The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-07-18

He grunted in pleased appreciation
of his own subtle wit A short man
be was, stout, very much at home In
grimy pajamas and nothing else, with
eyes small, blue, informed with twin
king humor and set IN forid coun-
tenance hristling with three days
growth of grayish beard.
He swung the glasses again upon
O'Rourke, and. He'll" he exclaimed.
sitting up with stimulated interest
well, by jinks." said the stout man
Who'd a-thunk it?'
He got up with evident haste and
vaddled forward to the bridge, where
he came upon what he evidently need
ed in his business: a huge and bat
tered megaphone. Applying this to
his lips and filling his lungs he bel
lowed with a right good will, and his
hail. not unlike the roaring Of an
amiable bull, awoke Aden's echoes:
'O-o-Rourke"
Good morning" murmured the Irsh-
man, lifting his head to stare about
him with incredulous curiosity.
Who's that barking at me?"
The pajama'd person continuing to
shout at the top Of his voice, by dint
Of earnest staring the Irishman event.
ual1y located the source Of the up
roar. Now who the divvle might ye
BET" he wondered. "Ananias, me
friend"-to the boetman-"row to the
steamer yonder where the noise comes
from"
Whereupon the stout man, seeing
the boat alter its course, put aside the
megaphone. And again peace brooded
over Alden.
On nearer approach to the tramp
O'Rourke's smile broadened to q
pleased grin, and airily he waved q
hand to the mn with the voice.
Jimmy Quick!" he observed with
unfeigned delight Faith, l begin to
believe that me luck holds. after ALT
From the bottom step Of the tramp'a
ladder he tossed q coin to the boat
man. then mounted to the deck. In
continently the stout man fell heavily
upon his neck with symptoms Of e1'
treme Joy. A lull succeeding his first
transports, he wiped his eyes. beamed
upon his guest and suggested insinuat
ingly: Drink"
"Brevity's ever tho soul Of your
wit. captain" said O'Rourke. '1 will -
And he meekly followed Quick's bare
heels forward to the officers quarters
beneath the bridge.
Having set him in q chair, Quick.
still a-gurgle. wandered OF. unearth.
ed bottle, beamed upon his visitor.
asked dozen questions in as many
treaths and, without waiting for an
answer, waddled oft again to return
with a brace OF dripping soda-water
bottles. "Schweppes." he said, pat.
ting their rotund fosms tenderly:
"and the last in our 'lockers-all in
your honor, colonel"
"So?" commented O'Rourke. Hard
up, is It? 'Tis not the O'Rourke who
would be wishing ye Ill. captain, dear,
but, faith, meself's not sorry to hear
that word this day. I'm thinking me
luck is sound, after all"
Quick had again vanished. Present
ly O'Rourke heard his mighty voice
booming down an engine-room ventila-
tor. "Dravos! Dravos, you loafer!
Come up and see strange sight!"
He came back, still vibrant with an
elephantine sort Of Joy. "O'Rourke, /"
he painted, mopping damp brow with
the sleeve of his jacket, you're a
good sight for sore eyes. Never did
we meet up with you yet but there
came a run Of luck"
"'Tis good hearing" said O'Rourke,
smiling.
A slight little man slipped bald
head, relieved by ragged patches Of
gray hair about the temples, apollo
geticaily into the cabin door.
"The top of the day to ye. Dravos!"
said O'Rourke loudly. for little Dravos
was partially deaf. "And how are the
engines?"
The engineer carefully hitched up
his trousers and regarded the wander
er with temperate geniality.
Good afternoon, Colonel O'Rourke, /"
he replied, clipping his words mincing-
ly. Very nicely, thank you"
He shook hands, sat down on the edge
of a berth with the manner of one
who fears he intrudes, and glanced
searchingly at Quick. IF you're go
ing TO serve the drinks, cap'n," he
snapped acidly. hump Yourself"
He accepted his glass with dis
| passionate air and drank hastily after
q short nod to the guest, as one who
sacrifices his personal inciinations to
the laws of hospitality. But from his
after-glow OF benevolence, O'Rourke
concluded that the drink had not been
unwelcome.
What brings you here?" demanded
Quick In a subdued roar.
sSI,ra ioh for Va ~ sO ne ~ we're