The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-04-26

Athens heated streets
His dress was rough, and there was
this and that about him TO tell
O'Rourke more plainly than words
that his profession was something
nautical; he was most probably cap
tain, from certain air of determine
tion and command that lurked be-
meath his free-and-easy manner.
Therefore, having summed the
stranger up in a glance. And when
did We get in, captain?" inquired
ORourke.
The man jumped with surprise and
shot a frightened-at least ques-
tioning-glance at O'Rourke. Then.
seeing that he was smiling in a friend
ly fashion, Gained 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 a
captain?" he demanded, with a slight
ly aggrieved manner
1T shouldn't take a man an hour to
guess that, captain-any more than
1t 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 I can
tell ye me own. IT'S ORourke, and
It's delighted am to meet a 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 oRourke. "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 a bit deaf in me off ear" This,
however, was a polite lie.
THAT explyns it," agreed the molli-
fed man. TITS 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 a chap down at Piraeus.
It's devlish 'ot and | thought as 'ow
I'd tyke a 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 slow old
tramp. You can pick up swifter pas
sage on 'arf-a-dozen boats day"
otis meself that knows that, sure"
assented the Irishman. "'Tis but a
trihing 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 l don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying word, cap
tain, but If I could smuggle 1t into
Egypt, the profit would be great
enough to pay me passage-money a
dozen times over. I'm saying this to
We in strict confidence, for, being an
Engllshman, ye won't let on" o.
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
ly. "Umm. Fri don't mind
telling you, Mr.. ORourke. some
times do a little in that line myself
Being a casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at stretch for want
of consignment"
Not another word captain I'M
derstand perfectly. VIII ye be having
a bit of a drink, now"
Captain Hole would. ut won't 'urt
to talk this over" he remarked. Per
haps we might myke some sort of a
dicker,"
Faith, It's meself that's agreeable"
laughed the Irishman lightly.
And when, at midnight that night.
he parted from a moist and sentl-
mental sailor-mans 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 ORourke was the happy
man.
"'Tis Danny who'll be giving me
the welcome" he assured himself, sit
ting on the edge of his bed and star
inc +houghtflIfIv into the dishevaIlad