Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-06-20
The P1underers
BY C. j. cUTLIFFE HYNE.

last eighteen months the firms profits
have seriously decreased and the scope
OF its operations been much hampered.
take credit to myself that this diminu-
ton could have been prevented by no
action on my part. 1t is entirely the
outcome of the times-the lazy greed
OF the working classes. fomented by the
frothings of paid agitators. The series
of strikes which we nave had to con-
tend against is unprecedented
is 1t? Well, l don't know. Thepe have
been labor bothers all down through
history, and fancy they'll continue to
end OF time. II you'll recollect there
was n certain Egyptian king who
once had troubles with his. bricklayers
and fancy there have been similar diff
ficulties trottfng through he centuries
In pretty quick succession ever since.
or course each mar thinks his own em-
picyes the most unreasonable and
grasping that lave ever uttered opin-
ion since the record began. That's
only natural. but | might point out to
you that in definite esults you aren't
in the worst box yet. Your chariot
hasn't been upset in the Red sea SO far,
and it may be that n certain operation
liz the Mexican gulf will piece up the
wheels and set it running on Triumph
antly. Grumble IL you like, Mr.. Shelf,
but o make yourself out to be the
worst used man in history. Pharaoh
hadn't half your opportunities
Yes. yes" said Shelf. who didn't
relish this kind of conversation. but
we will ON to business. If you please"
Right you are. Let's finish floating
the swindle."
Mr.. Cambel," exclaimed the other
passionatcly, will you never learn to
moderate your language? There are Il
hundred clerks within . hundred feet
OF you through that door. and some
times even walls can listen and repeat.
! Resides nhjnct aItnpathar tn unt,r
phraseology. We engage in no such
things as swindles in the city. Our
operations are all commercial enter
prise"
Very WELL" said Cambel. struggling
is-shetlaeFs
over 1t. You call your spade what you
like, only l reserve a right to slap on a
palmer Grand. We're built differently,
Mr.. Shelf. l prefer TO be honest in my
dishonesty. And now, as I've said. let's
get to business. You say the charter
of this steamer of yours. the Port Edes.
hands. She's 1000 tons, built under
Lloyd's survey and classed 100 Al.
She's we'll engined and has just been
drydocked. She'll insure for every six
pence of her value without comment.
and there's nothing more natural than
to send out your specie in such a
sound bottom. Remains to pick a suit
able complement"
I've got Il master waiting here now
by appointment. His names Kettle. l
have him to a certain extent under my
thumb. and l fancy he'll prove a reli-
able man. He was once in our firms
employment
owen Kettle. by any chance?"
Mr.. Shelf referred to a paper on his
writing table.
Captain owen Kettle-yes. He was
the man who lost the Doge of Venice.
and since then he's never had another
ship"
Poor ~wretch-yes. I know. That
Dose of Venice case was an awful
scandal. Owners filled up the board of
trade %surveyor to the teeth with
champagne. or she'd never ave been
passed to sea. AS 1t was. she'd such
an unholy reputation that two crews
ran from her before they could get her
manned. She IA as rotten as rust
and tumblcd rivets could make her, and
she was sent to sea as a coffin ship
to earn her dividends out Of Lloyds.
Kettle had been out of a job for some
time. He was a desperate man, with
a family depending on him, and he went
as skipper fully conscious of what was
expected Of him.. He did 1t like a man.
He let the Doge of Venice founder in q
North sea gale. and by a marvellous
chance managed to save his ships COM
pany. At the inquiry. Of course, HI
''N' x oStuYNSOdls dIIu IS uIUn Z
contrive to save his ticket. They sus-
pended his masters certificate for a
year. On the strength of that he APP
piled for maintenance, putting 1t on the
reasonable claims of service rendered.
owners. being upright merchants and
sensible men. naturally repudiated all
knowledge or liability: said he was a
olackmailing scoundrel as we'll as an
unskillful seaman and threatened him
with an action for libel. Kettle, not
having a solitary proof to show. did
the only thing left for him to do, and
that was eat dirt or subside. But III
incident and the subsequent starvation
haven't tended to sweeten his temper.
l-atterly he's been serving as mate on
a Pacific ship. n he was Just a holy
terror with his men. He simply kept
al1ve by carrying his fist on q revolver
putt. There wasn't a man who's SER
we'd with Red Kettle three weeks that
wouldn't have cheerfully swung for the
enjoyment of numbering him."
You appear to know a good deal
about this man."
When 1t suits my purpose" returned
Cambel dryly. Il mostly contrive to
know something about anybody. How
eter, it's no. use discussing the Door
beggar n longer. What's amiss with
having him in here?'
Shelf touched one Of the electric
buttons which studded the edge Of his
table. and a clerk appeared, who went
away again and shortly returned. With
him was a shrfveled up little man of
Q 40. with a red head and a peaked
red beard. who made a stiff. nervous
salaam to Mr.. Theodore Shelf and the
turned to stare at Cambel with puck
cred amazement.
Cambel nodded and laughed. Been
carrying n more pilgrims from Port
Said to the Morocco coast on iron
decks? 2" he said.
II did that" snapped Captain
Kettle.