The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-06-13

ORourke more plainly than words
that his profession was something
nautical he IA most probably a cap
tain, from a certain air Of determine
ton and command that lurked be
meath his fr~ee-and-easy manner
Therefore, having summed the
stranger up in a glance. And when
did ye 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 a friend
" 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 a
%captain?" be demanded, with a slight
" aggrieved manner.
1T shouldn't AXE a man an hour TO
guess that. captain-any more than
It would to pick ye out for an Eng
nshman."
The captain stared. gray eyes wild
ening. An perhaps you'll tell me my
nyme next?" be suggested rather
t%ruculently.
"Diyvle a bit. 'Tis no %elairvoyant 1
am" laughed O'Rourke. But can
tell We me own. IT'S O'Rourke. and
tbs delighted I am to meet a white
man In this heather country. Sir. your
handl"
ua prt bge ovyn ooroes tba tahta 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 aspeTity.
Il didn't s'y ole. | sgd ole"
"Of course" O'Rourke assented
gravely. I'm stupid. Captain Hole.
and a 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 hndled in
O'Rourke's eyes. He reviewed the man
with more respect. as due to one who
might prove useful And bound-2"
he insinuated c|raftily.
Alexandria. Just dropped
in for a d'y or two to pick up a bit
of cargo from a 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. y'know."
Surely" sighed O'Rourke. a 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 Pelican's a slow old
tramp. You can pick up a swifter pas
sage on 'arf-a-dozen boats a day"
TITS meself that knows that. sure
assented the Irishman. "'Tis but
trihing difficulty about ready money
that detains me-" he pursued boldly
with a confidential jerk of his head
There's a bit of stuf-no matter
what-that l don't want to pas,
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying a word. cap
ta', but If / could sruggle 1t into
Egypt. the profit would be grea.
enough to pay me p-assage-money
dozen times yer I'm saying this L
We in strict confidence. for. being al
Englishman. ye won't let on"
Never fear, Hole asserted stout
ly. "Umm, Er--l don't mine
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 wan
of consignment"
Not another word. captain. I un
derstand perfectly VIII We be having
a bit Of a drink. now?"
Captain Hole would 1T won't ur
to talk this over he remarked. Per
APPS we might myke some sort Of
{ dicker."
Faith. It's meself that's agreeable
laughed the lrishman lightly
And when, al midnight that night
be parted from a moist and seuti
mental sailor-man whose capacity 10.
} -liquor-even including the indescrib
dUNE ndAlNH lNAaAhalp anu MabAtuA-
had proved enormous. the arrangement
r had been arrived at. signed. sealel
and delivered by a clasping Of hands
And 1t was ORourke was the happ!
= man,
'Tis Danny who'll be giving M
: the welcome, he assured himself. sil
J ting on the edge Of his bed and star
ing thoughtfully into the %dishevene,
, depths Of the battered steel kit-bo.
5 that housed everythin8 be owned q
! the world-for he was packing to jon
the Pelican at noon.
I Il hope to hivep he has NV.
pounds" announced O'Rourke lntel
{ frowning dubiously
Nve pounds happened to be th
sum ne had agreed TO pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation II bein.
further conditioned that the latte
wss TO accompany the adventure
ashore at Alexandria and not par