The Carlisle independent., 1910-06-02

sea short-handed However blind the shipping commissioner might be in other ways, he saw to 1t that the shipping laws obeyed as to the number of men required for types and tonnage or ships. man might never have seen the sea, but if he not too drunk to say he was an able seaman and to sign his name to the ships articles, that settled it. He would probably be an able seaman dead greenhorn before hls ship reached port.
 This official insstence on the letter of the law sometimes caused the kings to do strange things. Toward the end of the season they were at times hard pushed for two men to fill out crew. Then did all men in sailortown not in the kings special favor hunt cover and stay hid un- til the last ship out of sight beyond the bar. For Jack and Pete were respecters of persons. All men looked alike to them, and they sent to sea more than who held himself too acute to be trapped into unwilling voyage. Well-edu- cated, well-dressed and companionable, the kings mixed with the best and worst that drifted into their realms, and once in their clutches man escaped from them except by the open sea.
 Jimmy Hunter, Yale and cowpuncher, went down to the waterfront alone one day. against the advice of the upper town to the sights. He wise to the world and had years thirst and pay with him. He met the kings, who were glad to see him Just one more man was needed for the square-rigger Good Hope. then lying in the stream waiting for a crew, with her captain. Black swearing at Jack and Pete for delaying him, The kings attended to Hunters thirst and were friendly, confidential. No secret made Of their trade. They told him stories of shanghaied sailormen and of crews they had stolen from ship for another. He much interested. Jack took him up to the ship ping commissioners to the crew of the Good Hope shipped. He asked to and did sign his name twice ''as a witness" A friend from the upper town risked broken head to him. But the Sherman boys also friends-at least three hours old-and anyhow. he could take of himself.
 At last he caught Pete in an attempt to drug his whisky and left the kings with a laughing comment saortown ways. Well outside the deadline he stopped in quiet saloon. It was late and he and the lonesome bartender had nightcap together. When he alive next morning he was at in the Good Hope and beefy English mate was kicking him in the ribs.
 Of the months that followed Hunter never told much He learned sailors work; he had to. mates brass knuckles Also he acquired deep desire to kill the kings of sailortown. Captain Black and the mate.
 At last he found himself in the consuls office at Dunkirk France dressed in the clothes he had on when he met the Sherman boys. For won der they had sent them aboard with him. He in United States territory again, and, first off, he would square yards with Captain Black. But-the consular agent a Frenchman who would neither speak English understand Hunters French unless he wanted to. Captain Black Iolled in an office chair and grinned while Hunter told his troubles. When he had finished. without word of comment the consular agent spread out two papers. the ships articles and an advance note" "Ees thees votre nom?" he asked. It was. He remembered his signing "as