The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-20

Far. far from It, But you seem 10
Ike us"
/ He knit his brows.
81 can't explain. They are the class
/ of cheap politician that brings into dis
repute the chivalry of the south, sir"
Talbot and burst into shout of
laughter and even Yank, leaning at
tentively on the long barrel of his pea
rife. grinned family. We caught John
nv up on that word. and he was game
enough to take it well. Whenever
something particular had happened to
be also southern we called it the chlv-
airy. The word caught hold, so that
later 1t came to be applied as a gener-
ic term to the southern wing of venal
politicians that early tried to control
the new state of California.
/ must confess that IL had been
Johnny should have stepped more
carefully with these men. They were
dark. suave lot and dressed we'll. In
fact, they and half dozen obviously
professional men alone in all that ship
wore what we would call civilized
clothes. / do not know which was
more incongruous, our own red shirts
or the top hats, flowing skirts and light
pantaloons of these quietly courteous
gentlemen. They were quite as well
armed as ourselves, however, wearing
their revolvers beneath their armpits
or carrying short double pistols. They
treated Johnny with an ironically ex-
aggerated courtesy and paid little at
tention to his high airs. 1t was obvi-
GUS, however, that he was making en-
emles.
Talbot Ward knew everybody aboard,
from the captain down. His laughing.
half aloof manner was very taking,
and hig ironical comments on the vari-
GUS points of discussion somehow con-
veyed no sting. He was continually
accepting gifts of newspapers-Of
which there were a half thousand or
so brought aboard-with every appear
Gnce of receiving a favor. These pa
pers he carried down to our tiny box
of room and added to his bundle. l
supposed at the time he was doing all
this ON Moliere's principle, that one
gains more popularity by accepting a
favor than by bestowing one.
In the early morning one day we
came In sight of a round, high bluff
with castle atop, and a low shore
running away. The ships man told
US this was Chagres.
This news caused a curious disinte
grafton In the ships company. We had
heretofore lived together a good hu-
mored community. Now we immedi-
ately drew apart into small suspi-
cious groups. For we had shortly to
land ourselves and our goods and to
obtain transportation across the 18TH
mus, and each wanted to be ahead of
his neighbor.
Here the owners of much freight
found themselves at disadvantage.
began to envy less the proprietors
of those enormous or heavy machines
for the separation of gold. Each man
ran about on the deck collecting bust
ly all his belongings into one pile.
When he had done that he spent the
rest Of his time trying to extract def
mite promises from the harassed ships
officers that he should go ashore In
the first boat.
Talbot and l sat on our few pack
ages and enjoyed the scene. The ship
came to anchor and the sailors swung
the boat down from the davits. The
passengers crowded around in dense,
clamoring mob. We arose, shouldered
our effects and quietly slipped around
to the corresponding boat ON the other
side the ship. Sure enough, that also
was being lowered. So that we and a
dozen who had made the same good
guess, were, after all, the first to land.
We beached In the mud and were at
once surrounded by host Of little,
brown, clamorous men. Talbot took
ish at great rate. Some of the lit
tie men had a few words OF English.
Our goods were seized and promptly
disappeared In dozen directions.
tried to prevent this, but could only
collar one man at time. All the
Americans were swearing and threat
ening at great rate. l saw Johnny.
tearing up the beach after feet ma
tive, fall fat and full length In the
mud. to the vast delight OF all who be.
held.
Finally Talbot plowed his way to me.
"It's all settled" said he. 'I've made
a bargain with my friend here to take
us up in his boat to Cruces for $15
apiece for four of u.s."
well, IL you need two more, for
heavens sake rescue Johnny" l ad-
vised. He'll have apoplexy."
We hailed Johnny and explained
matters. Johnny was somewhat put
to 1t to attain his desired air of inn
perturbable calm.
They've got every bllstered thing
own and made Off with It!' he cried.
"Confound It, sir. I'm going to shoot
every saddle colored hound in the place
II don't get back my belongingsv'
They've got our stuff, too add.
ed
"Well. keep calm" advised Talbot.
'I don't know the game down here,
but 1t strikes me they can't get very
far through these swamps, If they do
try to steal and | don't believe they're
stealing anyway. The whole perform
] q