The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-17

CHAPTEHsVI..

CHAPTNH'VE.
URING tho next four or Ave
days Gullford Duncan waa
kept busy with various small
empl0yments. some OF them
out Of doors aud some of them In the
ONCE, During this time Captain Hal.
lam did not again engage him In con
versntlon, but Duncan knew that tho
man OF business was closely observing
his work. He was not slow to discover
that he was giving satisfaction. lie
saw that with each day the work an.
signed him was Of kind that required
q higher Intelligence than that OF tho
day before.
Every evening the cashier paid him
his days wages. thus reminding him
that he was not salarled employee OF
the house. but man working for
wages from day 10 day.
Out OF his first wages BIO had pnr
chased change OF very cheap under.
wear. towel and cake OF soap.
Every morning about daylight he went
TO a secluded spot on the leycc for n
scrub and swim. Then he washed
out bis towel and placed II. with his
other small belongings. Ia storage
place be had discovered In great
lumber pile.
One morning when he entered the
office Captain Hallam gave him sew.
eral business letters to answer from
memoranda scribbled upon them by
clerks or others. He gave him also
memorandum In his own handwriting.
saying:
"Cut that down II you can and make
a telegram OF II, I'll be back In half an
hour or 40, Have II ready for me"
The cnsc was this A huge steam.
boat lay al the levee loaded almost 10
the waters edge with grain. which Cap.
tain Hallam was more than anxious TO
hurry TO New Orleans to meet sud.
den temporary and very marked nd.
vance In that market That morning
The boat had been "tied up" M tho
phrase went-that Ia 10 say, she had
been legally attached for debt at the
suit OF a arm In St. Louis. Until the
attachment should be removed the
boat must lie at Cairo In charge Of a
sheriff's officer, Captain Hallam wish.
cd 20 secure her immediate release,
and 10 that end he purposed sending
the telegram.
When he returned to the office Dun
can handed him for inspection and sig.
nature the letters he had written,
Here is the telegram also" he said,
''but II you will pardon the impertI'
nence ! think you had better not send
II. at least In the form you have given
IT,"
What's the matterf" quickly snap
ped Hallam.
ut binds you TO more than l think
you intend"
Go on! Explain"
"Why. ! cannot help seeing that II
you send this dispatch you will make
yourself legally responsible. not only
for the claim for which the boat Is now
attached. hut also for every claim
against her that may exist anywhere.
There may be none such, or there
may be many. In any case, do not
think you intend to assume them all"
Go on! The boat must be got
away. What do you adviser
'That you go on her bond for this
claim, which seems to me 80 clearly
illegal that think you can never be
held upon the bond--and"-
Remind me when this Is over that
you are TO come to my house tonight
for consultation on that point. Now
60 on"
well, by going on her bond for this
claim instead Of asking the creditors to
release the boat on your promise as
made In the telegram you can secure
her immediate release, making your
self liable, at worst, for no more than
the 5000 claimed"
"But II do that, what Is to prevent
another tie.up at Memphis and anoth'