Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-03-06

Mexican cast lent itself well to sevil
looks. But Handy Solomon for the
first time In my acquaintance with
him was ridiculous.
About this time we crossed into fire.
Quent thunders. One evening just at
dark we made out heavy black
squall. Not knowing exactly what
weight lay behind 1t, called up all
hands. We ducked the staysail and
foresail, lowered the peak Of the main
sail and waited to feel of 1t, rough
and ready seamanship often used In
these little California wind tanners.
was pretty busy, but heard dis
tinctly Handy Solomon's voice behind
me:
"Tll kill you sure, you greaser, as
soon as my hands are free!'
And some muttered reply from the
Mexican.
The wind hit US hard, held on few
moments and moderated to stiff puff
There followed the rain, SO Of course
knew 1t would amount to nothing.
was just STOPPING to throw the stops
OF the staysail when I felt myself
seized from behind and forced rapidly
toward the side Of the ship.
OF course struggled. The Japa-
nese have little trick to fool man
who catches you around the waist
from behind. 1t is part of the jiu jitsu
taught the Samurai, quite different
proposition from the ordinary police
man jiu jitsu." l picked 1t up from
friend in tSe nobility. 1t came in very
handy now. and by good luck roll of
the ship helped me. In moment l
stood free, and Perdosa was picking
himself out Of the scuppers.
The expression of establishment was
fairly well done-I will say that for
him-but was prepared for histrion.
les.
"senor!' he gasped. ''Eet is you!
Sacrosantn Maria! thought you was
dat Solomon! Pardon me, senior! Par
don! Have I hurt your
He approached me almost wheedling.
could have laughed at the villain.
1t was all SO transparent. He no more
mistook me for Handy Solomon then
he felt any real enmity for that person.
But, being angry and perhaps little
scared, beat him to his quarters with
Delaying pin.
On thinking the matter over, how
ever, l failed to see all the ms and
outs Of 1t. could understand desire
to get rid of me. There would be one
less Of the afterguard, and then, too,
knew too much Of the mems senti-
ments If not of their plans. But why
all this elaborate farce Of the mock
quarrel and the alleged mistake?
Could It be to guard against possible
failure? I could hardly think 1t worth
while. My only theory was that they
had wished to test my strength and
determination. The whole affair, even
on that superstition, was childish
enough. but referred the exaggerated
cunning to Handy Solomon and con-
sidered 1t quite adequately explained.
1t Is minor point, but subsequently
learned that this surmise was cor
rect. was to be saved because none
of the conspirators understood naviga-
ton.
The next morning approached Cap
tain Selover.
Captain" said l, IT think 1t my
duty to report that there Is trouble
brewing among the crew."
"There always is" he replied, un-
moved.
"But this Is serious. DR.. Schermer-
horn came aboard with chest which
the men think hold treasure. The
other evening Robinson overheard him
tell his assistant that he could easily
fill the box with diamonds. OF course
he was merely Illustrating the value
of some scientific experiment, but Rob-
1nson thinks and has made the others
think that the chest contains some
thing to make diamonds with. l am
sure they intend to get hold of It.
The affair is coming to head"
Captain Sclover listened almost tn
differently.
II came back from the islands last
year" he piped, with 100000 worth
OF pearls. There was sixteen in the
crew, and every man OF them was
blood hungry for them pearls. They
had three or four shindies and killed
| one man over the proper way to divide
the loot after they had got 1t. They
didn't get 1t. Why" He drew his
powerful figure to Its height and
spread his thick arms out in the lux
ury Of stretching. "Why?" he repeat
cd, exhaling abruptly. Because their
captain was Ezra selover. Well, Mr..
Eagen," he went on crisply, Captain
Ezra Selover is their captain, and they
know 1t. They'll talk and palavet
and git into dark corners and sharpen
their knives and perhaps fight 1t out
as to which ones going to work the
monkey doodle business In the doc.
tors chest and which ones getna to-
tie UP the sacks Of them diamonds,
bbut they went git any farther as long
as Captain Ezra is on deck"
"Yes," / objected, "but they mean
| business. Last night IN the squat
one Of them tried to throw me over
board
Captain Selover grinned.
"What did you dor" he asked.
"Hazed him to his quarters with a
Delaying pin"
| well, that's all settled then, isn't
IT. What more do you want7"
stood undecided.
II can take care Of myself" he went
on. "You ought to take care Of your
self. Then there's nothing more to
do"