Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-06-08

v~mo b before 0ptsfn &Unu weuid
NY Sor hh ''ntshtrap.
He afwsu travelled with y1hnny
A0nan whsn be could manage 4, for
n two msn were boon cuenpanious
ONe1 vas wont b live IN Johnny's
esnm - On ths brtfsa and ths4r night
mstAnu to friendship had come to
% matter OF some ceremony.
The ships master soon appeared
nom the shsdows-s short. trim man
with gray hair.
oms." be crssf; -n.s waiting for
Omen ronow.< ,nso Brennan. .u..
u'Ses, Wen h quarters. where on a
da-.sS .iueboard was q tray holding
- sphou and giasses. together
-. tie Of ginger a. The cap
% he hsd MIXED a beverage
@~ApasssnSsr. opened the bottle
r III. rnsy ruised their glasses
20 w that you're past the worst of
pr femarked O'Neil. II suppose you'll
:, b m. You're getting old for hard
Ike this, Johnny"
Captain Brennan snorted. "Oldi
I'm q better man than you. yet. I'm a
teetotaier. that's why. l discovered
long ago that salt water and whisky
don't mix"
O'Neil stretched himself out In one
Of Brsnnan's easy chairs. Really,
b. said. "I don't understand why q
Ghip carries a captain. Now. OF what
earthly use TO the line are you. for in
stance. except for your beauty, which,
no doubt, has It's value with the wo
menf I'll admit you preside with some
grace at the best table In the dining
salon, but your officers know these
, channels as well as you do. They could
maks the run FROM Seattle 10 Juneau
! with their eyes shut"
Indeed they could not, and neitheI
could l." az
'-Oh, well, OF course l have no re
spsct for you as a man, having seer
you without your uniform"
The captain grinned In thorough en-
toyment OF this raillery. "Fll say moth
reiapsing into the faintest 81 br6gues
'put there's no denying that the mas
ter. Of a ship has Hant Unpleasant
and disgusting duties TO perform. He
has 20 amuse the prominent passengers
who can't amuse themselves, for one
thing. and that takes tact and patience
y 1s, SOME people make themselves M
home on the bridge. in the chart'room
and even In my living quarters. to say
nothing OF consuming my expensive
wines. liquors and cigars"
Meaning me?" So
I'm brutal seafaring man, and
you'll have 10 make allowances for ht
well known brusqueness. Maybe I did
moan you. But I'll say that next 20
700 Curtis Gordon is the worst CRATER
/ ever saw"
You don't like Gordon. do your
ONeil queried with change Of tone.
II do mott He went up with me
again this spring. and he had his
widow with him too"
His wtdowT'
You know who | mean-Mrs. Ge-
rard. They say it's her money he's
using In his schemes. Perhaps it's be
cause OF her that don't like him"
"Ah-h! / see
You don't see. or you wouldn't grin
like an ape. I'm married man. I'll
have you know, and I'm still on good
terms with Mrs. Brennan. thank God
But don't like meU who use women $
money, and that's just what our friend
Gordon is doing What money the
widow didn't put up he's grabbed from
the schoolma' ans and servant girls
and society matrons in the east. What
has he got 10 show them for it,"
"A railroad project. a copper mine,
some coal claims"-
Bah! menagerie OF wildcatsr
You can't prove that. What's your
reason for distressing him.
We'll, for one thing. he knows too
much. Why. he knows everything. he
does. Art. literature. politics. law.
finance and draw poker have no So
ereus from MN. hes Deen everywhere
and back-twice; he speaks a dozen
different languages. He outargued me
on poultry raising and | know more
about that than any man living. lie
can handle drill or a coach and four;
be can tell all about the art OF ancient
Babylon. and he beats me playing crib
bage, which shows that he amt on the
level He's the best informed man out
side of a university, and he drinks tea
Of an afternoon, with his legs crossed
and the saucer balanced on his heel.
Now, It takes years OF hard work for
an honest man to make success at
one thing. but Gordon never failed at
anything. ] ask you If living author
ity on all the branches Of human en-
deavor and a man who can beat me at
crib doesn't make you suspicious"
mot at all. I've beaten you myself"
Il was sick" said Captain Brennan.
THE man is brilliant and well edu-
Gated and wealthy. It's only natural
that he should excite the jealousy OF
weaker intellect"
Johnny opened his lips for an explo-
sion. then changed his mind and agreed
sourly.
Hes got money. all right. and he
knows how TO spend il. lie and his
valet occupied three cabins OF this
ship. They say his quarters at Hope
are palatial."
MY dear grampus, the mere love OF
luxury doesn't argue thar person IS
,ltrto.,ors q"
would you let hired man help
van on with your underclothes ." de-
manded the mariner.
There's nothing criminal about IT..