The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-25

what's more, you'll find out that I'm going to
keep it, tied to an engine or standing here
until get to Helena"
Without waiting for the five minutes to exs
pire they rushed him over to the walking.
beam, and as soon as the boat stopped at the
next landing, they made him fast When the
engine started up again, Jimmy found he had
to trot fifteen feet forwards and then 90 as far
backwards, just keeping his feet on piece Of
wood about a foot wide.
Before the engine had made dozen revolu-
tons, Jimmy was jerked off his feet and was
forced to go upon all fours. Then he began
to realize, for the first time, that these cattle
men meant business, and that their talk was
not all bluff.
One of them informed him with a grin, that
he would have to stand that for eight minutes
now, as the boat did not make landing until
then. Each time the walking beam pulled
him up short at the end nearest the wheel,
where they were standing, they would tell him
he had better give up. All he did was to
set his teeth hard and try to smile, although
the pain of his position was excruciating.
The moment the engine stopped, they
crowded round him, and asked him if he had
had enough of it and was willing to give up
that eight hundred. The only response they
received was a request to 90 to a certain place
which is not mentioned in polite society, al
though it may be in Sunday-schools. Jimmy
was getting mad now. Had he been loose,
there would have been fight.
Just as the bell rang for Helena, the mate
happened along, and some of the roustabouts
informed, him that something was going on
behind the cotton bales near the wheel.
whats the meaning of this2" he de-
manded, holding up lantern.
ave caught this fellow cheating at cards,
mate, and we're just giving him little taste
of the Mississippi to make him give us our
money back, volunteered one.
"Liar!" said Jimmy, as the beam jerked
him back, his face toward the roof.
you'll have to stop this" said the mate
sternly, and calling to some of the roustabouts,
he ordered them to cut Jimmy loose at once.
"This is my landing if it's Helena" gasped
Jimmy, lying on the floor, while the mate felt
his forehead.
"Got any baggage in your room1" de,
manded the mate, and on being told no, he
remarked; "These blamed gamblers never
have" Then, turning TO the colored men he
commanded briefly: Take this man ashore
the minute the plank is down." and then he
hurried up on deck to make the landing, a
colored man running forward with the big
pine torch.
The cattle men followed their victim to the
gang-plank, consulting hastily as to the wis
~ fol Al
might still recover their money if Jimmy had
not too many friends to meet him.
Once down the gang-plank and on the
levee, in the full light of the pine torch,
Jimmy's first thought was to pull out his roll
of greenbacks and pick out a couple of bills
for the roustabouts that carried him ashore
and propped him up against packing-case.
He tried to straighten himself, but he found
he could not do it.
"Haul in that plank" yelled the mate
from the rail. "There's no freight here and
no one else for the Shore" 2
whats the matter with that man you're
putting ashore2" demanded the captain from
the texas, looking down at Jimmy.
Nothing the matter with me, captain"
Jimmy called back, waving his hand. Had
fine trip. See you again"
Again the mate yelled to the crew to haul in
the gang-plank, and the torch was held wide
to enable them to see, when the captain
shouted:
"Hold on there, Tom. Here's passenger
running for the boat. Hold that plank a
minute, boys"
Turning to look in the direction indicated,
the mate saw the figure of girl with hat in
, her hand, tearing along over the piles of mer-
/ chandise from the old landing that the boat
, formerly used. She waved madly as she ran,
and at last the mate made out her voice.
"Is that the Natchez2"
"Yes," he shouted back. "Take your
, time. Wen hold the boat for you. Got a
, trunk?"
A minute later and the mate saw that the
girl had Jimmy Burke round the neck.
"I'm not going," shouted the girl, waving
her hand to the mate, who was smiling
broadly.
"Pull up that plank" shouted the mate for
| the third time, as the backing-bell rang in the
engine-room.
, Say, you fellows" shouted Jimmy to the
; cattle men, as the boat pulled out into the
stream his face turned full to the blazing light
of the pine torch over his head, "stop for me
: at Helena any time you pass this way. III
let you tie me to that engine all the way to
: New Orleans for eight hundred dollars, any
II. Al