The Elbert County tribune., 1912-04-05

that his profession was something
nautical; he was most probably a cap
tain. from certain air of determine
ton and command that iurked be-
meath his free-and-easy manner.
Therefore. having summed the
stranger up In glance. And when
did ye get in. captain?" inquired
O'Rourke.
The man jumped with surprise and
shot a frightened-at least a ques-
tioning-glance at ORourke. Then.
seeing that be was smiling in friend
ly fashion. Gained and continued to
cool his face and heat his blood by
tanning himself vigorously with
straw hat
"'Ow' the dooce do you know I'm a
captain?" he demanded. with a slight
ly aggrieved manner
1T shouldn't take man an hour 10
guess that captain-any more than
1t would to pick ye out for an Eng
lishman."
The captain stared. gray eyes wild
ening. AN perhaps you'll tell me my
trucuiently.
"Divvle a bit 'Tis no clsirvoyant
am" laughed O'Rourke. But can
tell ye me own. Tis O'Rourke. and
It's delighted l am to meet white
man In this heather country Sir. your
handl"
He put his own across the table and
gripped the captains heartily.
Mines Ole" the latter informed
him
"ole?" queried oRourke "ole
what?"
Not Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity
II didn't sly ole. | sgd Ole"
"Of course" O'Rourke assented
gravely. 'T'm stupid. Captain Hole.
and bit deaf in me off ear" This.
however. was a polite lie
That explyns It," agreed the molli-
| fed man. ITS Ole plyn Willm ole.
master of the Pelican. fryghter. Just
in from Malta"
A light OF interest kindled In
ORourke'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 run up and see the city
-'aving bit of time free. y'knows
Surely" sighed O'Rourke. a far
away look in his eyes. For Alexan-
dria, eh? Faith. I'd like to be sailing
with ye."
Again the captain eyed o'Rourke
askance. 'Wot for?" he demanded
directly. The Peicans slow old
tramp. You can pick up swifter pas
sage on 'arf-a-dozen boats day"
'Tis meself that knows that, sure"
assented the Irishman. "'Tis but a
trifling 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 don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying word. cap
tai. but If could smuggle 1t 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
|
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
ly. "Umm. Er-I don't mind
telling you. Mr.. O'Rourke. | some
times do a little in that line myself.
Being casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at stretch for want
of consignment
MOT another word. captain | un-
derstand perfectly. VIII ye be having
a bit of 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"
laughed the Irishman lightly.
And when. at midnight that night,
| he parted from a moist and senti-
mental sailor-man. 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 O'Rourke 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
ing thoughtfully into the dishevelIed
depths of the battered steel kit-box
that housed everything he owned in
the world-for he was packing to Join
the Pelican at noon.
'I hope to hiven he has five
pounds" announced O'Rourke later.
frowning dubiously.
Five pounds happened to be the
sum he had agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation. It being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adventurer
ashore at Alexandria and not part