Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-10-19
CHAPTER WI.
In to the Neck.


As Selfridge and l walked up Par.
tition street we met several officers
Fastening to the Brookland ferry, evi.
IDENTIFY on their way to the nightly rev.
els at the Coffin House. across the riv.
er. One OF them saluted my compan.
ion. but to my relief. none stopped to
t.fk. As we reached the edge OF the
Fields. Selfridge halted.
lis too late for Arnold tenight,
seeing he Is not expecting you. will
you 20 down to Frances and have a
bottle with met" he asked. I'm as
dry az sailed cod. and there will be
some nne fellows there"
mot L." l answered quickly enough.
though ! knew the boy wished to swell
himself by exhibiting me; for I was
glad TO be told that Fraunce's was q
Rest OF British officers. though I might
have known it. mot l." l answered.
II am well tagged. think will put
up ut Kings Arms. 1 have been
having hard beds lately. and would
shift to soft one. Moreover, / am
in no hurry to announce my return: In
short. wish to remain free.lance an
long as possible. / think I'll lie close
all day tomorrow. have no love for
the ranks"
And small blame to you" was the
hearty response. ut suits me as well.
Wen go TO the Kings Arms, and after
a bottle I'll leave you. Then I'll on to
Fraunee. Why. man. haven't been
fairly drunk for nigh a fortnight, and
I'm ON leave!"
! looked In establishment at this
Hedging son Of Mars, who took me
familiarly by the arm and urged me
along. his sword clanking at his, side.
wished had sword. would have
felt a trifle better.
Down the Broadway we went until
we came to the Kings Arms, on the
corner Of King street. II had been .
quiet tavern in my day. and had once
been the residence OF Governor James
Delaney. Here made bold to get a
room and rid myself Of Selfridge with.
out having recourse to a bottle OF
wine, he leaving me for the purpose
of getting drunk at Frances, but, to
my relief, saying nothing about going
to Arnold with me. went to bed and
slept like the proverbial log.
The following morning, not being
righis were te young lieutenant,
whom t6nsave or Gould soon be after
nae, went forced "a, Wearing no one
for the time; ahioin with thalked the
streets, and In the FleIos, To ych !
made my way. was twirling an oak
leaf in my fingers. But no one okal-
lenged me, nor appeared to notice me.
for that matter; and SO ] walked back
to the tavern for dinner, and after to
my room to think.
For IL had come to me that it would
be mighty wise II we're to change my
present quarters. Doubtless while
drunk. Selfridge would spread the re-
port that Lieutenant Melton had TO
turned from his desperate errand. and
the result might be that would be
looked for. And then, thinking that
ths young man was probably sick AZ
ter his nights debauch, and that
would have nothing to fear from him
for that day. I made up my mind to
20 out presently and hire q room In
q quieter quarter Of the city.
And as I was standing at my win.
dow and looking out over what was
Known 40 Canvas Town." a colony
o. fifth and violence that had sprung
up among the ruins of the great fire
OF l77e. and was but . little. to the
west of the tavern, there came .
knock on my door. and mine host ap-
pearing. announced that Lieutenant
selfridss had arrived and was in the
han below.
There was nothing for It but to have
- the very man was trying TO
avoid; and so he came. laughing and
hilarious. and a. well and rosy as n
no had not put three or four bottles
beneath his scarlet coat the night be-
fore. He was not sober even yet. but
nothing would serve him save that
20 TO the coffee.room and help him
kill the brown bear" with another
bottle.
I was not greatly averse. seeing !
was In for having him, like the wsrt
On my elbow. at my side for the day:
and 20 We went down. I thinking ]
Y I'd manage the young chap. ~ I
might have done had had him alone.
On entering the cofee-room I saw
- was not empty. for four naval ON.
eers were sitting quietly At . table.
and there was bottle before each
man. The sight OF them made ne eau.
tious. but Il seemed to have the oppo-
site effect on Selfridse. who. in his
cailowness and Q drunken spirit. i'm
mediately struck an absurd attitude
and. with an exaggerated wave Of his
hand, announced:
Gentlemen, behold the bravest
man in the army-I said not the navy,
mind. would to God that Bellmore
we're here to Join us In q bottle. l."
z He got no further. for at Bellmore's
name one of the ofncers jumped to his
feet and protested. "Rellmors SCI.