The Farmington times., 1912-07-04

ORourke more plainly than words
that his profession was something
nautical; he was most probably a cap
tain. from certain air OF determina-
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 a frightened--at least n ques-
tioniag-glance at O'Rourke. Then.
seeing that he was smiling In a friend
ly fashion, calmed and continued to
cool his face and heat his blood by
tanning himself vigorously with a
straw hat
'Ow the dooce do you know I'm n
captain?" he demanded. with slight.
y aggrieyed manner.
1T shouldn't take a man an hour to
guess that. captaln-any more than
It would to pick yo out for an Eng
lishman."
Tho captain stared. gray eyes Wild
ening. An perhaps you'll tell me my
nyme ncxt?" he suggested rather
truculenty.
"Diyylc Il bit. 'Tis no clalrvoyant |
am" laughed O'Rourke But can
tell ye me own. 'Tis ORourke and
It's delighted | am to meet white
man in this heather country. Sir. your
hand."
lie put his own across the table and
gripned the captains heartily.
Mines Ole" the latter informed
him.
"olc?" queTIed oRourke. "ole
what"
Not Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity.
Il didn't sy Ole. | sgd Ole"
"Of course" O'Rourke assented
gravely. I'm stupid. Captain Hole.
and a bit deaf In me on ear" This,
however was a polite lie
"That explyns IT," agreed the moll-
fed man. IT'S Ole. plyn WIll'm Ole.
master OF the Pelican, fryghter, Just
in from Malta"
A light of interest klndled In
O'Rourkes eyes. He reviewed the man
with more respect. az due to one who
might prove useful And bound-7"
he insinuated craltily.
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
ia tyke n run up and see the city
-'aying a bit of time free, y'know."
Surely" sighed ORourke, a far.
away look In his eyes. For Alexan-
dria, eh? Faith. I'd like to be sailing
with ye."
Again the captain eyed ORourko
askance. "Wot for?" he demanded
directly. The PelIcan's slow old
tramp. You can pick up a swIfter pas.
sage on 'arf-a.dozen boats day"
"'Tis meself that knows that, sure"
assented the lrishman. IT'S but q
triflng difficulty about ready money
that detains me-" he pursued boldly,
with confidential jerk OF his head.
There's bit OF stuff-no matter
what-that don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying word, cap
tai, but II ! could smuggle It into
Egypt. the profit would be great
enough to pay me passage.money
dozen times over. I'm saying this to
ye in strict confidence, for, being an
Englishman. ye won't let on"
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
ly. "umm. Er-l don't mind
telling you, Mr.. o'Rourke, some
timed do a little In that line myself.
Being casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at a stretch for want
OF consignment"
Not another word, captain. un.
derstand perfectly VIII ye be having
G bit OF a drink. now"
Captain Hole would. 1T won't 'urt
to talk this over" he remarked. Per.
APPS we might myke some sort OF a
dicker."
Faith. It's meself that's agreeable"
IaubhSu 'ho iliHHuldu HeHtly.
And when. at midnight that night, |
he parted from moist and senti-
mental sailor man. whose capacity for
including 70 indescrib.
able native retsinato and masticha-
had proved enormous, the Arrangement
had been arrived at. signed, sealed
and delivered by clasping Of hands.
And It was O'Rourke was the happy
man.
"'Tis Danny who'll be giving me
he welcome" he assured himself, sit
ing on the edge OF his bed and star
ng thoughtfully into the disheveIled
iepths OF the battered steel kit.box
hat housed everything he owned in
he world--for he was packing to join
he Pelican at noon.
II hope to hiven he has five
pounds" announced O'Rourke later,
obviously.
Five pounds happened to be the
'um he had agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation. It being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adveptursr
,shnrs at Alexandria and not pari