, exclaimed:
Sonny, here's to Kitchell, Wilbur &
Co., beachcombers, unlimited. What
do you say, hey?"
II only want to be sure that we've /,
right to the bark" answered Wilbur.
Fright to 'er--ri-hight to 'er!' hic-
coughed the captain. ''Strike me blind,
I'd like to see any one try an take her
away from Alvinza Kitchell noww
And he thrust out his chin at Wilbur.
"Well, so much the better, then,"
said Wilbur, pocketing the papers.
The pair assembled to the deck.
The burial Of Captain Sternersen
was 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 rifed the dead
mans pockets and had even taken
away the boots and fur lined cap.
Cloths We're cut from the spanker and
ID :ko1>o
ordered the peak halyards unrove and
used as lashings 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 onv'
commanded Kitchell. "Use 'em as a
shrou'; All ready now; stan by to let
her gor'
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 ID ha'nt me 4 I KEEP s teeth.
Strike, look a. that! I put 'em in up
side down. New min, upsi' down,
downsi' up, whaz Odds all same with
ole Bill. Hey, ole Bill, all same with
you, hey?" Suddenly he began to
howl with laughter. '.r' think O. bein'
buried with your teeth upsi' down!
Oh, me, but that's good grind!
Stan by to heave ole Uncle Bill over!
Ready, heave, an away she goes!'' He
ran to the side, waving his hat and
looking over. "Goo'by, ole Bill, by by!
There you go, an the signal O. distress
roun' YOU'LL B! I'm in need of as
sistance.' Lord. here comes the
sharks! Look, look! Look at 'um
fight! Look at 'um takin' ole Bill!
I'm in need Of assistance I sh'd say
you were, ole Bill!'
Wilbur looked once over the side in
the churning, flashing water, then drew
back, sick to vomiting. But in less
than thirty seconds the water was
quiet. Not shark was in sight.
"Get over t. the Bertha with those
papers, son." ordered Kitchell. "I'll
bide here and dig up sh' more loot I'll
gut this ole pill box from stern to stem
post fore I'll leave. I won't leave
copper rivet in 'er, notta coer rivet,
do y hear?" he shouted, his face pur-
pie with unnecessary rage.
Wilbur returned to the schooner with
the two Cinnamon, leaving Kitchell
alone on the bark. He found the girl
sitting by the rudderhead almost as he
had left her, looking about her with
vague, unseeing eyes.
"Your name is Moran, isn't it." he
asked-"Moran Sternersen?''
EYES," she said after a pause, then
looked curiously at bit Of tarred rope
on the deck. Nothing more could be
got out of her. Wilbur talked to her
at length and tried to make her under
stand the situation hnt it WAS avidont