The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-25

OA8~S - - 0B88ZS ~
pearance to . degree that permitted him
to walk about among people without caus-
ing q crowd to collect. Hicks, too, At
Owens suggestion. had adopted Quieter At
tire.
Just as the gangplank was about to be
pulled in the deckhands waited to permit
q very feeble and bent old man to hobble
up and get aboard. He had long. white
hair. and his face was mostly gray whisk-
ers, except pair Of dark spectacles. A
porter followed him bearing two brand
new suitcases.
The adventurous four were soon com
fortably perched in steamer chairs watch
ing New York harbor slip by them. They
had barely reached the Statue Of Liberty
when the pirate" launched forth on one
Of his Munchausen-like tales Of the sea.
Highly colored. picturesque. untrue and
absurd as stained glass window. never
theless these yarns took on a semblance
of reality from the character Of the mar
rator himself. In all his stories the
that steward had placed . fifth steamer
chair beside the sailor until that worthy
reached one of the main climaxes Of his
narrative. At that point he felt hand
ON his shoulder and looked around into
the whiskers and black spectacles of the
old passenger. The cackling voice re-
marked:
Its lie. It's lie. It's lie."
Every one was astonished, but even the
pirate" had q trace Of respect for such
great age. and said nothing In reply. After
while he continued. only to be inter
rupted by the same words.
This was too much to endure, and though
the pirate" held his tongue they rebuked
the old dotard by walking away and lean
ing over the rail. The conversation wan
dered to the subject Of sharks, and Pauline
asked If they were as stupid as they
looked.
Don't you believe It." the pirate as
assured her. Them sharks look stupid just
to fool you. Why, remember time not
so long ago down in Choco Bay, on the
coast Of Colombia, there was an old devil
who used to sneak up alongside sailin' yes
sells in . fog. He carried In his mouth
the big iron shank of an anchor he'd
picked up from the wreck"
What did he do that for?" asked Hicks.
$50 the iron would defect the compass
and make them run the ship onto the Kelp
Lodges, on the Pinudas Islands. II q ship
went down he stood good chance of eat
ing one or two o. the passengers. But
don't mind sharks. If you want to know
what really annoys me, it's them killer
, hales in the Antarctic that come a
crowdtn' and buttin' up against ye"@
ITS 4 lie. It's \ lie. It's ie." cackled
the same old voice. There stood "whisk-
ers" leaning on the rail beside them.
Pauline managed to prevent the pirate"
from telling the old man a few things. and
on they went again. Once more that day
the old man popped out from behind .
lifeboat and spoiled one of the sailors
yarns. After that they kept q watch for
him. and Boyd maintained an indignant
silence in his presence.
At dinner the pirate" awed by the
captains presence, confined his attention
strictly to eating until the commander left
the table. Pauline asked II the wicked
shark could still be seen in Choco Bay.
NO. he's gone now" said the pirate"
There were 80 many wrecks laid to him
that LlOyds sent a man down to catch
him. He had a hard time getting the willy
old beggar. He wouldn't bite on shark
hook or any Of that stun.
"Lloyds's man many nad to charter q
sailing vessel and wait for a fog The first
foggy night he sailed between the Islands
with dsh1n' outfit rugged special for this
shark. He swung the biggest magnet he
could ind from boom at the schooner's
catheads. He dashed small charge of
dynamite to the magnet and ran q wire to
q battery on board. Then he lowered the
magnet and dynamite about q fathom
under water and waited.
'sWell. sir, out came that shark as usual
with the iron in his mouth and snuggled
up alongside. But the first thing the shark
knew the magnet pulled him. iron and all.
up to it. It was so gentle he didn't sus-
pect nothin', but the Lloyds man felt q
little witch like bite. and he pushed the
button that touched on the dynamite. It
got him There he was. doatin' belly up,
next day. And would you believe It, on
my oath as an honest sailor man, they
found in that maneater's stomach',--
Its an internal. monumental. epoch
making lie," cackled voice behind him.
Every one looked. and there was the old
man taking seat beside the pirate"
Three indignant men and one girl who
couldn't quite keep from laughing promptly
left the table.
Tt. ssrsr.|ew -. now thorna,vJ,lv 49,