Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-25

sirable in case more mischief is brew
ing. Do not be more than fifteen min
utes, though, In any event"
went in pursuit of Egan. who NOV
ed OF furtively through the crowds.
He made his way in the direction of
the American camp, where the sailors
of the English feet were being re-
called at clambake by their Ameri-
can comrades. The affair was practic-
ally over; as l approached the canvas
tent which had been set UP perceived
a hilarious crowd, composed of the
crews of both nations, streaming out
arm in arm, laughing and chattering
together. Egan made his way toward
a large gathering of men which seem
ed to form the nucleus of the mob.
Suddenly the crowd opened and I
perceived Thompson struggling in the
4. arms Of a dozen sturdy compatriots,
/ who, elated with the festive meal, in
sisted, apparently. in carrying him in
state down the main avenue of Coney.
| He regained his feet at last and stood
in their midst, flushed and little IN
steady. I was astonished to see that
he had evidently been drinking, in
spite Of his training. At the same
moment he perceived Egan.
"Hello, PHIL" he shouted, and shook
the man by the hand warmly: then
flung his arms around him. 1t was
evident that prudence was no part Of
the sailors nature. 1 reasoned that,
angered by the unsatisfactory result
of his interview with Crewe and my
self that morning, he had experienced
an entire revulsion of feeling. Doubt
less Egan was now, to him, his best
friend, and we were maligners and
conspirators against his much-wronged
relative. l wondered how much he
would tell Egan; whether he would
put him upon his guard.
The pair sauntered slowly along the
avenue, despite the efforts of a fiery
little man, apparently ,Thompson's
trainer, who made wild endeavors to
head him toward the elevated rail-
road. Thompson shook off the little
man as though he were a fly, while
his companions. evidently secure in
their belief of the sailors ability to
dispose of the Englishman, trained or
unframed, warmly seconded their
mate. The little man gave up at last
and, after shaking his first ani;rily in
Thompson's face, disappeared among
the crowds.
Thereupon Thompson and Egan
arm in arm, surrounded by a round
dozen of their cronies, strolled slow
ly in the direction of the tattooer's
booth.
l fastened after them, and, by max
ing a detour, succeeded in getting
ahead of them at the next block and II
reaching the booth a couple of min
utes ahead of the party. l hurried
across the alley to where I had lef
Crewe at the beer garden table.
Where was Crewe? Could that b,
he, that rough looking man, collarless
with dirty reversible cuffs and opel
waistcoat, his face flushed with drink
who was inviting all and sundry t,
come and sit down and drink at hi
expense? Undoubtedly it was Crewe
on closer inspection, for l had seel
him in that same disguise upon pre-
vious occasion; but was certain tina
the sailor would never recognize hir
for the immaculate counsellor of tn
afternoon.
Crewe was acting his part to tn
life.
Here! Garcon!-Waiter!" he vel
ed bring us a quart bottle of fizz
drink. And say, you see that tn
ices cold, or I'll knock your bloc
Of" And he flung down a fifty dolla
bill upon the beer-soaked table, whic
the waiter ran to seize with avidfty
AS l fingered near, Crewes shar
eye was turned on me.
Come here, bo," he yelled. "Hav
a drink. Gemmen, a friend. M
friend-gemmen," he added in intro
duction; and, rather disguised wit
the part we were to play, sat dow
at an adjoining table, which was a
ready filled with Crewes strang
guests.
None of them addressed me, how
ever, being all apparently bent upo
the possibility of extracting som
money from Crewe.
,, Then the uproarious crowd of sal
u ors turned into the alley and lined IL
in front of the booth l heard Egan
voice ring out, apparently to smothe
some protest.
. Shut your face" he yelled to th
objector. ''Let him be yaccinated
: he wants to be. Show 'em your ches
Frank. Look, boys. Amt that tn
finest eagle you've ever seen. That
2 the Yankee eagle" he continued, AN
/ don't want anybody to tell me tha
= Frank can't beat the Britisher wit
= that eagle on his chest. If anybod
!. tells me So" he continued, lookin
: around, "let him step up and say s,
and I'll smash his faSe in"
u Either nobody disagreed with th
10 speakers views, or else each of tn
D. sailors felt that his face would b
p more suitable If it were not smashe
Is in. With a look OF triumph Ega
+. turned to the tattooer, and pushe
Is Thompson into a chair. The Chin
/ man took out his needles and pi
ments and began his work
ic There is some psychological momel
lie when the noisiest crowd becomes N
re mentarily silent. At such a time til