The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-06-07
CHAPTER XXI.

Lurching ~drunkenly into the harbor
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 diughys, and waiting for II TO
come In, reviewed the anchored ship
ping, gathered transiently together in
that spot from the four corners Of the
earth, and shook bis head responding.
ly,
A yellow.hRIred somali boatmsn
shot bis little craft in to the grating,
O'Rourke dropped upon the ~stern-seat
and took the tiller. Post ONCE pter,"
be said CURLY, The dinghy shot away
with dipping, dripping oars. while the
lrishman continued to search among
the vessels for anything that seemed
to promise the speed necessary for his
purpose, and failed 10 discover one,
TITS hopeless" he conceded bitter.
ly as the boat woye a serpentine wake
In and out among the heaying bulks.
And, I'm thinking, It's the O'Rourke
who will presently be sinking back TO
confess be Dragged beyond his pow.
ers. The fool that ye are, Terence.
with your big words and your fine
promises, all empty as -FOUR purse!
tbs out Of patience | am with We en-.
tirely!"
Doubtless he made the very picture
Of uDhappiness.
So, at least. seemed to think a man
Longing in a dilapidated canvas deck.
chair beneath a dirty awning In the
stern OF a distant tramp steamer:
who, raking the shoreward, bound with
a pair Of rusty binoculars, had CHANGED
to focus upon ORourke.
Looks as II he hadn't q friend in
the world" said the man audibly,
Looks as II a letter from home with
cash draft nd about I'LL his little bill"
He grunted in pleased appreciation
Of his own subtle wit A short man
he was, stout, very much at home In
grimy paiamas and nothing else. with
eyes small, blue, informed with twin.
king humor and set In q ford coun.
tenance bristling with a three days
growth Of grayish beard.
He swung the glasses again upon
O'Rourke, aud, He'll" he exclaimed,
sitting up with stimulated interest.
Well by jinks!" said the stout nan
Who'd a.thunk tn"
lie got up with evident haste and
waddled forward to the bridge, where
be came upon what he evidently need.
ed In hts business: a huge and bat.
tered megaphone, Applying this to
his lips and filling his lungs be bel
lowed with a right good will, and his
hail not unlike the roaring OF an
amiable bull. awoke Aden's echoes:
"O-o.Rourkei"
Good morning" murmured the IRISH.
man, lifting his head TO stare about
him with ln~credulous curiosity.
Who's that barking at me?"
The paiama'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 We
be-" he wondered. "AnaniaR. me
friend"-to the hoatman--"row to tho
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,
ORourke's smile b~roadened 10 a
pleased grin. and airily he waved a
hand TO the man with the voice.
Jimmy Quick!" be observed with
unfeigned delight Faith, | begin to
believe that me luck holds. after ALI"
From the bottom step Of the tramp's
ladder he tossed a coin 10 the boat.
man, then mounted to the deck. In.
continently the stout man fell heavily
upon his neck with symptoms OF q.