The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-25

Bovine laughed = little.
1T was mainly a freak" h explained
Shes a dead slow boat. and L want
to loaf around on the water for a week
or so That's ALL
'Well-you kin hay 2 the first mates
cabin. ! guess. We're doin without
one this run Yep. you can have that
all right. an I'll see shes fixed up
proper I'm. All right. mister"
He beckoned and steered for the after
cOmpanionway. and Bovine followed
with a sigh or relief.
Meanwhile, other people were circu-
hating about the Occident-
Among them were Walter Johnson
and Bill Durkin. taking = final smoke
IL the sharp air before retiring.
That the very evident pursuit Of the
Occident had created a certain amount
Of excitement goes without saying; yet
save for these two. the excitement was
extremely mild. The men who shipped
aboard the Occideut and her like have
a way Of becoming somewhat i@thargic
and a way of prefeTriug eep and
meals to OverstimulateG imaSinatiOns-
A torpedo boat shooting real JOrpedOes
or a battleship training twelve-inch
guns on the craft might have aroused
them to an interest in the getaway
problem. "A mere tug was nOthing-and
Walter Johnson and Bill DUTkin were
left alone TO watch the phenomenon.
They watched II with interest. They
watched until the b2arde- had boarded;
and they We're not r2ore than FIVE yards
from the captain ana his new passenger
while the interview progressed.
And very suddenly, as Bovine followed
the captain toward the lamp and the
! light shone fun upon his face, Durkiu
started violently and laid hand on
! Walters arm. with a whispered:
Come on below"
Why
: Il don't wanter see that guy; I mean
i don't want him 10 see me-
Why
J "Because-never mind why respond
( ed Bill DurIdn. Come on below, WaIcl'
Walt" obeyed somewhat wondering
; ". They steered straight forward and
down the companioEWay TO their owl
quarters; and there, 10 n chorus Of
| hearty shores. they sat down.
Mr. Johnson regarded his friend fo1
q time in admirtng silence. The latter
was busted with Untangling his shoe
| laces. Finally.
.'Whatd that Teller ever do to you
/ Riu?" asked Mr.. Johnson.
| Huh"
! rs there any trouble between yol
/ two?" Mr.. Johnson asked humbly. III
20 up an paste him in the eve, II vol
/ say so. Bill. You're my friend, and
wsnter be yours"
Mr.. Durkin paused at his task an,
grinned almost affectionateiy at his new
friend
1T amt nothing. sonny" he sat
| Him an me had an argument. and
| amt anxious to start f. UP ueW-that
all"
Yeah" responded the smaller man
wei. II you wanter have ne Civ
him couple O good ones in the sIat
! kin do il, Bill You've been darue,
good L me on this Heal, and I vante
square #"
"Aw, cut IL. kid!' responded Mr.. Dur
kin. as the lace Ioosened. IT ain
nothin"
They turned in shortly after that
They sleT: soundIy. too. and when the
awakened there was a cheerful da
ahead-nothine to do ur'f they doctei
at Portland. and r-obabl nothing then
They ate again, this time somewha
on the pres Tibad order. for there wa
bacon galore and plenty OF grease. The
were sent below TO trim what there wa
OF an extremely insignificant cargo.
Still later. they came To the nidda
meal and passed II and went 10 wor
! again below, almost drowel!y.
And with the tate afternoon they b
gan 10 pass islands and beautiful shore
and excursion boats and all the rest
and two or three miles ahead lay Port
| land.
a long spell OF steaming about an
talking through megaphones, and It b,
came apparent that docking privilege
/ were not for the '-Occident" until III
following morning, when auoth,
freighter pulled out With more or les
ceremony the anchors were IoWerpt
] some twenty yards of shore-and uigf
proceeded 20 settle down with It's a,
customed regularity.
Mr.. ThOrne. second mate. circulate