Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-05-17

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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
ton 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
O'Rourke.
The man jumped with surprise and
shot frightened-at least ques-
tioning- glance at O'Rourke. Then.
seeing that he was smiling In friend
ly fashion. Gained and continued to
cool his face and heat his blood by
tanning himself vigorously with a
straw hat
low the dooce do you know I'm a
captain?" he demanded. with slight
ly aggrieved manner
1t shouldn't take 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 bit IT'S no clairvoyant |
am" laughed O'Rourke. But ! can
tell We me own. 'Tis O'Rourke. 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 o'Rourke., "ole
what?"
Not Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity.
Il didn't s'y 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 polite lie
THAT explyns it." agreed the molli-
fed man. TITS ole, plyn Wilrm 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. lust dropped
in for d'y or two to pick up bit
of cargo from 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. 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 day."
IT'S meself that knows that, sure g
assented the Irishman - IT'S but a
trifling 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 | don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying word. cap
.ta' but II could smuggle it 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
lsnglishman, We won't let on"
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
ly. 'Umm. Ell don't mind
telling you. Mr.. O'Rourke, some
times do little in that line myself
Being a casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at a stretch for want
of consignment"
Not another word. captain un-
derstand perfectly VIII We be having
bit of drink. now? ?"
Captain Hole would. TT 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 moist ard 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 ciasping 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 AID star
ing thoughtfully into the dishsvelled
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 live
pounds. announced O'Rourke later.
frowning obviously.
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 tn accompany the hdvanfurer