The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-04-12


that his profession was something
tain. from a certain air OF determine
ton and command that mrked be.
meath his free-and.easy manner.
Therefore. having summed the
stranger up In glance. And when
did We get In. captain?" inquired
ORourke.
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 a 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 aggrieved manner.
ut shouldn't take man an hour TO
guess that. captain-any more than
II would TO pick We 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 l
am" laughed O'Rourke. But | can
tell We me own. IT'S O'Rourke. and
tbs delighted | am to meet a white
man in this heather country. Sir. your
handE
He put his own across the table and
gripped the captains heartily.
Mines Ole" the latter informed
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. Pm stupid. Captain Hole.
and bit deaf In me off ear" This.
however, was a polite lie.
That explyns "" agreed the molli-
fed man. IT'S 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
might prove useful. And bound-?"
he insinuated craftily.
Alexandria. Just dropped
in for d'y or two to pick up bit
OF cargo from chap down at Piraeus.
It's devlish 'ot and | thought as 'ow
Id tyke a. run up and see the city
-'aving bit Of time free. y'know."
Surely" sighed O'Rourke. far
away look In his eyes. For Alexan-
dria. Ell? Faith. I'd like to be sailing
with ye."
Again the captain eyed O'Rourke
askance. "Wot for?" he demanded
directly. "The Pelicans slow old
tramp. You can pick up swifter pas
sage on 'arf-a-dozen boats a day"
TITS meself that knows that. sure"
assented the Irishman TITS but a
trifiing difficulty about ready money
that detains me-" he pursued boldly.
with 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 word. cap
tai. but II | could smuggle 1t into
Egypt. the profit would be great
enough to pay me passage.money a
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 little in that line myself.
Being casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at a stretch for want
OF consignment"
mot another word. captain. i'm.
derstand perfectly. Will We be having
a bit OF a drink. now?"
Captain Hole would. 1T won't 'urt
to talk this over" he remarked. Per
APPS we might myke some sort OF
decker"
Faith. It's meself that's agreeable"
laughed the freshman lightly.
And when. at midnight that night,
he parted from a 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.
And It was O'Rourke was the happy
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 disheveiied
depths OF the battered steel kt-box
that housed everything he owned in
the world-for he was packing to Join
the Pelican at noon.
II hope to hiven he has i've
pounds" announced ORourke later.
browning obviously.
Five ptA1ds happened to be the
sum he Ivj agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation. It being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adventurer
ashore at Alexandria and not part