The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-16
AWoman $ Game
By M. Quad
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure
N.,I Ilnr SNllIla.t
BY M. Quad

When Captain JaleZ Bebee OF Mar
blehead launched his new bri. ne
named her the Jane BeDee after MS
wife, who had sailed with him tor
usluy Il voyage and was almost us good
4 sailor as lie was. The first voyage
of the new brig was to u certain South
American country, ruled by dictator.
who carried things with high hand
for i've or six years and got away with
a lump of money just IN time to avoid
the revolution that his corrupt prac.
tices had evoked. The craft arrived
after II tine run and was waiting to
haul into the wharf when an otficial
came aboard and demanded bonus OF
81. 600 for permission to land the cargo.
This was In addition to customs dues
and port charges and was directly from
Don Castro. 1t was blackmnil pure
and simple, and Aunt Jane. as the cap
tain's wife was generally called. said
to her husband:
"Jabez Bebee. we won't pay 1t. and
you tell him 50 straight from the
shoulder No. not blessed penny:
The captain braced up and became
defiant. and Don Castro's messenger
was sent away with IL flea in his ear
1t was the general opinion that the die.
tator would wilt. But the brig was
held In the harbor for forty-eisht
hours on one pretense or another and
was forbidden to haul into the wharf
or set sail for another port Then
Jabez Bebee went ashore prepared to
assert and maintain that the govern
ment represented by the eagle would
stand no tritiing with one Of its rep
resentatives from Marblehead and in
command of new brig which had
logged Off seven knots an hour with
her yards checked in He had his
thunder duly prepared and his light
ming handy by. but he struck u snag
almost ut once. Don Castro was man
who would not stop to bluff the com.
bined powers Of the world II there had
been 500 in sight for him. The willy
old rascal also thoroughly understood
statecraft and the number OF years
that would slip by while the offended
government was making an official In.
vestigation into one Of his acts. Otiicial
or private.
PAY me a thousand dollars and you
can land your cargo" was his answer
to Captain Bebee.
Captain Rebee came aboard with a
long face. and in reply to his wife's
query he explained what had taken
place ashore. The matter was talked
over for an hour. and 1t was finally
decided that the captain should go
ashore again and try to buy Don Cas-
tro off for smaller sum. II he plead
ed poverty and INDUCED in no further
bluffs 1t was hoped that the dictator's
heart might be softened into accepting
about 5000. Ii was about 4 o'clock
when he was pulled ashore again. and
two hours later word was sent us by
Don Castro that Captain Bebee was In
Jail on the very serious charge Of try
ing to bribe the very highest officials
Of the country. When Aunt Jane had
got the situation straight In her mind
she promenaded mp and down with her
lips puckered up. At the end of about
ten minutes she walked up to the mate
with her face as hard rs stone and
said:
Look here. Samuel Davis Smithers.
are you a man or a scarecrow:
"I'll stand hy you in any plan you've
got" replied the mate.
And how about the rest of emp
"Thcy'll follow me to man"
The crew was called aft, and Aunt
Jane detailed her plan. AS a result
they lifted anchor and sailed out OF
the harbor about an hour before sun
down. The brig ran down the coast
fourteen miles and came to anchor In
IL bay reSorted to by the dye craft. and
all that night every man of the crew
was kept hard Mt work. While the
carpenter cut gun ports In the bul.
warks for four guns on n side men
went ashore and brought off eight logs
to represent cannons. These were
stripped of their bark. painted black
and rudeiy mounted. and. though the
sailors were bunglers at the business.
they gave the lane Bebee man-of
war look to make you thrill Viewed
from distance of half mile the
Quaker guns looked ready TO spout
flame and smoke and round shot as
big us beer kegs. and Aunt Jane rub
bed her hands and smiled and said.
Now for the rest of It."
One of the crew had drum and an
other Il fife and u third concertina.
and they were tolled off rs the band
From the slop chest and focastIe they
got enough garments to rig mp dozen
dummies and make them fast to the
bulwarks here and there. and they set
sail on their return to the port.
Straight up the hnrbor sailed the Jane
Rehee an hour after sunrise. but she
was barely broadside to the town and
her anchor down before boat pulled
Off from the mob with flag OF truce
flying. In that boat sat Captain Bebee.
who had been set at liberty with many
apologies.
"Jane." said Captain Bebee as the
brig cleared the harbor and the wood.
en- guns were tumbled overheard. you
are mighty smart woman. but can't
just understand II. How in the name
Of Goshen did you get the idea? | talked