The evening world., 1914-05-07

"iou mean-Eet his ROM" he asked
hoarsely.
Just that-and hand him few
on his own account for what hap
pened UP on that deck"
Robert" the Brute said gravcly.
II wouldn't bother"
What would you do--just sit In
this filthy little hole"
why not'" asked Ryan. with some
logic. He can't do anything to us.
can he? We don't know what old
tub this is, and 1t doesn't matter
much. so long as she stays afoat.
We can't go tumbling around like this
forever. Some day we have to put in
somewhere. Then we can step off
aud start life over again. Iiuh?"
'But----" The leader OF the band
shrugged his shoulders and fell silent
again. Studying him, Ryan suspect
ed, not without fear. that he was
nurturing a new idea. lie trcmblei.
Ideas lately seemed worse than use
less to this interesting trio. Each
separate little idea had turned and
bitten them.
Bob" said the Snake. i've dealt
these cards thrc" times, and she comes
out for a journey every time. It's n
long Journey at that. I've mixed 'em
up every which way and | can't see
the end Of that journey. Come over
here and be human: take look and
Put 'en away" their guiding mind
responded unappreciatively Il know
now what wore going TO do"
They looked at him, and II is odd
Tint he did not note that each mans
face was paler than II had been a
moment ago.
Listen" said Pollard. 'Ive
thought the whole thing over; this Is
an act Of Providence, pure and sim
pie! The poor old fool shanghaied
US partly for spite and partly to save
wages on three hands-Ive got that
much doped out. Don't YOU see?
That's absolutely his limit"
II don't believe H." said the Brute.
We'll, know 1t. because I've
studied him pretty carefully" the
chief said confidently. This old
shell IN some i-cay.i tramp, prob
ably Velvet. or whatever his name IL.
has been captain of her ever since
she was built-and at "A rough guess
the crew wouldn't stand for any more
OF his lying and he had 10 go ashore
the last time he touched New York,
Just TO let of some ~ those idiot
warns on strangers that would stand
for them"
The diamond hazarded the
Brute.
Eyes. and the gold'" suggested tho
Snake
"They represent the savings Of "A
life time. probably: they're some kind
OF hobby with him and. taking an
other guess, I'll say he's about half
witted."
Eyes, but he saved IN" good half"
RYAN said grimly.
And as for the money he's carry
ing. 1t belongs. very likely, to the
dago he called Mike; and I won't at
tempt to MI In all tho details there,
because II makes no difference. any
way" pursued Pollard. What I'm
getting at is this; we're n good sight
better out of New York than in it,
You didn't SEQ last nights papers and
I didn't show them To either or you.
because you've been too nervous for
any Use lately, But some bright little
reporter got next to somebody In tho
district attorneys office and captured
quite n story. II was about us"
WHAT" snapped IN" Snake,
Fact. They're getting ready to
make some shining examples. and We
were to he tho first of the examples.
You know, first and last, they could
rake up about six dozen indictments,
and once the word went out 10 get
us"
wed been got" finished the Brute,
Wed have been good for twenty
years-easy," sighed the master mind,
80 we're just a little better off here;
and my luck's working YETI
where's IL been lately. Robby?"
Evans asked absently.
The leader of the band leaned closer
to them: his counten8nCe slowed
pure, happy professional enthusiasm.
Here We are, shanghaied. on
board We have an elderly party with
the same good old roll Also, We have
the ship herself Wen. We may have
been battered around little. boys.
but we're the same good little crew,
and nothing ever licked us yet. what
do We do?'
"Sit back and hold fast?" suggested
the Brute.