Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-08-09

Sohys Cap Sdlu the iOHS llldii do h'
dallied with his last strawberry tartlet
isn't 1T 20 that you've got this fine
| steamboat of yours ballasted will
s~overcignsy
I So" said Kettle, cor something
very like that"
Your own
"Oh, Lord, nc. Just freight ~consign.
ed to New Orleans and brought here
by that blowup l was telling you about
suppose that you gentlemen'll have M
objection to bearing a hand aboard o'mt
now you are here? I'm a bit short man
ned. and it'd be a pity to let freight
Tx that rust for want of lingering.
Hank grinned at his vis-a-vis and
then turned to the little skipper in the
swivel chair. mo" he said, Il DON
see there's anything wrong with that
but I'm afraid If we Clipped in we
couldn't sign On so far as Moo Orleans
"Eew Orleans be sugared!" cried
Captain Kettle. Haven't / spoke plain
enough already? Don't you under
stand all this racket's a blessed swlndle
The steamers going TO have the name
plate on her engine altered, and the
label ON her stern changed, and a diff
ferent pattern painted on her smoke
stacks. and a coat Of gray clapped on
her outside. And then-then, when
she's so bedeviled her own builder
wouldn't know her, Wen run her round
to some South American port where
the least number of questions will be
asked and sell her for what she'll fetch.
But only the steamer, mark you. |
reckon she's carried the freight far
enough. That'll be struck out of her
here"
You bet" said Matt, rubbing his
hands. Wen corral the dollars for
you right here TIL you come back. o
shall have our niggers to s--stoke for
you IL you can get 'em and can manage
em. But they're fair toughs. Perhaps
you'd w-w-caken when o came TO
know 'em n bit"
I'D handle" retorted i-ettle, "a crew
OF old Nick's firemen raw out of the
pit IL 1 was put TO II. Don't you make
any error. I've kept my end up with
the worst GRO IS a man ever put to sea
with. BY James," he went on, with a
bl0H Mt the table, 'by James I'd handle
you. Mr.. Mutt If you were signed on
board o. me till you couldn't call your
son o IA own"
You'd w-w-which?" snarled Mutt,
rising In his chair.
land be quiet. You tire me. What are
you riling the gentleman for just when
W. were getting so nice and friendly
with him!"
You femme alone!"
I'm smash your ugly little face In if
you don't keep 1t shut"
The one eyed la tried to retort, but
his infirmity gagged him, and a spasm
OF wild fury bit into all his muscles.
His friend waved a d rlsive finger.
Theirs N image for you, cap. Look
mt the creature, froze like a Chinese pet
dog. Look at him and cont laugh.
And. say, ju:t reach me another bottle
OF that wine; 1t will be so good--thanks,
Stree. l wouldn't care If / died drinking
this. Here's our blessed health. Good
old cap, You stick to me, and I'll stick
you. and IL Mr.. Billy Mutt can't
his tantrums and join us two
gentlemen like another gentleman. by
Jemima. well give him what he's got
for his share and set adrift in an
empty bottle. You hear me. Billy
Nuttg'
You spup-Iuttering fool! You boosey
drunken putty head"
.'Tni not drunk" retorted Hank. but
I'm merry. Have a sup yourself. and
then perhaps you'll be better company"
with which advise a liberal heel tap
OF champagne splashed in Nuts face.
The man sprang to his feet, glowing
Ike a mend. What followed was COM
pletcd before a watch could tick twice.
For once the gift Of speech did not de-
sert him. The fatal words bounced
glibly OF his tongue. and Hanks venge-
full hands shot out. In an instant the
pair were graphing together, and a
scooping thumb did its horrid work.
Then tearing himself away, eyeless, the
lesser man ran screaming blindly into
the sideboard at the other side of the
cabin. His friend pitched stifhy for
ward I'M fell face downward among
the dishes lying there without SO much
AZ e CULVER. He was stone dead. With
tise black handled knife that carved
their baking OF pork Mutt had stabbed
him from the shoulder down through
his heart.
THAT saves my cartridges" said
Captain Kettle and took his cooked
revolver from where Ii lodged between
bic
He pssseh swiftly out through the
pantry door and was just i'm time for
what ha expected. The negroes,
alarmed by Nuts sh:ieks, were rush.
ing frcm the messroom to see what
had gone wrong. He charged and drove
them frriously back. They turned and
ran before him. tumbling over n an
other In their scared haste. and Their
he took up his place in the doorway.
threatening them with steady weapon
&Aatta AVAA0A "
Quick" he cried, quick, you scum.
unload yourselves. Pitch overheard
your knives n razors and whatever
you've got. or. by James. II a man OF
you stops to think. I'll blow his brains
through the portfolio"
The negroes obeyed him in sullen,
frightened silence and stood with ell
bows up facing him as he covered
them Kettle watched the three with
steady "a. but his ear was cooked
uown the passage drinking in every
fzsSkis which came from the place he
had frfI
The shrieking of the eyeless ma In
the cabin had given way to groans, and
then there CAME the sound OF bumps
and scratehings. as though he were
laundering madly about TO find some
thing. a then the pattering Of naked
feet as he CROPPED his way up the lead
covered steps of the companionway. Sc
Infently did they follow this one mans
movements that 1t seemed to them as
though all other sounds were hushed
cSen TO the eve ceasing hum of the
Insects.
With awe the listeners held their
brcxth der what might come next. But
thcy had not long to wait. There burst
out a Ifld TRADE OF hate and BIAS
phe1ny, which ended In a shrieking cry
OF despair and a heavy plunging splash
ard once more the distant noises OF the
night closed down upon them.
Mutt" said Captain Kettle. is dead
and I'm almost sorry. | believe I could
have liked hat He'd grit in him
had Mutt. and nc wouldn't take cheek
from a living SOU. Your other boss