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

Adams & Marsh. Tell them it iss 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
1 know it's all right? Maybe by morn
ing you'll change your mind"
THAT cannot be. My plans are all
ITS the usual thing to pay some
thing
"Ach. but yes. I 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.
did not dare follow them into the light,
for l 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 it was, hung around I'M
til the two had emerged from the cor
ner saloon. They paused outside, still
talking earnestly. 1 ventured a hasty
interview with the barkeeper.
did you notice the two men who
were sitting at the middle tablet" l
asked him.
Sure" said he. showing me my glass
of beer.
know them?" I inquired.
"Never laid eyes on 'em before. Old
chap looked like a sort of corn doctor
or corner spellbinder. Other was prob
ably one of these longshore abalOne
men"
Thanks" 1 muttered and lodged
out again. leaving the beer untouched.
I cursed myself for Il blunderer.
When l 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 go on long voyage. l prided
myself on being fairly up to date i'll
regard to the plans of those who in
terested the public. and the public at
that time was vastly interested in DR..
Schermerhorn. |, 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
| big premium for absolute secrecy.
! 1t looked good.
| Accordingly I was out early the next
morning. | had not much to go by
( SchoOners are rs 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 a large firm and
| cautious. l knew better than to make
| direct inquiries or to appear in the
! salesroOm. But by hanging around the
door Of the shipping room l soon ha6
! track of the large orders to be sem
! that day. In this manner l had ne
great difficulty in following n truck t.
I pier 10 nor to identify n consignment
to Captain Ezra Selpyer as probably
! that of which / was in search.
The mate was in charge of the stow
( age, so l could not be quite sure. Here
however, was schoOner-of abou
$50 tons burden. 1 looked her over.
You're all acquainted with tn,
Laughing Lass and the perfection OF
/ her lines. You have not known hel
under Captain Ezra SelOver She W.:
the cleanest ship I ever saw. Don
know how he accomplished it, with ;
! crew of four and the cook. but he did
| The deck looked as though it haC
been hOlystoned every morning by {
| crew of jackies. The stays were whip
ped and tarred. the mast new SluSheC
and every foot of running gear coilet
down shipshape and Bristol fashion
There was Il good deal of brass about
her 1t shone like gold. and l dom
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, bu
aboard Il California hooker it is little
short of miraculous. The crew had al
turned up apparently and a swarm
of stevedOres were huStling every sor
of provisions. supplies, stock, Spars
lines and canvas down into the hold
1t was a rush job. and that mate wa
having his hands full ! didn't wonde
at his language nor at his looks, boti
of which We're somewhat muSSed up
Then almost at my elbow l heard tina
shriII falsetto squeal and turned jus
in time to see the captain ascend til
after gangplank.
lie was probably the most dishevele'
and untidy man ever laid my eye
on. His hair and beard were not onl
long, but tangled and unkempt an
grew so far toward each other as bare
ly to expose a strip of dirty brow
skin His shoulders were bowed an
enormous His arms hung like gori
las. palms turned Slightly outward
On his head was iammed linen boat
ing hat that had once been white
Gaping away from his hairy chest wa
faded dingy checked cotton Shil
that had once been brown and whit,
His blue trousers were spotted an
splaShed with dusty stains. He wa