Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-23

to think it out, eyes nara, race gr1niy
expressionIess, only an intermittent
1 nervous clenching and opening Of his
! hands betraying his gathering rage
and excitement At length he arose
determination in his port.
One phrase alone escaped him:
rAnd not gun.to me name!
:. He went. on deck. Already the trop'
! ic night had closed down upon the
4 harbor, but 1t was easy enough to 10
! cate the captain and first officer, still
! waiting at the gangway. From over
I side arose the splutter Of launch
/ raucous sound, yet one that barely rip
| Piled the surface of O'Rourke's con
seriousness. He stepped quickly to
the captains side and touched him
gently on the arm.
4 Captain" he said quickly, "1ll be
asking the favor Of word with ye IN
private"
4 Hole caught the CLEAN Of the Irish
mans eye in the lamplight and
stepped back a pace. ;,
sect forrard," he said CURLY. "Carn't
4 you see the customs officer coming
aboard? I'll see you later"
"Ye will not. Yell hear me now,
captain"
\ Hole backed further away. "Wot!"
he barked hoarsely, raising his voice
"Wot! I'll show you 'oo's master
| aboard this ship. Get forrard to your
quarters! S'help-me-gawd!" he ex'
| ploded violently. 900 ever heard the
like of it?'
| O'Rourke stepped nearer, his fists
| closing. Drop that tone, ye scud!'
he cried. "D'ye want me to spoil your
little game?"
The shot went home. The captain
gasped, and in the darkness O'Rourke
\ fancied he lost a shade or two OF his
rudy color.
"Wotcher mean?" he demanded, low
ering his tone.
Il mean" replied O'Rourke in a
| quick whisper, that the Egyptian Gus
! tens officer is at the side. Return
\ what ye've stolen from me this day,
4 or I'll tell the whole harbor what
\ we've been up to- And. if We want
me TO be more explicit, perhaps the
word hashish' will refresh your mem
ory!"
/ "Tll talk to you later
\ "Ye'Il give me back me property this
\ minute Or
| O'Rolrke vas at the rail in a stride.
Shall tell him." he demanded.
\ 4. swift step sounded beside him.
! He turned an instant too late, who had
\ .ackcned without Dennison. AS he
\ moved 70 protect himself the first Of
| 1c9r'5 est caught the Irishman just
\ under the car. And one hundred and
s27enty-five pounds of man and malice
\ we're behind il. O'Rourke shot into
! ii, scuppers as though kicked by a
\ mule, struck his head against piece
\ Of iron work and lay still, half
! stunned, shutting his teeth savagely
\ upon moan.
\ Hole and the first mate stood over
4 him, and the captains voice, guarded
| but clear enough. came to his ear:
\ You'll lie there, me man, and not
so much as a whimper till | give you
leave. Take 'eed wot l says. Mr..
\ Dennison ere is goin' to clean is re-
volver.'
/ O'Rourke lay silent, save for his
quick breathing. The first officer,
grinning inadvertently, sat down near
at hand, keeping basilisk eye upon
| the PROSTATE man while he fondled an
| able bodied. hammerless Webley
Hole moved off towards the gang
\ way. whence his voice arose, an in
slant later, greeting his visitor. The
latter put hurried question, which
O'Rourke did not catch, but the cap
tain's reply was quick enough:
only mutinous dorg of a deck
and. Wanted shore leave and refused
to go forrard when ordered. E amt
'urted none. Mr.. Dennison ERE just
gyve i'm a tap to keep him quiet
The Irishman swore beneath his
| breath and watched the nrst omcer.
I The light from the lantern al the
gangway glanced DULY upon the pol
ished barrel of the revolver, and the
| cleaning line was steadily directed
towards O'Rourke's head. Upon re-
consideration he concluded to lie still,
to wait and watch his opportunity;
for the present, at least, he was IN
disposed to question Dennison's viii
lingness to use the weapon. O'Rourke
was to be kept quiet at all hazards,
and he knew it full we'll; for once he
conceded discretion the better part OF
valor, and was patient.
CHAPTER XIV.