The Washington times., 1908-12-12
CHAPTER III.
ONE TALE AND SEVERAL TELE-
GRAMS.

ONE TALE AND SEVERAL TELE-
GRAMS.
kLO ONE on" the old man i'm
portuned. gripping Jim By
the wrist and striving to
drag him along. "Coms on,
and I'll show ye the proofs OF what III
telling ye-"
But Jim held back with a glance at
his stockinged feet.
NO, no." he demurred. jocular1y.
Everything in order. and my busi-
ness comes first. I'll not be going any
where until I've made that trade I was
speaking to you about"
"Oh, II that's all that's holdin' We"
Quick as a wink the old man kicked
off hts slippers and began inserting his
feet nto the patent feathers
We'll. blow RE cold" he calculated
as he finished fastening them up and
surveyed the result with undenlable ad-
miration. they TT Ike they was made
for me ShipmCse. it begins 70 look
Ike this here speaIkin' OF each other
was intended for US never had a
more comfortable pair Of bottoms IN
der me IN my life"
Nor was Harrison less satisfied with
his end Of the bargain The slippers
were soft, ard warm. and roomy-a
veritable godsend to him in his shoe
less plight
With his toes smuggling into their
wide recesses and their stout soles
shielding him from the cold earth and
h1-1ising pebbles he felt like a different
being. Resolution returned TO him. ami
nation. all the zest Of life.
Come on with me-" urged the OLD
man persistently, and Jim, after q few
incidental protests. sssented-
He took but little stock IN the fan
tastic claims OF the old mariner-for
srfch was evidently the calling OF his
new acquaintance-but even 20 the
most stolid OF US there is a certain
lure IN the very name OF buried
treasure" and since he was not Sleepy
ne thought he might as Wen see what
his compa Mon had to offer.
At the east the affair promised a
spice OF adventure, and certainly so
small a concession was no more than
due to the man who had returned his
pocketbook
So ne followed his guide up the hill
by Giants tomb, and down a steep,
crooked path on the other side, until
passing under the dark arches Of the
lofty viaduct, and sEirting the ferry
house and steamboat piers. they finally
came out on long coal dock project
ing into the black waters OF the river.
Here. the captain-Ezra Carman. one
time master OF the brig Tarantula. he
had announced himself upon the way
paused. and pointing down to a non
descript rowboat, something IN shape
like half a dory. tied up to one OF the
piles, motioned Jim to get IN.
Where away2" questioned Harrison.
hesitating a trife as ne glanced At the
dark river, the lonely pier. and the not
altogether reassuring figure Of his COM
panion.
To my boat anchored over yonder
on the Jersey shore with a wave of
the arm toward the somber. uplifted
line OF the Palisades. What are Won
waiting for7 Amt afraid. are vou7
Why, man. II I'd meant you any harm.
wouldn't have given back your wallet.
would u"
This was so manifestIy true that Jim.
ashamed Of his momentary fears
scrambled into the boat without furth-
er demur, and IN a moment more thew
were out in the channel with the can
tain pulling steadily away at the oars
On the way across Harrison gath
cred from the jerizy, disconnected re-
marks the other let fall that the old
fellow made his home upon the boat
but that recently he had spent quite a
spell in St Luze's Hospital for some
ailment he did not mention.
Moreover, il was evident that he was
still under treatment, for he explained
that his mission out tonight had been
to consult with his doctor and get a
bottle of medicine
''Consarn their darned phvSic
though he grumbled. What I really
need is to get out to sea. and smell
the salt again. II I was Just headed
for the Malay Archipelago-r
He halted with a quick glance of
suspicion at his companion. and finished
lamely: -or-or some other place. ia
be al right
''wel. why don't you go?' returned
Jim. discreetly taking no notice Of the
slip You've got your ship, haven't
you2"
AYE, that's just the trouble" growl-
ed the other. I've got my ship. and yet
haven't got her, too. You see. COM
Tade, this doctor n an hospitals an
one thing an ano-her costs money, an
I've had TO slap a mortgage on her,
which don't permit her to be moved.
If it wasn't for that 1t d be up anchor