Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-04-26

this and that about him to tell
O'Rourke more plainly than words
that his profession was something
nautical: he was most probably a cap
tain. from certain air of determine
ton and command that lurked be-
meath his free-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 frightened-at least ques-
tioning-glance at O'Rourke. Then.
seeing that he was smiling in friend
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?" he demanded. with slight
ly aggrieved manner.
1T shouldn't take a man an hour to
guess that. captain-any more than
it 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 a bit. IT'S no clairvoyant
am" laughed O'Rourke. But | can
tell We 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.
Mines ole" the latter informed
him.
"Ole?" queried O'Rourke ''Ole
what?"
mot Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity.
Il didn't sly 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 l thought as 'ow
I'd tyke run up and see the city
-'aving 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"
"'Tis meself that knows that. sure"
assented the Irishman. Its but a
trifing difficulty about ready money
that detains me-" he pursued boldly.
with a confidential jerk of his head
There's a 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
enough to pay me passage-money a
dozen times over. I'm saying this to
ye in strict confidence, for, being an
1ich LOT
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
iy. "Umm. Fri don't mind
telling you. Mr.. O'Rourke, | some
times do a little in that line myself.
Being casual tramp and sometimes
,yd by for weeks at stretch for want
of consignment"
Not another word, captain. | un-
derstand perfectly. Will We be having
a bit of drink. now?"
Captain Hole would. 1T won't 'urt
to talk this over" he remarked Per
APPS we might myke some sort of a
decker"
Faith. tbs meself that's agreeable"
laughed the Irishman lightly
And when, at midnight that night.
he parted from a moist ard 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 a 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 AID star
ing thoughtfully into the disheveIled
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 be has five
pounds" announced O'Rourke later,
trowning obviously.
Five pounds happened to be the
sum he had agreed to pay Captain
| Hole for the accommodation 1t being
| further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adventurer
ashore at Alexandria and not part