The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-06


~ corted her to her door. Then he said: Il
will send you your letters and gifts to-mor-
row. Mabel. Goodby"
There relentng in her manner. She an
swered the goodby, and went in.
Howard dismissed his machine for the night and
walked down the street in frame OF mind he had
never known before; to it he stopped at the
first cafe. He felt better after few moments and
at the next cafe the relief still apparent but
shorter.lived. While here he scanned himself full
length in mirror. Efeminate, she had Judged him?
Was he? He was an athlete and he some six feet
OF good looks and muscular development. His
eyes were blue. his hair fair and curly his skin
pink as girls Did these attributes constitute
efeminacy?
Pm man. il I'm anything" He went on with her
indictment. Weak, lazy. selfish heartless He was
not SO fortunate in rebuttal. He had never worked
because he had needed to. Weak and lazy?
Perhaps. Things had come to him without effort
He had not even tried very hard to win her regard
What he had received Of it had come easily Selfish
and heartless? He had not so considered himself
No man had so Judged him. This a woman's
verdict. Was she right? He took another drink
but this being the third. it brought relief, only
an aggravation OF his mood.
He strolled into Broadway, boarded a trolley car
and here found jolly party of summers bound for
Chinatown. He knew them. and went along with
snV his Dutch courage" to keep him in spirit This
left him before plate of chop suey and, unable to
get liquor in the place, quit the party to find it.
He wandered east stopping at one dingy dive after
another, and what he absorbed rendered him ut
remembered
was in Cherry Street where his evening clothes made
no little sensation among the loungers, and his
remembrance of waking In a apartment
lined with hunks. in one of which ne lying
and listening to the profane shouts OF men without.
He was aboard Ship
He rolled out with an involuntary groan, for at
the first movement his head ached. He dressed,
he learned but in tarry. greasy rags. And in the
bunk was a canvas bag of other rags, and cap,
which he appropriated. Stepping deck he
found the vesse-a large square-rigged craft-at
anchor with men aloft bending the canvas Near
the windlass, looking upward and Gliding the work
ers after the gentle manner Of the sea- was TALL
trucuent Individual with red beard, who noticed
Howard as he approached.
WELL" he remarked quietly you biliouslookng
counter-jumper! Haye you turned out? Get up
aloft there. and help bend that topsail."
"Why should II" answered Howard Indignantly.
'What am doing here, anyhow"
what are you doing?" queried the mate-for
Howard learned his status you're doing moth
ing at present, but, by Gawd. you'll do something
pretty Lay aloft, you dog.
He bounced upon Howard, but suddenly
shot back by the impulse of Howard's fist. Arising
from the deck with furious mprecation he plunged
his hand into his pocket and withdrew it brass
shod; then the combat renewed. Howard
fought cooy, intelligently and with all the skill
quired in his athletic training; but skill and inte
gence of little avail against brass knuckes An
accidental slip on the smooth deck gave the mate
an opening, and he laid open Towards cheek bone
Then, dazed and whirling, he received another blow
which made two-inch cash in his forehead and
went down with darkening Senses but with the last
pickering consciousness heard the words of his
Queror, standing over him:
Thought you a man, didn't you? Well,
you're not curse YOU"
When Howard came to he again in his bunk.
with his head tied up in cloths. and men were flock
ing into the forecastle He rolled out and sat upon
a chest out was Immediately asked to vacate it by
the owner and as there were other empty chests
seats in the place, he crawled back into the
bunk to pull himself together
"You put up a good, stir fight matey," said the
chest owner, he reached for his dinner from the
beef kid on the floor. "But what's the use? They'll
do you in the end"
Howard felt Of his aching wounds through the
bandages.
BRASS knuckles. That's what you got. You'll
know better next time"
Perhaps I'm not used to that kind of scrappng.
What vessel is this and where's she going? Any
know how got here? l don't"
This craft" said the sailor. between mouthfuls,
els the ship Quckstep of Bath, bound for Hongkong
and back to American port of discharge. As for
you, you were very likely shanghaed to take the
place of some fellow that jumped. You're sailor
man. that No saorman sugs a buckle
mate unless he's drunk. And you're dead sober"
Sober now Kidnapped, I suppose you mean.
What's the chance of getting ashore?"
"None. Wen tow out when the tug comes. We've
got the canvas nearly bent"
Cant go back in the tug?"
eyes. If the skipperll let you. Try that on Just
once, il you like"
where is he-aft?"
Better wait till he's had his dinner and you've
had yours. Then maybe you'll think better OF it.
Muster up here and get your whack before it's
gone"
Howard went out on deck and mounted the top
gallant forecastle for look around.
Lounging In the alley the high poop deck was
man whom Howard thought might be the captain
and he decided to interview him. He went aft and
the met MIN at the steps.
Keep down OF this poop" he said what dc
you want?"
Il want to the captain Are you the cap
tain?"
'T'm the second mate. Say sir to me when Won
cross my hawse. or I'll give you worse than the
: mate did"
Whats the matter here, Mr. Believe" asked 2
stern voice behind them, and Howard turned to be
hold man six foot six. If an inch, with pair Of
shoulders like two coffee sacks, and arms as big As
Howards legs, He gripped him nv the collar az