The Lamar register., 1912-03-20
CHAPTER XXI.

known locally as Alden Back Bay, the
Panjnab came to anchor
O'Rourke. from the lower grating of
the steamships accommodation lad
der. signaled to one Of the swarm of
lowering dinghys, and waiting for 1t to
come in. reviewed the anchored ship
ping. gathered transiently together in
that spot from the four corners of the
earth. and shook his head Responding.
ly.
A yellow-haired SomaL boatman
shot his little craft In to the grating.
O'Rourke dropped upon the stern-seat
and took the tiller Post ONCE pier"
he said CURLY. The dinghy shot away
with dipping, dripping oars. while the
Irishman continued to search among
the vessels for anything that seemed
to promise the speed necessary for his
purpose. and failed to discover one.
"'Tis hopeless" he conceded bitter
ly as the boat wove a serpentine wake
in and out among the heaving bulks.
And. I'm thinking It's the O'Rourke
who will presently be sinking back to
confess he Dragged beyond his pow
Srs. The fool that ye are. Terence.
with your big words and your hne
promises. all empty a. your purse.
It's out Of patience am with - en-
tirsly!"
Doubtless he made the very picture
Of unhappinsss.
90. at least. seemed to think q ma
lounsing in = dilapidatsdscanvasd deck
chair beneath \ dirty awning in the
stern OF . distant tramp steamer:
who. raking the AFOREMENTIONED with
. pair Of rusty binoculars. had Glanced
to focus upon O'Rourks.
Looks a. II he hadn't Q friend IN
the world" said the man audibly.
Looks a. II . letter from home with
cash draft I'D about all his little bill"
He grunted in pleased appreciation
Of his own subtle wit. A short man
- was. stout. very much At home in
grimy pajamas and nothing else. with
eyes small. blue. informed with twin
king humor and set in . norid coun.
tsnance bristling with . three days
growth Of grayish beard.
He swung the glasses again upon
O'Rourke. and. He'll" he exclaimed.
sAhShB W WIN bkiAuiotoo lnkSICBl
We'll. by jinks!" said the stout man.
Who'd a-thunk IT."
He Got up with evident haste and
waddled forward to the bridge. where
he came upon what he evidently need
ed In his business: q huge and bat
tered megaphone. Applying this to
his lips and flling 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
ually located the source Of the up
roar. Now who the divvle might 70
be?" he wondered. "Ananias. me
frfend'-to the boatman-''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'R0irke's smile broadened to q
pleased grin. and airily he waved .
hand to the man with the voice.
Jimmy Quick!" he observed with
unfeigned delight. Filth. begin to
believe that me luck holds, after ALL"
From the bottom step Of the tramp's
ladder he tossed . coin to the boat
man. then mounted to the deck. In
continently the stout man fell heavily
upon his neck with symptoms Of ex-
IRENE Joy. A lull succeeding his first
transports. he wiped his eyes. bsamed
upon his guest and suggested insinuat-
ingly: DRINK"
"Brevity's ever the soul Of your
wit. captain" said O'Rourke. 81 will"
And he meekly followed Quick's bare
heels forward to the ofacsr's quarters
beneath the bridge.
Having set him In chair. Quick.
still a-gurgls. wandered on, unsarth-
cd . bottle. beamed upon his visitor.
asked . dozen questions in - many
hssatAs 80 without waiting - -