Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-10

q
| ship In bottle. The floor was Gov.
cred with sawdust. and two round
| tables. with chairs and convenient
cuspidors. crowded the small space
available. At one table sat three men,
stupid with drink. Their nondescript
| dress. gathered in parts from the sea-
ports OF two hemispheres. betrayed
the merchant sailor. and their blonde
heads and red faces their Scandina.
Wan birth. They glanced with dead
eyes at the two newcomers and went
back to their meditat1ons and nut.
terings. Two men, sober, hardfaced,
keen eyed. arose from the other table
and stepped into a rear room. but
were called back by the man behind
the bar--a large. brawny fellow,
with beetling eyebrows and a long
pointed nose.
Want to sit down, gents?' he
said. Good fire in the back room,
Bad day. amt IT."
Yes" said the ensign. whose
glance at the table seemed to have
prompted the mans suggestion
"This-my friend here Is sick Bring
|
dose Of ginger in one"
Yes. sir. I'll AK i'm up"
Dick was In dire pain. unable "a
stand erect. and too humble and
weak OF will to resist or resent the
officers assistance. They eat down
close to a hot stove in the back room,
which, besides the table and chairs,
contained no furniture or decora-
lions. A door In the side Of the wall
seemed to lead to another room and
a stairway to the floor above.
Sailors boarding house. SIR"
groaned Dick as he collapsed on the
table
The hot stimulants arrived and
were quickly consumed; then Mr..
Breen studied the CHASTITY face oppo-
site him.
Feel better. Halpin?" he asked al
length.
Yes. sfr-a little
ut isn't often, Halpin. that an Off
Ger gets a chance to hobnob with a
blue jacket; but want to talk With
you, and you seem to need It. Cir
eumstances have brought us into con.
tact lately in ways not prescribed by
the regulations; and l have noticed
an antagonism on your part which l
have tried not to earn. Now, l want
to ask you--is 1t because l surprised
you the other day-at a time when
number three makes crowd?'
well. SIR" answered Dick. eva
sively. preferring this view OF tha
case to stand rather than confess his
jealousy, Miss-the young
lady felt very badly"
Naturally" said the ensign, with
a short. dry laugh.
And then. SIR went on Dick
more truthfully. you put me under
arrest in my own town. when
thought-and I still think-that J
was in the right. Then, to-day, you
showed me up before my worst en-.
envy. There's an old difference be-
tween George Arthur and myself"
II cannot ask nor receive conf
dences regarding Mr.. Arthur: nor dc
wish to probe into your private at.
fairs: but. at times-whats the mat.
ter? Are you worse7"
ton and physical adjustment. The
walls were moving around him and
separating from each other and the
ceiling. The table seemed tilted. and
he gripped II by the edges to prevent
It slipping away. while Mr.. Breen's
earnest face was above him looking
down.
Hang my fool tongue" muttered
the ensign. THE Lord only knows
what's back OF this mix. And--and
what ails me. wonder. Stove too
hot--E'm light-headed. Let's get out
Halpin."
Dick painfully sat erect. lurched
backward. pulled himself forward
with his hands and got on his feet.
only to sink into the chair again.
I'm drugged. thir." he said thick
ly. Look outh - board houthe-
crimpth-shanghai." He slid side
wise to the floor and lay still.
The officer scrambled to his feet
and staggered to the door. but found
1t locked
Police" he yelled. "Police!" And
grabbing table and chairs for sup
port. he made his way to the side
door. which was also locked.
DRY up In there" said a voice
from the barroom.
The ensign answered inooherently.
reeled across the room, and fell to
the floor; then the door opened and
the bartender appeared. followed by
the two men he had called back.
Shut the door" he snarled.
Them Souwegisns amt none too
full"
He searched the pockets OF the un-
conscious men. removed what was OF
value. and said:
up stairs wild EN-. Get 'em read,
and get them two bags in tn
closet for EN-. Hurry up. now. Tug
goin' down at eight II they wan
more dope. sing out
He went out, unlocked the from.
door, looked at the three stupid men
at the table, took his place behind
the bar, and the saloon resumed
business.
That evening tug steamed dowr
the bay through the storm. In tn,
warm pilot-house. besides the tut
captain. were a shipmaster. a Sandy
Hook pilot, and clearinghouse
rupner-ope OF the two men who had