Arizona republican., 1908-01-19
By
Earl Derr Bigg;ers

Your wife can't follow you here" I says. "al' can't listen to this cornmoton much longer an stay in my right mind. Why not7stop an put these women ashore in boat They can walk b=cl to Grin2ost before midnight"
 George said it was the best plan an be told the ladies so As he linn' up the wee2n' crowd ready to lower into the ships boat his generosity to the front again.
 I've caused you some inconvenience, ladies', he says. mo. you can't deny it-dont try. So I'm soin to make each one O you nice little present. With each lady put ashore goes O our latest-model. lght-runnin sewin' machines When I'm far away an I'll be as far away I get, you can bet on that" he says thinkin O his wife. you can look at the machines an remember George Barber, the that carried you away by accident-"
 Cut it out" says the butchers wife; tits gettin' late"
 So the crew put 'em ashore in the boat an fol- lowed em with five O best machines. They made pretty picture standn' the sand, each one beside a sewin'machne an utterin' female curses on Georges head. We steamed away, an George said it almost broke his heart to leave 'em But reminded him Q his wife, an he was comforted.>
 We'd gone about a quarter O mile when George rushin' to me. glass in his hand Peter" be says bad luck don't come single. They've got us now. my name ain't George Barber"
 Who's got us?" asked, "the ladies?'
 "The law" whispers George in hosrse tones "the law" An he points with shakin' finger toward . cutter speedn' along through the dusk. blow ing bushels O smoke from its tunnels, an thrown' its searchlight like evil eye. over the waters.
 Its been nothin' but trouble trouble says George sadly lever since took charge O these blamed chimes. An it's six years hard labor fer all He fell machine an instead O swearin. stops think. "Theys way out," he says excited like; "they's one way to save us yet" An he picks up a machine an throws it overheard. Call the crew. he shouts; this is the only way" We all got to work not relishng Georges picture O prison stripes an pretty we'd thrown hundred and twelve perfectly good sewinmachines into the deep blue
 The cutter comes nearer an nearer George finds it harder an harder breathe. Then she turns her light on us fer a second-just contemptuous glance in passin'-an' flashes by.
 Georges face was a sight to see, even in the dusk
 They never stopped" he says softly; they never stopped"
 That's clear" says I; they went by
 Fifty thousand dollars worth O sewin'machines," he murmurs, thrown to the mermaids."
 "Its shame" says I; but the mermads need"
 "A third O the money mine" he goes on, "an' citabe general watin' in South America fer his share'
 Whats the answer?" I says.
 We steamed on southward, sad lot. I asked to be put ashore here at New York; an George gave in against his will When I said good-by he told me his plan. He was goin' to show the general the newspaper clippings about how the police our track. '"The story of brave fight, have thought it out, says George "is touchin' For a hundred miles raced the fastest revenue cutter in America Brought to bay at last, we forced to throw overheard treasure, in order to save our lives All is lost my dear general, saTe honor an the yacht"
 'I hope he'll be good to you" zl:-s "as go7t a7 you deserve. Good-by. Good-by, George. I hate to