Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-03-13

care me captain and nrst Oi.luel, sun
waiting at the gangway. From over
side arose the splutter of launch-a
raucous sound, yet one that barely rip
pied the surface of O'Rourke's con-
sciousness. He stepped quickly to
the captains side and touched him
gently on the arm. y
"Captain," he said quickly, '1ll be
asking the favor of word with ye In
private"
4 Hole caught the CLEAN of the Irish
5man's eye in the lamplight and
sstepped back a pace.
"Get forrard," he said curtly. "Carn't
iyou see the customs officer coming
aboard? I'll see you later"
"Ye will not. Yell hear me now,
Icaptain-"
Hole backed further away. 'Wot!"
he barked hoarsely, raising his voice.
= ss"Wot! I'll show you 'oo's master
aboard this ship. Get forrard to your
quarters! s'help-me-gawd!" he ex-
'ploded violently. 900 ever heard the
; like of it?"
O'Rourke stepped nearer, his fists
closing. Drop that tone, ye scud!"
he cried. "D'ye want me to spoil your
little gamer"
> The shot went home. The captain
gasped, and in the darkness O'Rourke
fancied he lost a shade or two of his
ruddy color.
"Wotcher meaD?" he demanded, low
ering his tone.
l 81 mean," replied o'Rourke in a
quick whisper, "that the Egyptian Gus
toms officer is at the side. Return
what ye've stolen from me this day,
: or I'll tell the whole harbor what
ye've been up to! And, if ye want
me to be more explicit, perhaps the
word hashish' will refresh your MEM
, ory!"
"I'll talk to you later"
Yell give me back me property this
minute Or"
o'Rourke was at the rail in a stride.
"Shall l tell him." he demanded.
A swift step sounded beside him.
He turned an instant too late, who had
reckoned without Dennison.. AS he
moved to protect himself the first Of
ficer's fist caught the llishman just
under the ear. And one hundred and
seventy-five pounds of man and malice
were behind it. O'Rourke shot into
the scuppers as though kicked by a
mule. struck his head against piece
of iron work and lay still, half
stunned, shutting his teeth savagely
upon a moan.
Hole and the first mate stood over
him, and the captains voice, guarded
but clear enough, came to his ear:
You'll lie there, me man, and not
so much as a whimper till l give you
leave. Take 'eed wot says. Mr..
Dennison ere is goin' to clean is re-
volver."
o'Rourke lay silent, save for his
quick breathing. The first officer,
grinning maleyolently, sat down near
at hand, keeping basilisk eye upon
the PROSTATE man while he fondled an
bodied, hammerless Webley.
Hole moved off towards the gang
way, whence his voice arose, an in
slant later, greeting his visitor. The
latter put a hurried question, which
o'Rourke did not catch, but the cap
tain's reply was quick enough:
"Only a mutinous dorg of a deck
and. Wanted shore leave and refused
to go forrard when ordered. E amt
'urted none. Mr. Dennison ere just
gyve I'm a tap to keep him quiet"
The Irishman swore beneath his
breath and watched the first officer.
The light from the lantern at the
gangway glanced duly upon the pol
ished barrel of the revolver, and the
cleaning line was steadily directed
towards O'Rourke's head. Upon re-
consideration he concluded to lie still,
ito wait and watch his opportunity;
for the present, at least, he was in
disposed to question Dennison's will
lingness to use the weapon. O'Rourke
was to be kept quiet at all hazards,
and he knew it full we'll; for once he
conceded discretion the better part Of
valor, and was patient.