River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-05-09

gravely. I'm stupid. Captain Hole,
and a bit deaf in me off ear" This.
however, was polite lie
That explyns it," agreed the molli-
fed man. Its ole, plyn Wiu'm ole.
master of the Pelican. fryghter. Iust
in from Malta"
A light of interest kindled in
O'Rourke's eyes. He reviewed tie 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 l 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 a slow old
tramp. You can pick up a swifter pas
sage on arf-a-dozen boats a day."
"'Tis meself that knows that. sure"
assented the Irishman. Its but
trifiing difficulty about ready money
that detains me" he pursued boldly,
with 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 a word, cap
tai. but if | could smuggle il 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
Englishman. We won't let on"
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
ly. Umm. Err 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 a stretch for want
of consignment"
Not another word, captain. | un-
derstand perfectly. Will We be having
a bit of a drink, now?"
NdpIdiA A1O4e WOuIu. IL won I 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 retsinatoI 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.
IT'S 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 dishevelled
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.
Il hope to hiven he has five
pounds announced O'Rourke later,
frowning obviously
Five pounds happened to be the
sum he had agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation. 1t being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adventurer
ashore at Alexandria and not part
from him till the money was forth
coming: something which irked the
Irishman's soul. why could he not
take me word for it?" he demanded
Of midnight darkness tempered by
feeble lamplight. But. faith, forget
what I'm dealing with. Besides, it's
sure l am to find Danny"
He arose and resumed his packing.
blowing an inaudible little air through
his puckered lips. "Divvilish awkward
if | don't BY the Gods! I'd
all but misremembered
He failed to state exactly what he