Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-07-26

that his profession was something
nautical; he was most probably cap
tain. from a certain air of determine
ton and command that lurked be-
meath his free-and-easy manner.
Therefore. having summed the
stranger up in glance. And when
did We get in. captain?" inquired
| O'Rourke
The man jumped with surprise and
shot a frightened-at least a ques-
tioning-glance at O'Rourke. Then.
seeing that he was smiling in friend
ly fashion. Gained and continued to
cool his face and heat his blood by
tanning himself vigorously with a
| straw hat
low the dooce do you know I'm
! captain?" he demanded. with a slight
! ly aggreved manner.
"It shouldn't take man an hour to
guess that, captain-any more than
it would to pick ye out for an Eng
| lishman"
! The captain stared. gray eyes wild
ening, An perhaps you'll tell me my
nyme next?" he suggested rather
truculently.
"Divvle bit IT'S no clairvoyant |
am" laughed O'Rourke. But | can
tell ye me own. 'Tis O'Rourke. and
tbs delighted l am TO meet white
man in this heather country. Sir. your
hand!"
He put his own across the table and
gripped the captains heartily.
ha Lott tnf cd
him.
"ole?" queried o"Rourke, "Ole
what?"
Not Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity.
Il didn't s'y ole. | sgd Ole"
"Of course" O'Rourke assented
gravely. I'm stupid. Captain Hole.
and bit deaf in me off ear" This.
however. was a polite lie.
That explyns it," agreed the molli-
fed man. Its ole. plyn Will'm 'Ole.
master of the Pelican. fryghter. just
in from Malta"
| A light Of interest kindled in
| O'Rourke's eyes. He reviewed the man
with more respect. as due to one who
might prove useful. And bound-?"
| he insinuated craftily.
Alexandria. just dropped
in for d'y or two to pick up a bit
OF cargo from chap down at Piraeus.
| It's devlish 'ot and | thought as ow
I'd tyke a run up and see the city
-'aving a bit of time free. yknow."
Surely" sighed O'Rourke, a far
away look in his eyes For Alexan-
dria Ell? Faith Id like to be sailing
with ye."
Again the captain eyed ORourke
askance. 'Wot for?" he demanded
directly The Pelican's a slow old
tramp. You can pick up swifter pas
sage on 'arf-a-dozen boats day"
"'Tis meself that knows that, sure"
assented the Irishman. IT'S but a
trifiing difficulty about ready money
that detains me-" he pursued boldly,
with a confidential jerk OF his head
There's bit of stuff-no matter
what-that | don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying a word, cap
tai. but If could smuggle it into
Egypt, the profit would be great
|
dozen times over. I'm saying this to
ye in strict confidence. for. being an
Englishman. ye won't let on"
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
ly. "Umm. Er--I don't mind
telling you. Mr.. O'Rourke, | some
times do a little in that line myself.
| Being a casual tramp and sometimes
| lyd by for weeks at a stretch for want
| of consignment"
Not another word. captain. un-
derstand perfectly. VIII ye be having
a bit of drink, now?"
Captain Hole would. ut won't 'urt
to talk this over" he remarked Per
! APPS we might myke some sort of a
dicker"
Faith. 'tis meself that's agreeable"
| laughed the Irishman lightly.
And when. at midnight that night.
he parted from moist and senti-
mental sailor-man, whose capacity for
liquor-even including the indescrib-
able native retsinato and masticha-
had proved enormous. the arrangement
had been arrived at. signed. sealed
and delivered by clasping Of hands.
man.
"'Tis Danny who'll be giving me
the welcome" he assured himself, sit
ting on the edge OF his bed and star.
ing thoughtfully into the dishevelled
depths of the battered steel kit-box
that housed everything he owned in
the world-for he was packing to Join
the Pelican at noon.
Il hope to hiven he has five
pounds" announced O'Rourke later.
frowning obviously.
Five pounds happened to be khe
sum he had agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation. IT being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adyenturer
| ashore at Alexandria and not Dart