American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-03-11
Copyright. 1914. BIZ Harold Macorathj

coat nor anchor would be visible with
out close scrutiny. Treasure: greed
cupidity, crime. Steve saw only tn,
treasure and not its camp followers
What did they call them ?-doubloonI
and pieces-of-elght?
He ate his supper with his mess
mates, and he ate heartily as usual
IL would have taken something more
vital than mere treasure to disturb
Steve Blossoms appetite. He wai
one of those enviable% individuals whose
imagination and gastric juices worl
at he same time. And while he ate
no planned. In the first place, he
would buy that home at Bedford; then
he would take over the ellison house
and live like a lord. II he wanted q
drink, all he would have to do would
be TO turn the spigot or tip a bottle;
and more than that, he'd have a bar
tender to do 1t. Onions! He swore
he would not have an onion within a
mile OF the Gilsen house. "Oniops!"
Quite unconsciously he spoke this word
aloud.
Huh? Well, II ye don't like onions,
md n hooker that packs violets in
her hold" was the cheerful advice
OF the mar at Steve's elbow.
WHO'S talkin' { your" grunted
Steve. "Wha' did / say?"
Onions. ye lubber! Don't we know
whit onions Is? Amt we smelt 'em
30 long that ye could stick yer nose
In tn starboard light an never smell
no kerosene? Onions! Pass tn
cavity"
Steve helped himself first. The man
who spoke bunked over him, and they
we're not on the best OF terms. There
was no real reason for this frank
antagonlsm; simply, they did not splice
any more effectually than cotton rope
and hemp splice. Sailors are moody
and superstitious; at least they gener-
ally are on hookers OF the Captain
Manners breed. Steve was supersti-
tious and jim Dunkers was moody and
had no thumb on his left hand. Steve
hated the sight of that red nubbin.
lie was quite certain that It had been
a whole thumb once. on the way to
gouge out somebody's eye, and had
Inadvertently connected with some
body's teeth.
Spanish doubloons and pearls and
diamonds and rubles! IL was mighty
hard not to say these words out loud.
too; blare them into the sullen faces
grouped around the table. lie was off
watch till midnight; and he was won
dering II he could get the box without
attracting the attention OF the lookout,
who had a devilish keen y for every
thing that stirred on deck or on water.
Well. he would have to risk It: but he
would walt till full darkness had fallen
over the sea and the lookout would be
compelled to keep his eyes off the
deck. The boys wanted him to play
cards.
Not for me. Busted. How long d.
Y thing $40 II last in New York. any
And he stalked out of the fore
castle and went down into the waist
o enjoy his evening pipe, all the
while keeping a weather eye forward,
the ratty old pilot house.
II was ten o'clock. land time, when
10 rammed his Guilty into a pocket
r~esolutely walked forward. III
my one watched him they would think
10 was only looking down the cut.
water. The thought OF money and
he pleasures II will buy makes cum
ling the stupidest Of dolts; and Steve
vas ordinarily a dolt. But tonight his
was keen enough for all pur-
1t was a hazardous Job to get
he box on the fiuke without letting
{ slip back into the sea. Steve. how.
'ver. accomplished the feat, climbed
Jack on the rail and sat down, wait
ng. A quarter OF an hour passed. No
me had seen him. With his coat Sc
'urely wrapped about his precious
he made for the f~orecastle. His
mates. save those who were doing
heir watch. yer all In their hunks.
IN oil lamp dlmly illuminated the for
ward partition. Steve's bunk was al
most In darkness. Very deftly he rolled
back the bedding and secreted the
under his pillows. and then
stretched himself out with the pre-
OF snoozins till the bell called
lin to duty.
He was rich; and the moment a
nan has money he has troubles;
here Is always some one who wants
o take 1t away from you. His bunk
vas on the port side. and there was
,lenty OF hiding space between the
ron plates and the wooden partition.
lie intented TO loosen three or four
and then when the time came.
the box behind them. Some time
the morning the foreeastle
would be empty, and then would BIO
ais time.
But he suffered the agonies OF dam.
nation during the four hours watch.
Supposing some fool should 20 rum.
about his bunk and discover
he hoxg suppose But he dared
lot suppose. There was nothing to do
but wait II he created any curiosity
,n the part OF his mates he was lost.
He would have to divide with them
al. from the captain down to the cooks
boy. II was a heart-rendiug thought
being the most open and frank