Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-30
CHAPTER XXI.

I #sa
O'Rourke. from the lower grating OF
the steamships accommodation lad
der. signaled to one OF the swarm OF
lowering dinghys. and waiting for 1t to
come In. reviewed the anchored ship
ping, gathered transiently together In
that spot from the four corners Of the
earth, and shook his head depending
ly.
A yellow-haired Somali boatman
shot his little craft in to the grating.
O'Rourke dropped upon the stern-seat
and took the tiller. Post Office pier"
he said CURLY. The dinghy shot away
with dipping, dripping oars, while the
Irishman continued to search among
the vessels for anything that seemed
to promise the speed necessary for his
purpose, and failed to discover one.
cts hopeless" he conceded bitter.
~ as the boat wove q serpentine wake
in and out among the heaving bulks.
And. I'm thinking. tbs the O'Rourke
who will presently be sinking back to
confess he--byagged beyond his pow.
ers. The fool that We are, Terence,
with your big words and your fine
promises. all empty as your purse!
IT'S out OF patience l am with ye en-
tirely!"
Doubtless he made the very picture
Of unhappiness.
So, at least, seemed to think man
lounging in a dilapidated canvas deck
chair beneath dirty awning in the
stern of a distant tramp steamer;
who. raking the shoreward-bound with
a pair OF rusty binoculars, had CHANGED
to focus upon O'Rourke.
Looks as if he hadn't a friend in
the world" said the man audibly.
Looks as If letter from home with
cash draft 'ud about f1ll his little bill
He grunted in pleased appreciation
of his own subtle wit. A short man
he was. stout, very much at home in
grimy pajamas and nothing else, with
eyes small. blue. informed with twin
king humor and set in a ford coun-
tenance bristling with three days
growth of grayish beard.
He swung the glasses again upon
O'Rourke.. and. He'll" he exclaimed,
sitting ND with stimulated interest.
We'll. by jinks!" said the stout man.
Who'd a-thunk IT,
He got up with evident haste and
waddled forward to the bridge, where
he came upon what he evidently need.
ed In his business: a huge and bat
tered megaphone. Applying this to
his lips and filling his lungs he bel
lowed with a right good will. and his
hail, not unlike the roaring Of an
amiable bull. awoke Aden's echoes
.o-Rourke."
Good morning." murmured the IRISH
man, lifting his head to stare about
him with incredulous curiosity.
Who's that barking at me-"
The pajama'd person continuing to
shout at the top of his voice. by dint
Of earnest staring the Irishman event
ually located the source of the up.
roar Now who the divvle might We
be-" he wondered ''Ananias. me
triend"-to the boatman-''row to the
steamer yonder where the noise comes
from"
Whereupon the stout man. seeing
the boat alter its course. put aside tbs
megaphone. And again peace brooded
over Alden.
On nearer approach 10 the tramp.
O'Rourke's smile broadened to a
pleased grin. and airily he waved a
hand to the man with the voice.
Jimmy Quick" he observed With
unfeigned delight. Faith. begin 10
believe that me luck holds. after ALI"
From the bottom step OF the tramp's
ladder he tossed coin 10 the boat.
man. then mounted 10 the deck. IN,
continently the stout man fell heavily
upon his neck with symptoms OF ex.
IRENE JOY. A lull succeeding his first
transports. he wiped his eyes. beamed
upon his guest and suggested insinuat
ingly: "Drink2"
"Brevity's ever the soul Of your
wit, captain" said O'Rourke. u will.
And he meekly followed Quick's bare
heels forward to the officers quarters
beneath the bridge.
/, Having set him in chair, Quick
still a-gurgle. wandered of. unearth
ed a bottle, beamed upon his visitor,
asked dozen questions in as many
breaths and without waiting for an
answer. waddled off again to return
with brace of dripping soda-water
bottles. "Schweppe's." he said. pat
ting their rotund forms tenderly;
and the last in our lockers-all in
Your honor. colonel"
500" commented o'Rourke. Hard
up, is it, lis not the O'Rourke who
would be wishing ye i'll, captain, dear,
but faith, meselfs not sorry to hear
that word this day. I'm thinking me
luck Is sound, after all"
Quick had again vanished. Present.
ly O'Rourke heard his mighty voice
booming down an engine.room yentila.
tor. "Dravos! Dravos. you loafer.
Come up and see strange sight"
- came back, still vibrant with IN.