The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-20

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 ''Let me have your tickets,'' he com handed us shortly.
 He indorxed them and handed them to the clerk. together w.11h a written order. We all sat in aEyoIute silence for perhaps five minutes. Then the clerk returned with handful of gold. This Brown counted over and shove9 across to Talbot The latter also counted it and thrust it in his pocket.
 Now said Brown, with something eapproae hing geniality, "I am counting on your honor to say nothing of this outside. am gambling on your evi- dent class in life at home"
 You have our promise, and it will be kept" said Talbot.
 At our place we found that Tank had not returned. At first we thought nothing of this, but about dusk we found that all his belongings had dis appeared.
 We could not understand this sud den departure, except on the possible ground that Tank, realizing that now the party must split forces, had decid- ed to seek new companions among those lucky enough to sail on the first steamer.
 Even then he needn't have been in such a hurry" complained Johnny trfhe bitterly. rAnd he needn't have thought we'd be in his way
 <sHas he paid his share of the Iodg- ings2" it occurred to me to ask.
 We felt quite bitter against Yank, and we carefully avoided his usual rhaunts. for we did not want to meet him. Then we began to think it strange we had not run across him somewhere on the streets. Then we began to look for him. We found that Tank had disappeared!
 At that, little alarmed, we set our selves toSa serious search and inquiry. A few remembered to have seen him, but were vague as to when and where. The authorities moved sluggishly, and with 1l&tIe enthusiasm. Men were dy- ing every day and disappearing under ground, leaving no trace of themselves behind One more or less seemed un- important.
 In the meanwhile we spent much of our time by the shore, together with comfortable majority of our fellow argohauts, awaiting the sighting of a vessel. We had engaged and paid daily a boatman to be in readiness to take us of, and we settled our lodg- ings account a week ahead.
 There's going to be a scramble for that blessed ship" said Talbot, "and we'll just be prepared"
 T that end we also kept our effects packed and ready for instant removal
 The expected ship came, of course, on one of these dull gray days, and those who had thought themselves un- lucky in being crowded out of the huts were the first to sight her. They sneaked down very quietly and tried to launch two of the boats. Of course the native boatmen were all inside; trust them! As a high surf was run ming, and as none of the men were in any sense good boatmen, they prompt 1y broached to and filled. The noise brought us to the door.
 Then there was fine row. One of the two boats communicated by the early birds happened to be ours All our forethought seemed to have been in vain. The bedEaggled and crest fallen men were Just wading ashore when we descended upon them TaI- bot was like raving lunatic-
 <sYou houndsY' he roared. Don't you dare try to sneak of! You catch hold here and selp empty these boats! ; You would, would you?'' He caught one escaping worthy by the collar and jerked him so rapidly backward that his heels fairly cracked together. John ny flew 10 the combat with a chuckle