El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-12
A Tale Of A Torpedo
The Herald's Daily
ShortStOry

"slv" went on. Il found if in a. cave
in the cliff and I found it," he went on
slowly and with impressive emphasis,
because I put it there
His three listeners drew back in as
You put it there? You put a torpedo
in a cave and got so shillings for it2'
gasped Fatty"
Il did. But bless you, it wasn't a real
torpedo and at the memory of the
exploit sly" laughed quite heartily.
Then what in the name Of goodness
was it,"
You'd never guess; you amt clever
enough" said Sly with engaging
frankness; so I may as well tell you
When the Theater Royal al MulbOrO'
was burnt down, Bob Keymer, as keeps
the marine store In the High street,
bought CARLOAD of rubbish for few
shillings, thinking to find something
Saleable amongst 1t. Well, included In
the odds and ends was dummy tor
pedO that had been used in one of the
plays"
Hear. hear. muttered Fatty" who
was getting q little tired Of the story
and wanted to arrive at the part where
the money came in
TO cut it short. I say, I borrowed
the torpedo, took il down to the beach
it was as light as a feather, being
'cuer-and tucked it away in cave
Then wandered along the beach, iner-
cent like"-he had to chuckle again
"and, getting in touch with a boats
crew told EN- I could put en- on to
good thing if they gave me bit for my
trouble Knowing as how they would
get five pounds for ii, and being young,
green chaps, they swallow the story,
dubbed together, and gave me two
pound then, and then went off in high
spirits to the cave which / pointed out
to 'em. I guess their high spirits didn't
last long when they found If was only
an old dummy But / didn't wait TO
see" he added Il kept out Of the way
until the squadron had weighed anchor,
and then"
Then what9" asked Gabbitt
Il went down to the cave, lugged the
torpedo back to Bob Keymer's yard.
and gave him shilling for the loan
Mr.. Shone gazed round the circle and
then whispered, Why not try the trick
again? 1t amt the same squadron, you
know, or else 1t might be dangerous.
But a new set Of men viii never smell
= rat and I don't see no reason by il
shouldn't work as well now as it did
then"
The chance of earning half a sover-
eign was too attractive one to be al
lowed to slip and so no time was lost
in paying a visit to Bob Keymer's yard
and Juggling the torpedo to the seashOre
and slowing it away. under "Sly's' eX-
perienced directions, in 4 convenient
cave. This done to the complete salts
faction Of the conspirators, a boats
crew, patrOlling the shore, was hailed
and the information impaired that
what they we're in search Of was close
at hand.
And what do you want for giving
us the til: sang out the boatsWains
thin-faced chap.
sly" ShOne started by asking three
pounds, but this being laughed out of
coTrt, he finally came down to two
pOUnds-"not a shilling under; take it
or leave it."
To his annoyance the bo'sun didn't
close with the offer with the celebrity
he had expected
He stood up in the boat with a funny
sort of grin on his tace anG eyed sly
Take it or leave it repeated sly.
Wen leave it said the bO'sun, for
the present. Wen talk it over and
come back in a quarter of an hour"
The boat moved away, and sly"
watching it from the corners Of his
eyes, observed the bO'sun in close con-
verse with the crew a few strokes
brought the boat to the little jetty, and
the bOsun, climbing the seaweed COW
cred ladder, approached seafaring
man who was reclining gracefully
against a Windlass.
sly" knew him
Wonder what that thin-faced chaps
talking to i'm about ruminated
sly"
Whatever the subject might be- the
conversation was soon over. The
TO the spot where" sly" was standing.
We've thought it over" shouted the
bo'sun, grinning more than ever, anu
if YOU won't come down"
Not a penny" said "Sly" repeating
his favorite expression; take it or
''Righto." said the bo'sun; "the mon
cash down" said sly" firmly,
scarcely able TO restrain his excite
ment at the extraordinary success OF
his second attempt.
Not much" said the bO'sun- TOR
pedder first; money afterwards
Then there's no deal" said sly
sUIkily.
The bO'sun Winked.
Now, lads he yelled.
Acting apparently on prearransed
signal a couple of brawny tars leaped
out of the boat, waded through the wa
ter seized the astOnished sly and
had him on board before you could
say knife" Then, bending TO their
oars, they put a longish stretch of salt
water between 'Sly" and dry land.
Then the bosun spoke.
Same old game, 1 suppose once DIT;
twice shy. That's my motto. I've had
some and I amt taking any more. /
had it two years ago, and haven't Tor
gotten it. You didn't recognize me? 1
thought not. But I remembered you.
Why. you amt changed a bit. Some
old face, same old cheek, same old dunn
my. I'll be bound"
sly" said nothing. Words failed
him.