The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-08-08

I ooSp zap Sdld III lciiS man do II
dallied with his last strawberry tartle
!, isn't 1T SO that you've got his fin
4 steamboat of yours ballasted wit
l sovereigns?"
It's So" said Kettle, cor somethin
/. very like that"
, Your OWN"
!, "Oh, Lord, 10. Just freight consign
ed to New Orleans II brought her
by that biowup l was telling you abou
i suppose that you gentlemenll have n
objection to bearing a and aboard ON
now o are here? I'm a bit short man
ned, and it'd be a pity to let freigh
like that rust for want of lingering"
Hank grtnned at his vis-a-vis an,
then turned to the little skipper in tn
swivel chair. NO" he said, II don
see there's anything wrong with thai
but I'm afraid if we clipped in w,
couldn't 4 on SO far as Moo Orleans.
New Orleans be sugared!" criet
Captain Kettle. Haven't l spoke pIail
enough already? Don't you under.
stand all this racket's a blessed swindle'
The steamers going to nave the namt
plate on her engine altered, n the
label on her stern changed, and a diff.
ferent pattern painted on her smoke
stacks. and a coat of gray clapped or
her outside. And then-then, wher
she's so bedeviled her own builder
wouldn't know her. We'll 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'l be struck out of her
here"
You bet" said Mutt, rubbing his
hands. We'll corral the dollars for
you right here till you come back. You
shall have our niggers to s--stoke for
you II you can get EN- and can manage
en-. But they're fair toughs. Perhaps
you'd W-W-eaken when you came to
know 'em a Bit"
To handle" retorted 1-ettle, "a crew
OF old Nick's iremen raw out of the
pit If | was put to 1t. 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
blow at the table, by James I'd handle
you. Mr.. Mutt If you were signed on
board O. me till you couldn't call your
soul your own
You'd w-w-which?" snarled Mutt.
rising in his chair.
Sit, you swi >" said his partner,
"and be quiet. You tire me. What are
you riling the gentleman for just when
we We're getting SO nice n friendly
with him?"
You femme %alone.."
TN smash your ugly little face in if
you don't keep it shut"
The one eyed man tried to retort, but
his infrmity gagged him, and a spasm
of wild fury bit into all his muscles.
His friend waved a d risive finger.
"Thera's IN image for you, cap. Look
at the creature, froze like a Chinese pet
dog. Look at him and CONT laugh.
And, say, jutt reach me another bottle
of that wine: it will be so good-thanks,
stree. I wouldn't care if 1 died drinking
this. Here's our blessed health. Good
old cap! You stick to me, and I'll stick
to you, n IL Mr.. Billy Mutt can
swallow his tantrums and join us two
gentlemen like another gentleman, by
JelniIma, we'll give him what he's got
for his share n set adrift in an
emoty bottle. You hear me. Billy
Nutt?'
You spup-luttering fool! You boosey
drunken putty head"
Tn not drunk" retorted Hank, "but
I'm merry. Have q sup yourself, and
then perhaps you'll be better company"
with which advise a liberal heel tap
of champagne splashed Insults face.
The man sprane to his feet. glowing
like a tiend. What followed was COM
pleted before a watch could tick twice,
For once the gift Of speech did not de-
sert him. The fatal words bounced
glibly off his tongue, and Hanks venge-
ful hands shot U In an instant the
scooping thumb did its horrid work.
Then tearing himself away, eyeless. the
lesser mar ran screaming blindly into
the ~sideboard at the other side of the
cabin. His friend pitched stiffy for
ward. and fell a c downward among
the dishes lying there without so much
as @ CULVER. He was stone dead. with
the black handled knife that carved
their baking of pork Mutt had Stable
him from the shoulder down through
his heart.
That saves my cartridges" said
20 ntnfn IYnttla $50 ~ SO,
revolver from where 1t lodged between
his knee and the under side Of the ta-
BILE.
He passed swiftly out through the
pantry door and was just in time for
what he expected. The negroes,
alarmed by Nuts sh.leks, We're rush
ing from the messroom to see what
had gone wrong. He charged and drove
them furiously back. They turned and
ran before him, tumbling over one an.
other in their scared haste. and then
he o up his place in the doorway,
threatening them with steady Weapon
and crisp, decisive tongue.
Quick" he cried. quick, you scum.
unload yourselves. Pitch overheard
your knives and razors and whatever
you've got, OF. by James, If a man Of
you stops to think. I'll blow his brains
through the portfolio
The negroes obeyed him in sullen,
g iAClAGd SllSAlC0 dl0 SlOOQ WITH eli
bows up facing him as he covered
them. Kettle watched the three with
steady " but his ear was cooked
down the passage drinking in every
rustle which came from the place he
had left.
The shrieking OF the eyeless man III
the cabin had given way to groans. and
then there came the sound of bumps
and scratchings. as though he were
laundering madly about to find some
thing. and thor the pattering OF naked
feet as he CROPPED his way nnthe lead
covered steps OF ths cornpanionway. SO
intently did they follow this one mans
movements that 1t seemed to them as
though all other sounds were hushed.
even TO the ceasing hum of the
insects.
With awe the listeners held their
breath for what might come next. But
they had not long to wait. There burst
out q wild TRADE OF hate and BIAS
Ephemy. which ended In a shrieking cry
OF despair mi q heavy plunging splash,
and once more the distant noises OF the
night closed down upon them.
Mutt" said Captain Kettle. SIS DEED,
and Pm almost scrry.I believe / ccnia
have liked that man. He'd grit In him,
had Mutt. n he wouldn't take cheek
from 9 living soul Your other boss