Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-12

fist shot out and caught him In mid.
air. accurately on the angle of the jaw,
and Captain Kettles trained fingers
thereafter twisted his neck-cloth till
he was three parts strangled, and then
Mr.. McTodd was violently thrown into
corner Of the carriage so that his
head ratified against the company's
woodwork. and he was told to stay
there in words that there was no pos
sibility of misunderstanding.
You needn't shout" said the Scot,
"and cause inconvenience to the rest
of the passengers in the train who,
for. anything you know, may be re-
spectacle people. Your words were
perfectly clear. If you wish me to
sleep, I'll do It for the present. I've
been in the sun. It's thing that
even deacons Of the kirk to suffer from
the effects of the sun. SO bid We
good night. Well renew the converse
ton later"
Now, Captain Kettle was by nature
generous and hospitable, but he recog.
nized the limitations Of his new posi-
ton He was under obligations to MIR.
McTodd that it would not be an easy
matter to repay. But II he was going
to ship the man as subordinate Of
ficer on his new command. 1t would be
an unheard of thing to offer him hos.
pitality in his own lodgings before,
hand. Also, he was in very consider.
able doubt as to whether 1t would not
be betrayal of trust to sign him on
at all. OF course, by the ritual Of the
sea service. as long As q, man keeps
sober and does his work while on duty.
that is all that Is required of him.
His shore morals and habits are mat
ter Of his own private concern But
would McTodd be reliable even at sea
The little sailor thought these mat
tiers through over two more cigars,
and shook the engineer into wakeful.
ness when at last the slow cross
country train dragged Its weary
length into Newcastle station.
Man." said Mr. McTodd, IT thank
We. I'm rested fine. Just in paren-
thesis, I'd like to tell We that getting in
the suns mo- general habit of mine
its a digression. 4 make no doubt
(by your looks) that the same has
happened to yourself, and that's why
We handled me 80 tenderly. l thank
We, for that same. I've no: been put to
sleep with such gentle care since lay
In ma mither's arms. Let me pros
pect; where's the third class refresh
ment room? It's habit with me,
which you'd do weel to follow, to let
first class refreshment rooms alone.
They gle ye the same sized whisky
in the first at a greater price, and con-
tanning less bite to the cubic inch, and
the company you find yourself in there
is apt to be above your station
I've no time to drink with you,
said Captain Kettle savagely. Ny train
leaves in minute. VIII you take the
loan of a pound?" 80.
: II thank We for the kind thought,
but for the moment do not need an
advance. Ye see the, British consul in
Tampico, guided by me-. nulcted that
Dutch skipper in good heavy damages
for false imprisonment. and, a. I am
no. what you might call 3, wasteful
body. l didn't spend. It as tho consul
had intended on passage home to
England. No, man; just got cast
across the gulf TO- Vera Cruz, and got
sent home to bonny Cardtff from there
as distressed British seaman"
well, come to the point. Do you
want billet?'' 81 =,
Gosh! the generosity Of these great
powerful men who run the empire!"
Mr.. McTodd raised his eyes In marvel
toward the roof Of Newcastle station,
and nodded at the dirty glass. Its
no every kind of post I'D take. For
example, I'd refuse AN afchbishopric,
as they say, the hours are too long;
and parliament never had taste for,
and the peerase is lovercrowded. But
a nice quiet Job as mayor, now,
where q cellar lis keepit in the town
holl-" "
a'By James, listen! My ships the
Wangaroo; she's lying in the river OF
the Dolly Stairs. II you show up there
tomorrow morning at 8 O'Clock, pass
ably sober, will do my best to give
you a Job. II you arrive drunk enough
to- disgrace me, I'll throw you into tho
river. Good night!',
Mr.. McTodd put his hands deep into
his jacket pockets. tilted the clay pipe
between his teeth till 1t assumed q
meditative cock, and gazed on the
rapidly retreating back Of his COM
panion.
,"Vara full of the importance of his
Draw new captains' ticket is yon. It's
q vara humorous situation, come to
think of It, Weel, I've put fine edge
on to his temper, which as like as not
some comparative stranger will benefit
by later on Oh, vera humorous!,
Captain Kettle, indeed. is he? Well,
I'll sail with him, II Z have to sign on
as donekey.man. There'll be no mo.
notony with Kettle as old man. Gosh!
He's the sort that would and trouble
in a ruridecanal meeting"
CHAPTER TX.
tThe Kangaroo was steamboat
with past. At her birth she had
been designed by naval architect
who was admittedly genius, but who
had the knack of never building boat
that paid. Her registered tonnage
was seven hundred fifty, and her horse
power oficially one hundred eighty
five. Her engines we're early triple
OF pattern and design
that were never repeated, and her
pumps were perpetual conundrum to
the unfortunates whose duty, it was to
overlook their eccentricities. She
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