The Washington times., 1909-02-26
CHAPTER XVIII.
WHERE'S BILL DURKIN?''


after a dozen good cigars had been
thrust upon him-that he was mighty
and will re factor in the noble cause
OF justice. Further. a little dramatic
excitement aboard such q craft as the
O~ciGent was not UngTateful-and the
CAPTAIN leaned forward and clasped his
horny hands as Bovine repeated chuck
Ingly:
Yes. sir. just put the goods in
package and take EN- home, 6. o. D.,
That's about all it amounts to-
When are We goin' t start IMP
Bovine sat up
mo time Ike the present, I suppose
he grinned. There's a police station
down here near the water front, isn't
there?"
Il b'Ieeve So"
Then I'll go-or see here. Suppose
send a note ashore and get couple
OF policemen
WAL
Bovine scratched his CHR
You say that the kid and this Dur
kin seem to be pre- ~ friendly, cap
tein?'
yes. That's what Buck Thorne said.
I amt noticed 'em much since they been
aboard"
W ell 90 you SUppuSt lAAt man ADHA
kin would put up any fightY'
Il dunno The captain considered
deeply. Il guess it amt likely I al
WAYS thought Bill Durkin was kind OF
sneak I don't believe he'd risk his
skin for anybody else
He might, though Bovine whistled
through his teeth for little Then;
Captain. if you'll stand by me / think
I'll null this off without any local po-
lice assistance. How about the rest OF
the crew.
Don't you worry about them They
amt goin' to mix into any trouble IN
necessary. Mr.. Markness. They'll just
sit I'd an stare if there's a muss-
AN right So much the better Can
we count on your mater
.r-reckon so. I dunno where he Is
He went ashore when We dropped an
Choir, and I dunno whether he's back
yet or not
well
But he's scrapper. Buck is, and
he'll do what 1 tell him, Mr.. Hardness
II he's back now, ye can count on him.
and
AS If his stage entrance had been
carefully planned and rehearsed, MI
Thorne appeared Just then, clamoerlns
UP the dangling rope ladder and strao-
ding the rail.
MT. Thorne, despite the rigors OF a
prohibition city, seemed to have &C
ouired an insomnia cure somewhere.
He reached the deck and yawned vlo-
Ien+lv. Then, with stretch and an
ether van-n, he made for the lower re-
zion Of the Occident-
r The caDtain shifted. And as the per
functorv watch loitered past he sald-
You tell Mr. ThOrne ! wanter see
him
A minute or two passed. Then Mr.
Tborne appeared. His dignity had IN
creased markedly. and he stralgntened
up with a sort Of German-army atu-
4Ide as ne faced his commander, anc
went 10 the extreme length Of salutinS
In formal fashion as ne contriveo:
"You wish 20 see me, sir!
Yep Everybody turned in BUCK
Yes, sir
sure?
That man Durkin and the new kid,
Johnson-sure they're in their ounks-
Yes. sir.
Then / guess its all over but the
.ho,,tina.- BOVINE commented cheerily.
Buck. me an this gent are going
below, forrard.
Yes, sir.
Maybe there goin. L be 4 mix-up
We dunno yet. If there is, and you
bear sound O. battle. jest come down
an nut in a hand where it'll do the
most good.
.sHey?" Mr.. Taorne Strengthened Up
IN good earnest
This gent thinks the kid Johnson Is
q crook. an he's goin' TO arrest him
That's all We dunno whether he 5
eoin' TO put up a night, but If he does
YOU gotter come down an nelp-in the
name o. the law the captain ended.
impTesslvely.
Aye aye. sir, said the mate
And meanwhile" Bovine suggested.
we may as well get boat ready 20
take them ashore.
That's right the commando ae-
seuted. as he turned 70 ThOrne again.
s.YCu an Tim lower away that cutter
aft. Buck Hurry up
Mr.. Thorne left rather uncertainty; IN
= matter Of three or four minutes he
was back with.
ITS all right, caD'n-'
Good" The captain arose and Bovine
rose with him. Go quiet now-we don't
want TO kick up 10 disturbance till II S
necessary
Literally on t:ptoe the trio started for
tho forward companionway. On tiptoe
they listened for a moment Then
leaving Thorne al attention at the tor
Of the stairs, they descended cautiously
Al was quiet in the quarters OF the
crew. Under the last lamp. at the for
ward END, a sailorman slept soundly
upon his stool, a forgotten newspaper
At bis feet. From the hunks came a
soothing chorus Of snOres.
Very quietly, indeed. the captain hur-
red 10 the sleeper and shook him gent
~. The individual awose sud stared
hard. and into his ear he whispered:
where's Durkin bunking and the kid
ne brought aboard with him.
''WhassatE" The sleeper rubbed his
eyes
pill DuTkin, Where is hcZ
Huh. Them twog' The gentleman