Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-18

IS, 1912.
counts at the table, with small piles
of gold and silver coin stacked on the
various bills. Mr.. Brandeis was q
very fair, misunderstanding man of fifty
or SO, with lank mustache, who spoke
no English, and shook hands solemnly
at his superior's bidding Then he
sat down again and resumed his oc.
cupation Of counting out money from
cigar box, as though with the com.
pletion OF that formality his share OF
the social function was over.
"A good chap" said Captain
Schwartz, smiling, laying his hand on
the mates shoulder. Reads books
all the time he reads books and never
talks except to contradict you, and
say you are liar on page seventy
nine, or a dom fool on page two hun
dred and three. Some day I'll throw
him overheard and shoot his books
after him and say: Go and prove 1t
to the feesh!" -
This amused the captain so much
that he had to repeat 1t in German to
Brandeis, who answered somewhat
CURLY, and tugged at his mustache as
though none too pleased. Matt thought
1t spoke rather poorly of the ships
discipline that the mate took the joke
in such bad part. 1t would not have
happened on his vessel, he said to him.
self, and before guests. But Schwartz
did not seem to mind, and turned away
without the least annoyance to show
them the cabins. s'- fl.
There was one on either side Of the
main cabin, the captains to starboard.
the mates on the port side Beyond
the captains, and reached by mar
row passageway, was the owners
cabin"-another cubical with barely
room for a couple of hunks, super
imposed. Like the others, 1t was very
fresh and clean, with a couple Of port
holes giving ample light, and enough
locker-space to put away a consider
able amount of clothes. There was
tiny washstand in one corner, q
bracket with brass lamp, and strip
of new mating on the floor.
This is where you will i've" said
the captain to Chris, who was regard
ing everything with much curiosity.
And il you wish to do any shopping,
I hope you will not forget our old
established peeziness!" AS he spoke
he opened the door opposite and ush.
cred her into the trade room. This
was the largest cabin on the ship, and
was a veritable floating shop, with a
counter and shelves, scales and print
tive show cases. It contained every
thing under the sun, from brass we'd
ding rings, Waterbury watches, tools
80 o11 u, dc &
for fiintlock muskets, to boat anchors,
Kegs Of dynamite, barrels of beef and
pork, and innumerable bolts of gaily
printed cottons. Behind the counter
and still open was small hatchway
that gave access to the hold beneath,
from which the voices of sailors could
be heard. "
We are g>ing down pretty light"
explained the captain, "and the mate
thinks he can make faster passage
by shifting some ballast aft
But what do you want with all
those things?" asked Chris, to whom
a sea shop was novelty.
Sell them to the noble savage at
three hundred per cent profit" return
ed Schwartz laughing.
''But what are those guns over there
for In the rack ?" ST.
J. ITO shoot him II he amt satisfied! !
They are tricky lot, Mrs. Brough-
ton, and, like all customers, are ready
to beat you down-only they do 1t w4-h
cloob!" S.. .ts,.
Chris shrank little closer to watt
who treasured her by remarking that
their islands would not be like that.
1.-The captain means the Solomons,'
he said. Down there they are coal
black and eat you for dinner, but our
people are a nice brown and wouldn't
hurt fly" ...... ."'
You've never told me where you
want to co. put in Schwartz. Ware
is that delightful place so different
from the Solomons?"
Really, captain, don't want to take
you out of your course" returned Matt
seriously. "The Gilbert Islands are In
your way-drop us there anywhere.
Whats few days, more or less, :
he exclaimed mo. you tell me ware
you want to go, and there I shall sail
though why not Malaita?"
"The Tokelaus would suit me best"
"The Tokelaus, ware Is dem?" y Z"
"Wel1, the Union Islands-to call
them the name they have on most
charts"
1.-THE Union Islands! Yass, I know
the Union Islands. A little south, but
what's that? Old South Sea captains
should stand together, that's what
say!" +,
"oh, captain, I'll never be able to
thank you enough" .
Oats all foolishness, Broughton.
You would do the same for me-"
Schwartzs tone was cordially It.
self; indeed, his spirits seemed to rise
with his companions, and his good
nature increased to an hilarious pitch.
He kept laughing from sheer exuber-
ance, and as he led the way back on
deck he gave Mr.. Brandeis hearty
poke in the ribs and told him they
were bound for the Tokelau Islands.
The mate paid scarcely any attention,
except to nod, and continued to dip
into the cigar box of cash with sar-
donic expression that appeared to be
habitual with him. But as they were
mounting the companion ladder, Matt
looked back and preoeived him gal
vanjzed into A belated interest with q