Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-08-26

collected them and, returning to mis-
berth, dressed at leisure, thinking
heavily, dissruntled-in a humor as
evil as the after taste Of bad brandy
in his mouth. He had slept away
some eighteen or twenty hours. He
felt stronger now and bright enough
and enormously hungry into the bar
gain.
Abstractedly, needless of the fact
that his tobacco would be water
soaked and ruined. he fumbled in his
pockets for pipe and pouch, thinking
to soothe the pangs of hunger against
breakfast time. His pockets were
empty-every n of them. He as
simulated this discovery in patience
and cast an eye about the room. to
locate. if possible. the missing prop
erty. But naught of his was visible.
So he rose md began a more palms.
taking search.
The cabin was at once tiny, low
ceiled and depressingly gloomy. Its
furniture consisted entirely in a chair
or two, supplementing the transoms
and lockers as resting places, and a
center table covered With a cloth of
turkey red. whose original aggressive
ness had been darkly moderated by
fhations Of liquids, principally black
coffee and burnt offerings of grease
Il tobacco ash. Eight bells sounded,
and. from the comlnotion overhead, tho
watch changed. y little later the COM
panionWay door slammed open and
shut, and Captain Stryker fell down,
rather than descended, the steps.
Without attention to the American
he rolled into the mates room and
reused that parsonage. Kirkwood heard
that the name OF the second in COM
mand was 'Obbs, as we'll as that he
occupied the starboard stateroom aft.
After a brief exchange of comment
and instruction Mr.. 'Obbs appeared i'll
the shape of a walking pillar Of oil
skins. capped by a sou'wester, and
went on deck. Stryker, following him
out Of the stateroom. shed his own oil
ers in a clammy heap upon the floor,
opened a locker, from which he brought
forth a bottle n a dirty glass. and,
turning toward the table, for the first
time became sensible Of Kirkwood's
presence.
low, there you are, eigh, little bright
eyes" he exclaimed, with surprised an
imation.
Good >morning, Captain Stryker,"
said Kirkwood, rising. 81 want to tell
YOU
But Stryker waved one great red
paw impatiently, with the effect of
sweeping aside and casting into the
discard Kirkwood's intended speech Of
thanks. Nor would he hear him further.
did you ave a nice little nap?" he
interrupted. Come up bright an
smilin', eigh? Now 1 guess"-the en-
phasis made it clear that the captain
believed himself to be employing an
Americanism, and so successful was
he in his W esteem that he could not
resist the temptation to improve upon
the imitation-"na-ow 1 guess yeou're
abaout right ready, bent We, to hev a
drink, sonny"
mo, thank you,' said Kirkwood,
smiling tolerantly. give got any
amount Of Appetite"
cave you, now?" Shryker dropped
his mimicry and glanced at the clock.
breakfast" he announced, will be
served in the myne dinin' saloon at
eight a. m. Passengers is requested
not to be lyte at tyble."
Depositing the bottle on the said ta-
BILE, the captain searched until he
found another glass for Kirkwood and
sat down.
DO you good" he i%nsinuated, push
ing the bottle gently over.
: mo, thank you,' reiterated Kirk
wood shortly, a little annoyed.
Stryker seized his own glass, poured
out a strong mans dose of the ierv
connection. gulped it down and sighed.
Then, with a glance at the Americans
w%oebegone countenance, he filled his
pipe.
The fumes of burning shay sharp
ened the tooth of desire. Kirkwood
stood it as long as he could, then sur
rendered with an eff you've got any
more of that tobacco. captain. I'd be
glad Of a pipe"
An intensely contemDlative express |
sion crept into the captains small blue |
eyes.
II only got one other pyper of this
ERE 'baccy," he announced at length,
IAN l carn't get no more till 1 gets
'ome. l simply couldn't part with it
hunder 'arf a quid."
Kirkwood settled back with a hope
less lift of his shoulders. Abstractedly
Stryker puffed the smoke his way
until he could endure the deprivation
no longer.
81 had about 10 shillings in my
pocket when l came aboard, captain,
and a few other articles
low, yes: so you lad. now you men
ton It."
Stryker rose. ambled into his room
and returned with Kirkwood's possess
sions and a fresh paper Of shay.
While the young man was hastily I'LL
ing. lighting and inhaling the first
strangling but delectable Whit the
captain solemnly counted into his own
\ ~ A. /