Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-26

''No such thing was expected or guar
anteed," interposed Brown abruptly.
"Not guaranteed nor expected by yor
| by us, yes"
81 cannot argue that matter. have
no further time for you. Good day
And Brown once more reached bis
hand toward his bell.
Suppose" said Talbot softly, lean
ing forward, 81 should put it into the
heads Of those 800 men that they
ought to get their passage money
back?'
Browns hand stopped in midair.
'They are large. violent, armed men,
and they are far from pure home infiu-
ences," went on Talbot mockingly.
'Here's sample of them" said he In
dicating my huge frame. And there
are thousand or so more not directly
interested, but dying for excitement"
Are you trying to intlmidate me-
sir?' demanded Brown
II am just stating conditions"
"You are threatening me-"
"Ah, that is different" said Talbot
Ward.
Brown sat lost in thought for some
moments. Then he reached forward
and at last struck the bell.
"Let me have your tickets" he con-
manded us shortly.
| He Endorsed them and handed them
to the clerk, together with written
order. We all sat in absolute silence
for perhaps five minutes. Then the
clerk returned with handful Of gold
This Brown counted over and showed
across to Talbot. The latter also
counted it and thrust it in his pocket
"Now," said Brown, with something
approaching geniality, 81 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 will
be kept" said Talbot.
At our place we found that Yank
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 Yank, 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 hurry complained Johnny a
triHe bitterly. And he needn't have
thought we'd be in his way
HAS he paid his share Of the lodg-
ings?" 1t occurred to me to ask.
We felt quite bitter against Yank,
and we carefully avoided his usual
haunts, for we did not want to meet
him. Then we began to think 1t
strange we had not run across him
somewhere on the streets. Then we
began to look for him. We found
that Yank had disappeared!
At that, a little alarmed, we set our
selves to q 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 little 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
a comfortable majority Of our fellow
argonauts. awaiting the sighting Of a
vessel. We had engaged and paid
daily a boatman to be in readiness to
take us off, and we settled our lodg-
ings account week ahead.
There's going to be scramble for
that blessed ship" said Talbot, land
Wen just be prepared"
To that end we also kept our effects
packed and ready for instant removal.
The expected ship came, of course.
on one Of these duh 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 high surf was run
ming, and as none of the men were IN
any sense good boatmen, they prompt.
ly preached to and filed. The noise
brought us to the door.
Then there was a fine row. One Of I
the two boats Communicated by the
early birds happened to be ours. All
our forethought seemed to have been |
In vain. The bedraggled and crest
fallen men were just wading ashore
when we descended upon them. Tai
bot was like a raving lunatlc.
''You hounds" he roared. "Don't
you dare try to sneak off! You catch
hold here and help empty these boats!
You would, would you?" He caught
)ne escaping worthy by the collar and
erked him so rapidly backward that
his heels fairly cracked together. John
~ few to the combat with chuckle
# joy. contented myself by knocking
wo Of them together until they prom
sed to be good. The four we had col
AIRED We're very meek. We all waded
nto the wash where the boat lay slug
,ishly rolling. 1t is no easy matter to
.mpty q boat in that condition. Water !