Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-08-15
STORY OF YHk CARGO
OF MIXED PICKLES
BY GEORGE BARTON.

we must make another search of the
Golden Rod before it gets out to sea,
declared Barnes with emphasis.
|. its too bad" said the captain mus
iHsiy, that you didn't get or IF your
men on the boat before it started down
the river"
barnes' eyes glittered. He spoke con-
fidently.
"if you overtake her I'll guarantee tina,
you IL lind one of our men ready to vel
come you when you climb over the side
of the Golden Rod
The captain left to prepare the revenue
cutter FOR acton. Barnes and Clancy hur-
ried to the street and boarded a swift
electric car for Tompk. nsville. By the
time the chief had matured his plans
they were landed in the picturesque
staten Island town. The old man, who
Knew the place like a book, hurried to a
shop and purchased two second ham,
sailor suits. The obl.ging proprietor cheer
ltully permitted the two men to chang
their civilian clothing for the uniforms
and agreed to hold the discarded suits
subject to their orders.
The sight of the chief in a jaunty sailor
cap flied Clancy with mirth. Barnes was
too much iil.ed with the Importance of his
mission to see the humor of the situation.
ana, Ignoring Clancy's Mysteries. promptly
returned 10 the water front. A big black
huiied steamer lay out in the stream. 1t
was the Golden Rod. great clouds of dark
Vapor pouring out of its smoke stack. The
chief and his assistant strolled onto the
pier. n shabbiiy dressed, s.ockily built
man was there talking to n number of sea-
men who sat waiting in a. lifeboat. The
moment ha espied the two men he shouted
p~ccvishly:
Hey. there. were you, TWO fellows en-
gagged to g, on the Golden Eod?'
Aye. ave-. sir!' promptly responded the
mendacious Barnes. touching the fore
finger of his right hand TO his cap in true
nautical style.
We'll, Jump in them growlcd the mate.
for 1t wa John Polk to whom the mysteri-
Gus letter had been addressed. You're not
very punctual..'
Barnes and Clancy climbed down the
side of the wharf and seated themselves
in the boat. The mate followed. and four
OF the men seizing the oars, rowed rapidly
IN the direction of the steamer. During
the ride the chief had an opportunity of
scrutinizinG The men in the boat. There
were eight of them. and they looked lit for
any sort of enterprise. The mate stood up
IN The stern of the raft and directed the
movements of the oarsmen. They worked
vita such a vim that they were soon be-
meath the shadow of the tramp steamer.
IL IL few minutes they were all on the
'>'N W. NV 'iltltiI kNOI ana lIlt l1IttDOdt
had been hauled up and fastened in its
place. The mate. addressing the men col.
iectively. asked:
where's the captain?'
AT this Il loud voice broke out from the
companionway near the bow of the steamo
err. Barnes ooked in that direction, ant.
presently a great big head. ia.nned dowr.
between a pair of powerful shoulders,
emerged from the opening. The stock;s
MI r.pntF t.btrl ,aa,al d. l,-.- ~ So
in the back. was %deiiantly free of collar o:
tie. The sleepy eyes were half closed by
heavily furrowcd lids. while q stubby nose
sat mockingly over firmly shut lips, WHICH
N turn drew a straight cynical line above
n strong chin. The only sign of weakneis
In that brutally masculine countenaIs.,e
vas in the short. closely cropped sac
whiskers. which emphasized the disp ~
~port'onate ard r.d.cu!ously small ears on
each side of the mans face. Age and vice
nad combined reflorSelessly to trace iln-
drcds of tiny Wrinkles which crossed md
recrossed The weather beaten skin untt it
~rese!nbled a Two of delicate spr,nes.
He raised his arm and pulled off mis- 81 ouch
hat IN awkward fashion. displaying a
round skull covered with short cut gray
hair. The thumb of the right hanC. was
missing. and he hairy wrist gave HIN an
ihhuman-a scrilla-likc appearance.
1t was Captain Levi Cross. master Of the
Golden Rod.
Barnes was no coward. but his 'olstan-
taneous mental photograph sent , chill
quivering down his spinal colum. The
captains body followed his head .ntil he
stood on the deck facing the mate and his
eight recruits. The full length picture did
not improve the autocrat OF the Golden
Rod. Nature. which sometimes loves to
pie on the agony, had given him a long
body and short legs. He turned to the
mate shortly:
What made you late?'
ITS not Late cXpostulated Polk. pull
ing out an open faced watch the size of a
pancake. Its not 6 o'clock yet"
The master ignored the reply. He waved
the thumbless hand in the direction of the
forocastle.
Send those fellows below. We're going
10 get up steam and pull out of here in a
jiffy.'
Down they piled. like convicts going into
cells. Barnes paused on the first step of
the steep stairway and cast an anxious
glance across the horizon. His counte-
nance fell. The Albatross was not in
sight. He proceeded to the forward hold
OF the vessel, and the first objects that
greeted his eyes were the 100 casks of
mixed pickles. They were carefully slowed
away in the extreme corner of the bow. A
dirty paned Lantern hung from the ceiling
-" >"Se "i"" ISL uou liz apartment.
The men were told TO sleep in pairs. and
Clancy. who HAD ingenuity when occa-
sion required It. contrived thai he should
occupy the bunk with Barnes.
1t was a long hight. but by the time the
first min of daylight streaked the horizon
the chief and his assistant knew that the
men on the Golden Rod were fighters Of
fortune about 70 join the Cuban insur-
gents-for a consideration. The sorry look
ing recruits were scattered into uronns
Some talked in xnuffied undertones: others
pulled out packs of greasy cards and be-
gan to gamble. Barnes longed for q snifr
OF fresh mir. He crawled cautiously up to
the deck. His sirst look was for the Alba
tross. He strained his eyes. To his de-
light. he behe.d a tiny column Of white
smoke In the far distance. He looked