Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-21

WhCA WIG SOAES " get UdCk, anu
them gunboats-how would hundred
and twenty-five month strike you9
Double 1t 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 60 to
hell with you for thatp'
Now you can get all you want Of
Adams & Marsh. Tell them 1t ISIS for
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 do
know It's all right7 Maybe by morn
Ing you'll change your mind"
THAT cannot be. My plans are air.
TITS the usual thing to pay some.
thing
ZACH, but yes. hat forgot. OAR
row told me. will make you check
Let us go to the table of which you
spoke"
They moved away, still talking. i
did not dare follow them into the light,
for feared that the doctor would
recognize me. I'd have given my eye
teeth, though. to have gathered the
name of the schooner or that of her
master. AS 1t was, hung around I'M
til the two had emerged from the cor
ner saloon. They paused outside, still
talking earnestly. yentured hasty
Interview with the barkeeper.
did you notice the two men who
were sitting at the middle table?" j
asked him.
"sure!' said he, showing me my glass
Of beer.
Know them?" inquired.
Never laid eyes on 'em before. Old
chap looked like sort of corn doctor
or corner spellbinder. Other was prob
ably one of these longshore abalone
men,"
Thanks" l muttered and lodged
out again, leaving the beer untouched
I cursed myself for a blunderer.
When got to the street the two men
had disappeared. I should have shad-
owed the captain to his vessel.
The affair interested me greatly.
Apparently DR.. Schermerhorn was
about to so on long voyage. prided
myself on being fairly up to date In
regard to the plans Of those who In.
terested the public, and the public at
that time was vastly Interested In DR..
6chermerhorn. I. In common with the
rest OF the world, had Imagined him
anchored safely In Philadelphia, i'm
mersed In chemical research Here he
bobbed up at the other end Of the con-
tinent, making shady bargains with
obscure shipping captains and paying
q big premium for absolute secrecy.
It looked good
Accordingly was out early the next
morning. had not much to 70 by.
Schooners are as plentiful as tadpoles
IN San Francisco harbor. However,
was sure could easily recognize
that falsetto voice. and knew where
the supplies were to be purchased.
Adams & Marsh are large firm and
cautious. I knew better than to make
direct inquiries or (. to appear in the
salesroom. But by hanging around the
door of the shipping room soon had
track of the large orders to be sent
that day. In this manner had no
great difficulty in following truck to
pier 10 nor to identify consignment
to Captain Ezra Selover as probably
that OF which was In search.
The mate was In charge Of the stow
age, SO | could not be quite sure. Here,
however. was a schooner-of about
100 tons burden. looked her over.
You're all acquainted with the
Laughing Lass and the perfection of
her lines. You have not known her
under Captain Ezra Selover. She was
the cleanest ship ever saw. Don't
know how he accomplished 1t, with a
crew Of four and the cook, but he did.
The deck looked as though It had
been holystoned every morning by a
crew of jackies. The stays Were whip
ped and tarred, the mast new slushed
and every foot Of running gear coilsd'
down shipshape and Bristol fashion.
There was a good deal OF. brass lab bout
her. 1t shone like gold, and 1 don't
believe she owned an inch Of paint
that wasn't either fresh or new scrub
bed.
gazed for some time at this marvel.
It's unusual enough anywhere. hui
aboard California hooker ii Is little
short ne miro InlbilSi M. ro,,,,, ,,o.1 III
turned up apparently, and swarm
OF steyedores We're hustling every sort
OF provisions, supplies, stock, spars,
| Tines and canvas down into the Aala.
Twas a rush job, and that mate was
having his hands full I didn't wonder
at his Language nor at his looks, both
qf which were somewhat mpssed pp.
Then almost at my elbow heard that
shrill falsetto saueal and turned just
in time to see the captain ascend the
after gangplank.
He was probably the nest dishereled
and untidy man ever laid my eyes
on. His hair and beard were not only
long. but tangled and unkempt and
grew so far toward each other as bare
| ~ to expose a strip Of dirty brown
skin. His shoulders were bowed and
!, enormous His arms hung like goril-
las. palms turned Slightly outward.
On his head was jammed linen heat
ing hat that had once been white.
Gaping away from his hairy chest was
q faded dingy checked cotton shirt
that had once been brown and white.
His blue trousers ware spotted and
splashed with dusty stains He was