The Tupelo journal., 1912-07-26


at Coast. "Not bad for beginning.
what?"
"A little prolix," commented Coast
dispassionately, falling In with his hu-
NOR But continue. You found your
Romance?"
What is so-called-alas, yes!
found 1t, as rule, q nom de guerre
for crime. ). Lured by legend,
l have traversed much Of the known
world, only to come to that conclu-
sion. have penetrated the Businesses
of the Tennessee mountains, nosing
the Illicit still: which proved merely
sordid Counterfeiting seemed to
promise largely-and discovered itself
the most ill-paid calling In the world.
Diplomatic intrigue unmarked proved
to be merely a popular fallacy shin
ing in the reflected luster Of the Six
Best Sellers. But refrain
from wearying you with catalogue
OF the exploded mines of Romance:
q list inordinately lengthy, believe
me. High finance, l admit escaped
my probe; but the recent plague OF
Wall Street plays discouraged me.
demonstrating there could be no Ro-
nance there. So at length
you find me turning IN despair to the
Seven Seas; afioat. at all events, one
must of necessity pursue the glamor-
GUS promise Of the Unknown that
turks just down the horizon"
Apple. ard paused, his mien sub
dued, his gesture bespexkng resigna-
ton.
"All Of which MEANS" Coast in
sisted.
81 hardly know Frankly, thought
that speech rather stupid myself.
That's why l chopped 1t of. :.
One talks. You may have no
ticedT"
II have" said Coast drily.
you would, naturally" returned
Appleyard without resentment. But
would it amuse you to learn how I
came to be on board that fisherman"
You mean how you came to be
overheard. Perhaps 1t would.
You're the best Judge Of that"
True" Appleyard accepted and
lighted a cigarette, frowning soberly.
TT was" he began, due principally
to my fatal passion for this Romance
thing, sir. have already acquainted
you with my determination to pursue
my quest of that shy spirit upon the
trackless ocean Conceive, now, the
bitterness of the disappointment
which overwhelmed my ardent soul
when l applied for berth as fore
mast hand, only to be informed I was
physically unfit that, as one brutal
mate phrased 1t, I'd blow away in the
first half-a-gale I give you
my word, Mr. Coast, I've been stick
ing round this waterfront whole
fortnight, vainly seeking nautical en-
ployment Last night. for the first
time, for a few brief hours, was per-
mitted to fiatter myself that fortune
was on the point of favoring me. For
fugitive moment l slipped the chalice
Of Romance and rolled its flavor be-
meath my tongue"
Appleyard half closed his eyes and
smacked his lips, his expression one
OF beatific bliss.
you've a pretty taste in pleas
ures," Coast commented
Appleyard waved the interruption
aside. "It came about largely through
whim Of Chance" he resumed, las
all true adventure must. Quite by &C
cident I fell in with one Of the crew
OF that fishing smack, he being we'll
under the influence of liquor; In a
way Of speaking, he'd looked too long
upon the wine when 1t was red-eye
and half wood-alcohol. Crafty sim
ulating like condition, piled him fur
Their and succeeded in learning the
name of his vessel and the fact that
she was expected to sail with the
morning tide-together with other de-
tails that intrigued me. Then, leav-
ing the sodden wretch to sleep of his
disgusting debauch, I caused myself
to be conveyed ABOARD the lugger-I
mean schooner-and slowed away in
his bunk trusting to LUCK to avert
Oily l, WIN IQ0 rest vi the ClCW, was
routed out incontinently by an I'M
mannerly brute with Delaying pin tat
all events it felt like be,aying-pin--
an instrument with which | am unac-
quainted save through the literature
of the sea- and forced to &C on deck
to help heave anchor Or
should l say, weigh anchor?'
I'm not quarrelling with your
STYLE" chuckled Coast. Why not put
off polishing your periods until an
other timer
Thank you," said Appleyard CRATE
fully ITO resume: My detection
promptly ensued and my presence was
dispensed with, trace unceremoni-
ously, perhaps, but no doubt very
properly from the shippers point OF
view. With the subsequent phases OF
this most delectable adventure you
are familiar; therefore. confidently
assume your CONCURRENCE 9Th my con
clusion; which is--here am |.
49,