Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-02

Miss Maxwell. Now, If l had been
among the pirates I'd have taken you.
with me-"
"Do you mean to say that you are
actually paying me COMPLIMENTS said
she.
cam I? Huh-didn't mean it. I'm
an old married man. But pirates, espe
cially Spanish ones. are supposed to be
very handy with knives an other fell
lows girls"
"You see they did not consider me
prize"
'The rascals! Good job you missed
that boat. Christobal has been tellin'
me all about it. They've gone under"
do you really think SOL"
"Can't see any chance for them. Miss
Maxwell"
"But we are almost as badly situated
| hereY"
"Huh-not a bit of 1t. Lucky chap,
Courtenay. He couldn't lose ship If
he tried. Shed follow him cross coun.
try like that pup. Look at me; lost
| three. all brand new from the build
ers. So I'm, first mate. an first mate
I'll remain till my ticket gives OUT
why do you consider Captain Cour
tenay SO fortunateT asked Elsie. flush
ing somewhat at the guile which lay
behind the question.
Huh" snorted Boyle. amazed that
even a slip, of girl should need in.
forming on so obvious fact. Don't
you call it luck to be given command
Of q ship like the Kansas at his age
an to get $500 an gold chronometer
because the skipper of the Florida was
| too full to hold on to the bridge? You
mark my words. he'll be made com
modore of the fleet after he pulls the
Kansas out of this mess"
what happened TO the Florida?'
Haven't you heard that yarn? Bless
my soul, she was our crack ship. She
broke her shaft in gale. an the
/ skipper was washed overboard-you
always tell lies about deaders. you
know-so A. G. just waded in an
saved the whole outfit. passengers an
/ ALL" t.ssf H. -1t ~
,''But he has had reverses too He
was in the royal navy. l have been
! told, and he had to give itsup because
hislpeopie"- - a., 81
"More luck. The royal navyl Huh
etaii gold braid an buy your own Wit,
tails. There's no money in that game. .
"Money is not everything In the
! world. A mans career may be more
to him than the mere monetary aspect
of it."
IF ever you meet my missus you'll
hear the other side of the question,
Miss Maxwell. S'posin' Courtenay was
in the navy an had wife an family
to keep. could he do 1t on his pay!
Not he. AS it is. he's sure to marry q
girl with pile an wind up managin
owner"
Perhaps he is engaged to some such
young lady already?
Haven't heard so. You may be sure
there's one waitin' for him somewhere
know. There's no dodgin' luck, good
or bad. I thought it was goin' to be
that friend of yours, but she's off the
register. poor lass There! l didn't
mean that. I'm an idiot, for sure
You see, don't talk much. as rule
Miss Maxwell, or should know better
than to chin-wag like blaxin'-huh
like a babblin' fool"
Elsie turned her face aside when he
mentioned Isobel. 1t seemed to hei
sensitive soul an almost unfair thing
that she should be gossiping about
trivialities when the girl who had
commenced this unlucky voyage In
such high spirits was lying beneath
that grim sea behind the smiling head
land. Yet she knew that Boyle meant
J no harm by his chatter. He was weak
from his wound and perhaps a trif1e
} light headed as the result of being
J brought from the stuffy salon to tht
larry and sunlit chart room. So sht
crushed a sorrow that was unavailine
and strove to put the sailor at his
ease again.
81 do not find any harm in your re
mark" she said resolutely. Were Il
possible should have been very pleas
ed to see Miss Barring married to 9
man of strong character like Captain
Courtenay. By the way, who is keep
ling watch on deckT
.srhe doctor was here with me unit
, !, a few minutes ago. Then the skipper
: telephoned him. guess there is some
: lone on the lookout, but you might JUS
cast an eye shoreward. I'm not sup
: tposed to move yet"
He wriggied uneasiiy in his chair
t. for the spirit was willing, but Elsie
!, made him lie quiet. She rearranged
his pillow and stepped on to the bridge
: BY walking from port to starboard
and traversing the short length of the
! spar deck she could command a view
efof the bay and Of most parts of the
ship. She heard the dog scuttling dowr
the companion. On reaching the aftel
} rail she saw the captain engaged n
earnest. low toned conversation with
: Tollemache and Walker. They wer
standing on the main deck near th
, engine room door and examining some
, thing which resembled lump of coal
, She saw the engineer take three simi
lar humps from pocket.
Christobal appeared, carrying buck
!, ct Of water, into which the Jumps wer
! placed BY Walker. who handled then