The Washburn leader., 1914-09-04
A SLEEK,
SLICK MAN
By M. QUAD
Copyright by Frank y. Munsey Co.


1881. was the name of James MelwilI
an Englishlnan. and if there ever was
sleeker, slicker man got into port
have not read of him.
No one seemed to know Jimmy, as
he asked us to call him. beyond know
ing that he lived up the country on a
big horse farm and was worth half a
million dollars.
When we came to shake ourselves
down aboard | noticed that there was
lot of rather tough looking men
among the steerage passengers. 1t
was explained that they were going to
the Cape to work on u new railroad.
AS near as could size them up they
were all colonials and men more used
to horses than picks and shovels. l
think the sleek Jimmy must have
caught me watching the steerage pas
to observe:
"There seems to be a fine lot of men
going out to the Cape with u.s.
LAS far as bone and muscle CO." l
replied.
Then he extended his cigar case, pro-
posed Il game Of eucher and the sub
ject was dropped. ! don't claim that
! was suspicious of Jimmy or that l
was disturbed by the gang in the steer
age On the contrary. l was perfectly
easy in my mind in all respects.
had in the Australian papers read that
the Ocean Queen was carrying home
more than IL million dollars in gold. In
fact. l had seen most of the boxes
brought and taken down to the strong
room. All other passengers must have
been aware of the treasure. but there
was little or no talk about it.
1t is Il wide eXpanse of ocean be-
tween the Cape and Australia, and at
the end of Il week we had all settled
down into grooves and fallen into a
monotonouS routine. Early one morn
ing Il sail was sighted dead ahead. and
almost as soon as she had been made
out it was seen that she had distress
flag flying. We ran down to within
half mile of her before o,lr engines
were stopped. Only three men We're
visible OI Ilci utCh. itlltl Sllt AsioI IL
boat in sight. The trio beckoned and
motioned that we should send IL bolt.
and the captain gave orders that one
should be lowered.
The boat had pulled half the distance
to the brig when we had something
nearer home to attract attention. The
sleek, slick little Jimmy suddenly held
q cooked revolver to the captains ear
and marched him into his stateroom.
Fourteen of the men from the steer
age, each armed with a pistol and
knife. suddenly appeared among us.
and it wasn't three minutes before the
whole crowd Of us were in the cabin
and guard over us. The engine room
was taken possession of at the same
. time. and the Ocean Queen had been
taken without shot being fired. The
brig was lying broadside to us. She
had two boats down on the far side.
with fifteen men in each boat. and as
soon as they had pulled around and
captured our yawl one boat load Of the
rascals came aboard the Queen and
the steamer was worked down along
side the brig. The sea was smooth.
and the fellows could lash the craft
together without fear Of disaster.
We had been taken completely by
surprise and had no show. They had
the gold out and transferred within an
hour. 1t is to the credit of the ras-
cally gang to say that they were under
good control and insulted no One Aft
er the gold was disposed of they rob-
bed the ship of lot Of bedding and
provisions. and at the last the sleek.
slick man came down into the cabin
to say u few words.
"My dear friends" he said. II do
not wish to search you one by one,
like footpad or bushranger. but
will trust to your honesty to hand over
your money and jewels. have fig
ured on about the amount should get
If get it no one will be further dis
turbed. If don't get it there will be
room aboard the brig for most of the
ladies'"
gave half my possessions. and !
presume the other passengers retained
share as well. but the money, watch
es. rings. brooches, etc.. laid on the ia
BILE before the pirate had a good round
value and seemed to satisfy him. He
swept everything into a sack. bade us
a fond adieu and within ten minutes
was sailing away in the brig. The en-.
gines were disabled before they left
and the crew of the mates boat was
sent back to us. and as no one had
been killed. we were fain to think we
had come of fairly well. We lay roll
ing in midocean for four days before
the engineer had made repairs. and by
that time the brig was several hundred
miles away. Even had we known her
course and position it would have
availed nothing. We made slow run
for the remainder of the voyage, and
It was three weeks before a man-of-
war started out to look for the pirate
craft. It had been job put up in
Australia, and it had worked to per-
1ection. 1t may be that the brig divid-
led the swag. but as she had dozen
different places to choose from, she
had no fear of capture. So far as /
had been able to learn she was never