Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-20

40 not think that he would have dared
strike me" replied the girl. though he
murdered poor Mr.. Mallory upon the Lotus
He might stoop to anything after that"
Theriere turned sngrily upon Byrne.
90 oeiowl' he shouted. '1il attend TO
you later. II Miss Harding were not here
Ia thrash YOU within an inch Of your life
now And IL l ever hear Of your speaking
TO her again, or Offering her the slightest
indienlty, I'll put bullet through you so
quick you won't know what has struck
you"
TEL yeh willlr sneered Billy Byrne. II
got your number yeh big stiff an yeh
better not get gay wit me. Dey amt no
guy on board dis mans ship dat can hand
Billy Byrne dat kin o. guff an get away
wit t-see?" And, before Theriere knew
what had happened, a heavy fist caught
him upon the point of the chin and lifted
him clear Off the deck 10 drop him uncon.
scious at Miss Hardlngs feet
"Yeh see wot happens to guys dat get
gay wit me?" said the mucker to the girl,
and then STOPPING over the prostrate form
of the mate Billy Byrne withdrew n huge
revolver from Theriore's hip pocket
Guess I'll need dis gst in my business
purity soon," he remarked.
Then he planted vicious kick In the
race or the unconscious man, and went his
way to the forecastle
Now maybe she'll tinlk Billy Byrne's
coward" he thought, as he disappeared
below.
Barbara Harding stood speeohiess with
shock at the brutality and ferocity Of the
unexpected attack upon Theriere. Never
in all her life had she dreamed that there
could eXist upon the face of the earth
thing In human form so devoid of honor
and ohivalry and fair play as the creature
that had Just threatened n defenseess
woman and Kicked an unconscious man in
the face.
But then Barbara Harding had never
lived between Grand avenue and Lake
street and Halsted and Robey where stand.
ards of masculine bravery are strange and
fearful
When she had recovered her equanmity
she hastened 10 the head of the cabin com.
panlonway and called aloud for nelp.
Instantly Skipper Smms and First OH.
Ger Ward rushed on deck, each carrying n
revolver in readiness for the conflict with
their crew that these two worthless were
always expecting.
Barbara pointed out the still form of
Theriere. quickly explaining what had oc-
Cured
1T was the fellow Byrne who did It,"
she said "IIe has gone into the forecastle
now. and he has revolver that he took
from Mr. Theriere after he had fallen"
Several of the crew had now congregated
about the PROSTATE officer.
Here YOU" cried Skipper Slmms to a
couple of them; you take Mr.. Theriere
below to his cabin an throw cold water in
his face. Mr.. Ward. get some brandy from
my locker an try an bring him to. The
rest of you arm yourselves with crowbars
and axes an see that that son OF sea
cook don't get out on deck again alive.
Hold him there till get couple of guns.
an then we'll get him, d him.
Skipper Simms hastened below while two
e tl,n stNtr IN a
cabin and Mr.. Ward was fetching the
brandy. \ moment later Barbara Harding
saw the skipper return TO the upper deck
with a rife and two revolvers.
Tho sailors whom he had detailed to keep
Byrne below were gathered about the
hatchway leading to the forecastle. Some
of them were exchanging profane and
pleasant badinage with the prisoner
"Yeh better come up an get killed easy
Ike" one called down to the mucker
Were apt to muss yeh all UP down there
IN the dark with these here axes and crow
bars, an then wen we send yeh hom, yer |
pore nav won't know her little boy at
lllw
'"Yeh come on down here an try mussIn' |
ne up" yelled back Billy Byrne II can
iclt de whole gang wit one han tied behin' |
ne--see?"
'Do shippers gorn TO get his barkers, |
Billy" cried Bony Sawyer. "Yeh better |
'ome up an stan trial If he gives yeh the |
hanst."
stan nothin'." sneered Billy. Swell
hanst I'd have wit him an Squint-Eye
loldin court over me- Not on yer life,
Sony I'm here, an here I stays till I |
roak But yeh better believe me. I'm goin'
o croak n few before I goes. so If any of
.ou ginks are me friens yeh better keep
uten here SOS yeh won't get hurted
"An' anudder ting I'm gonna do afore
In "a M
inks in de cabin wise to where dey stands
Wit one anudder. If don't start something
efore l goes out my names not Billy
3yrne !"
At this juncture Skipper Simms appeared
ylth the three weapons he had gone to his
abin to fetch. lie handed one to Bony
lawyer, another to Red Sanders, and
hIrd to a man by the name of Wilson.
"Now my men," said Skipper Simms, |
we will 20 below and bring Byrne up.
Irlng him alive II you can-but bring
lm"
No one made move to enter the fore
astle.
GO on now, move quickly" commanded
ldpper Simms
{ the sailors.
simms, IivId with rage. turned to search
ut the offender from the several men be-
ind him.
who was that2" he roared. SHOW me
10 swab Jes' show him to me, tell you,
n I'll learn him. Now you" he yelled at
10 top OF his voice, turning again to the
len he had ordered into the forecastle
rter Billy Byrne, you cowardly landlub-
ers you, get below there quick afore kick
ou below!"
Stin no one moved 10 obey hIm From
hite he went TO red, and then back 10 |
hite again He fairly frothed out of the
outh as no jumped up and down. curslng
10 men and threatening.
But all to no avail. They would not GO |
'Why, skipper" spoke up Bony Sawyer,
is sure death for any man as goes below
ere. It's easier an safer TO starve him ,
It,"
"starve nothln'." howIed Skipper slmms.
Do you reckon I'm goin' to sit quiet
re for week an let a blanled wharf
/ own that there fo'c'sle Just because / |
Il lot o. white-livered towards aboard?
0, sir. You're a goin' down after that
ould-be bad man an fetch him up dead or
ive," and with that he started menac-
gly toward the three who stood near the
Itch, holding their firearms safely out of !
nge OF Billy Byrne below.
What would happen had Skipper SInms
mpleted the threatening maneuYer he had c
idertaken can never be known, for at this =
0ment Therere pushed his way through