The Springdale news., 1909-02-24

could almost follow the mans thoughts as he pondered how much he dared ask.
 "Well, you see, for proposition like that-don't know where we're going, when we're going to get back, and them ganBoats-h how would q hundred and twenty-five q month strike your
 Double 1t up. l want you To do ass l say. and will also give yonr crew double wages Bud I want goot men who will stay and who will keep the mouth shut"
 Gosh all fishhooks. They'd go to hell with you for that.'
 Now you can get all you want of Adams X Marsh Tell them it iss for me Provisions for three years any how. Be ready to sail tomorrow
 Tide turns at in the evening :"
 "I will send some effects in the morn ing"
 The master hesitated.
 That's all right, doctor, but how do I know it's all right? Maybe by morn ing you'll change your mind"
 That cannot be. My plans are atf'-
 Its the usual thing To pay some thing
 "Ach, but yes. 1 haf forgot. bar row told me. l will make you check. Let Us go 10 the table of which you spoke"
 They moved away, still talking did not dare follow them into the light, fo I hat ttsa4aiI 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, I hung around un- til the two had emerged from the cor ner saloon. They paused outside. still talking earnestly. l yentured a nasty interview with the barkeeper.
 Did you notice the two men who were sitting at the middle table?' asked him.
 sure" said he, showing me my glass of. beer
 Know themT l 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 muttered and lodged out again. leaving the beer untouched
 cursed myself for bluHderer When l got to the street the two men had disappeared should have shad- owed the captain 10 his vessel
 The affair interested me greatly. Apparently Dr Sehermerhorn Was about h % on long voyage rfi1ea myself on being fairly up to date in 1 regard h the plans of those who in- terested the public, and the public at that time was vastly interested in Br. Schermerhorn. I. in common with the rest of the world. had imagined him anchored safely in Philadelphia im- mersed in chemical research. Here he 1 bobbed up at the other end of the con l tinent, making shady bargains with obscure shipping captains and paving big premium for absolute secrecy. It looked good.
 Accordingly l was out early the next morning had not much to go by. Schooners are as plentiful as tadpeles 1 in San Francisco harhor. However I was sure could easily recognize that falsetto voice, and I knew where the supplies were to be purchased Adams X Marsh are a large firm and cautious. knew better than to make direct inquiries or 10 appear in the salesroom. But by hanging around the door of the shipping room l soon had track of the large orders to be sent that day. In this manner had ne great difficulty in following q truck to pier 10 nor to identify q consignment to Captain Ezra SeloYer as probably that of which l was in search.
 The mate was in charge of the stow age, so could not be quite sure. Here however, was schooner of about l50 tons burden looked her over, You're All acquainted with tht Laughing Lass and the perfection ot her lines You have not known heI under Captain Ezra Selover. She was the cleanest ship I eyer saw Dehi know how he accomplished it. with q crew of four and the cook, but he did The deck looked as though it had been holystoned every morning by q crew of tackles The stays were whip ped and tarred. the mast new slushed and every foot of running gear coiled down shipshape and Bristol fashion There was good deal of brass about her. It shone like gold and donl believe she owned an inch of paint that wasn't either fresh or new scrub bed
 l gazed for some time at this marvel It's unusual enough anywhere, bu aboard California hooker 1t is little short of miraculous. The crew had al turned up apparently, and a swaru of stevedores were hustling every sort of provisions, supplies, stock. spars lines and canvas down into the hold It was rush job, and that mate was having his hands full. didn't wonder at his language nor at his looks, botf of which were somewhat mussed up Then almost at my elbow l heard thai shrill falsefto squeal and turned iusi in time to see the captain ascend tht after gangplank
 He was probably the most disheveled and untidy man I 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 ly to expose a strip of dirty brown skin. His shoulders were bowed and enormous. His arms hung like a goril las, palms turned slightly outward On his head was damned a linen boat, ing hat that had once been white Gaping away from his hairy chest was faded dingy checked cotton shirt