Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1908-02-28
'.Me and the mate and the cook and
four hanils.n

mo, MOI! cried the doctor, with
some haste, "this ISIS well! Somebody
might oferhear."
The huge figure stirred into an atti
tude Of close attention. After pause
the falsetto asked deliberately:
sWhere we goin'?"
81 brefer not to say"
"H'm! How long a cruiser
II want to rent your schooner and
your crew as long as I please to re-
MAN."
"H'm! How longs that likely to
beW
maybe a few months; maybe sefer.
al years."
"H'm! Unknown port; unknown
cruise. See here, anything crooked in
this?"
mo. no! Not at all! 1t iss simply
business of my own"
"Not that I care" commented the
other easily, "only risks is worth pay.
ing for"
'There shall not be risk"
"Pearls likely" hazarded the other
without much heed to the assurance
'Them Jap gunboats is getting pretty
hard to dodge Of late years. However
I've lodged 'em before"
"Now as to pay - how mooch ISIS
your boat worth?"
I could almost follow the mans
thoughts as he pondered how much
he dared ask.
"Well, you see, for a proposition like
that-don't know where we're going
when we're going to get back, and
them gunboats-how would a hundred
and twenty-five month strike you"
Double it up. want you to do ass
I say, and will also give your crew
double wages. Bud I want goot men
who will stay and who will keep the
mouth shut"
"Gosh all fishhooks! They'd go to
hell with you for that~
'Now you can get all you want of
Adams & Marsh. Tell them it ISIS fol
me. Provisions for three years any.
how. Be ready to sail tomorrow"
''Tide turns at 8 in the evening"
II will send some effects in the morn.
ing"
The master hesitated.
THAT'S all right, doctor, but how dc
I know it's all right? Maybe by morn
ing you'll change your mind"
'That cannot be. My plans are alp
''It's the usual thing to pay some
thing
Zach, but yes. I hat forgot. Oar
row told me. Twill make you check
Let us go to the table of which YOU
spoke"
They moved away, still talking.
did not dare follow them into the light
for I feared that the doctor woulf
recognize me. I'd have given my eys
teeth, though, to have gathered til,
name Of the schooner or that Of hel
master. AS it was, hung around un
til the two had emerged from the cor
ner saloon. They paused outside, still
talking earnestly. I ventured hasty
interview with the barkeeper.
did you notice the two men wht
were sitting at the middle tablet"
asked him.
"Sure" said he, showing me my glas.
of beer.
"Know them?" inquired.
"Never laid eyes on 'em before. Ole
chap looked like sort Of corn doctor
or corner spellbinder. Other was prob
ably one Of these longshore abalOn,
men,"
Thanks" muttered and dodget
out again, leaving the beer untouched
I cursed myself for a blunderer
When got to the street the two mel
had disappeared. I should have shad
owed the captain to his vessel.
The affair interested me greatly
Apparently DR.. Schermerhorn wa
about to go on a long voyage. pridet
myself on being fairly up to date il
regard to the plans Of those who in
terested the public, and the public a
that time was vastly interested in Dr.
Schermerhorn. 1, in common with tn
rest Of the world, had imagined hin
anchored safely in Philadelphia, i'm
mersed in chemical research. Here b
bobbed up at the other end Of the con
tinent, making shady bargains witt
obscure shipping captains and payin
a big premium for absolute secrecy
1t looked good.
Accordingly was out early the mex
morning. 1 had not much to 60 by
Schooners are as plentiful as tadpole
in San Francisco harbor. However
I was sure I could easily recogniz
that falsetto voice, and knew wher
the supplies were to be purchased
Adams 6 Marsh are large firm an
cautious. l knew better than to max
direct inquiries or to appear in tn
salesroom. But by hanging around th
door of the shipping room soon ha
track of the large orders to be sen
that day. In this manner I had n
great difficulty in following truck t
pier 10 nor to identify a consignment
to Captain Ezra Selover as probabl
that of which was in search.
The mate was in charge Of the stow
age, so 1 could not be quite sure. Herr
however, was a schooner-of abor
$50 tons burden. looked her over.
You're all acquainted with til
Laughing Lass and the perfection c
her lines. You have not known he
under Captain Ezra Selover. She wa
the cleanest ship l ever saw. Don
know how he accomplished it, with
crew of four and the cook, but he dit
The deck looked as though it ha
been holystoned every morning by
crew of jackies. The stays were WIFI
ped and tarred, the mast new slushe
and every foot of running gear cole
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