Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-09-12

WI TOT NV DN~ftU. HOW fuUH H
think so will lat ~ New York. anyhow
And he stalked ont ~ the foreraStle end
went down into the waist to enjoy his
evening pipe, all the while keeping a
weather eye forward. az the natty old
pilot house.
IL was 10 o'rl"rk. hand time. when he
rnmmed his Guilty INTO " pocket and resp
lutely walked forward. III any one watched
him they would think ne was only looking
down the cutwater. The Thought of money
and the pleasures ii will buy makes cun-
ming the stupide~t OF doltA: and Steve wa
ordinarily a dolt. But tonr.hi hi brain
was Keen enough for All purpose. II
was a hazardous job 10 get Inc box off the
flukc without letting il Zip back into the
sea. Steve. however, accomplished the
feat. climbed back on the rail and sat
down, waiting a quarter of an hour
passed. No one had seen him. With his
coat securely wrapped about his precious
find he made for the forecastle. Ills
mates, save those who were doing their
watch. were all in their hunks. An oil
lamp dimly Illuminated the forward nart;-
ton. Steve hunk was almost IN dark
nes~. Very deftly he rolled back the bed.
ding and Secrcted the box under his pil-
lows, and then stretched himself out with
the pretense of ~snoozing till the bcll called
him to duty.
He was rich; aud the moment a man
has money he has troubles there J. al
ways some one who wants to take il away
from you. His bunk was on the port side.
and there was plenty Of hiding space be-
tween the iron plates and the wooden par
tition He intended to loosen three or
four planks, and then when the tir,e came.
ship the box behind them. Some tire dur
ing the morning the forecastle wuuld be
empty, and then would be his time.
But he suffered the agonics Of damna-
ton during his four hours watch. SIM
posing some TOOL should 70 rummacinr
about hiS bunk and discover the box9
Suppose But Ne dared not sun
pose. There was nothing 10 do but wait.
IL he created any curiosity on the part Of
his mates he was lost. He would have TO
divide with them all, from the captain
down to the cooks boy. 1t was a heart
rcnding thought. From bcing the most
open and frank man aboard, he became
the most cunning. From being a man
without enemies, he saw an enemy even in
his shadow.
At ! o'clock he turned in and slept like
a log.
In the morning he found his opportunity.
For half an hour the forecastle was empry
Of all save himself. Feverishlv he pried
back the boards, found the brace beam.
and gently laid the box there. II was a
mighty curious looking box. Once he had
stocked up the Chinese coast from the
Philippines, and he judged 1t to be Chinese
IN origin. He tried to pry open the cover
and feast his eyes upon the treasure: but
under the leather and ivory and mother of
pearl was impervious steel. Il would take
an ak or a crowbar to stir that lid. lie
sighed. lie replaced the boards. and be-
came to all appearances his stolid self
again.
But all the way down to the Bahamas he
was moody, and when he answered any
question IT was with words spoken testify
and jerkily} ~ So
Il know whut's tn natter said Dunk
err. "He's in love-
"Shut yer mouth r.
"Didn't | tell yuh P- laughed the tan
~talizer. dancing toward the companion
way. "Steve's in love. n he didn't 81,
drunk enough on shore & satisfy his
whhle'> beIlyr'
A boot thudded spitefully against the
door lamb.
You fellahs let me alone, r III bash in
a couple o. headsr
20, yuh. will, will yuasr cried Dunkers
from the deck. "If YOU want n little ~
ercise' yny can begin on me. yum moon
sick swabl Nhut's tn matter with yuh.
anyhow Where'd yuh git this Crouch
Whut've we lone Z yuhl Huhf-
You keep out o my way, that's all. I'm
mindin' my watches. an don't ask no odds
~ you buffers What IL 7 have a crouch
y y any O your blame busincSs7 All
right. When We step ashore al tn Bahams.
Mister Jim Dunker,. I'll tear the ropes ont
o your pulleys and blocks. But till We
ga there, you { tn upper bunk an me 4
mine"
leave The or Crouch alone. Jim. TIL
mate won't stand for no S%crappin' aboard.
Wen nave tn thing done right in tn cns-
tom sheds. Wen have a finish fight.
Vueensberry rules. an may tn best man
win
"l'm within said Jim.
"SO'm l." agreed Steve. But Al. int.n.
lions were not honorable. lie proposed to
desert before any fight took place. Not
that he was physically afraid: no: no