Meade County news., 1917-11-01

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to be a millionaire, an is willin' ter
spend a lot o. coin, just to he took
back ter New York. Cookie told me
that he and the guy that goes by the
name of Liverpool had quite a talk"
Liverpool Red-yes, I've heard of
him; he's the mems leader forward"
Likely so; but there's others of
the same kidney. If 1 was you, sir,
I'd have talk with Olson when he
come on deck again. He'll tell you
mOre'n l can"
stood silent a moment, staring out
into the black void.
II presume, Mr.. Leayord, can con-
fidently rely on your loyalty in case
trouble developsT
"You sure can, sir"
"And Olson%
"He'll face it like man; and al
though Masters Is a bit of a fool, I'm
guessing he can be counted on In a
pinch"
"Are there any others"
"Thats hard to say, sir, offhand. I
haven't been shipmates with them, or
with any O. this crew long enough yet
to size 'em up; but there are few
men forward who don't chum none
with Llverpools crowd. Olson would
know 'em better than l."
"Well, the sooner we learn exactly
how we stand In this matter the better
I'll relieve you as soon as l have
a bite to eat"
In spite of its general dinginess of
paint and furnishings, the main cabin
had look of coziness and comfort as
1 entered from the black gloom Of the
decks. Bascom and Miss Vera occu-
pied seats on one side, while Olson,
washed and brushed into state of
rare discomfort, sat alone opposite. A
slim, narrow-chested man, his weak
mouth partially concealed by strag-
Cling mustache, and who answered to
the name of Dade, acted as steward,
but the boy, Moon, was doing most of
the work. 1 drew out the single va
cant chair and sat down.
"Well," I said pleasantly, breaking
the rather awkward silence, II do not
exactly know where we are going, but
we are on our way"
"The sea is rising, judge" re-
marked Bascom.
"There is every promise Of rough
night, but nothing to worry over. Dade,
why did you set the table only for
four? There is another passenger
aboard"
"He hasrefused to mess aft, sir"
"Oh, he hasl Well, possibly, 1 may
have something to say as to that. Did
he give any reason?"
Dade endeavored to hide grin. "Not
exactly, n reason, sir" he answered
softly, "but 1 took it from what he said
that he was not overly proud O. the
way ne wu5 marked up, sir"
1 devoted few minutes to the zeal,
but when Dade departed on an errand
forward, decided 1 might just as well
discuss the situation frankly.
II am beginning to fear" said qSl-
etly, "that Mr.. Fergus McCann intends
to make us all the trouble possible, and
is even now behind most Of the dis
satisfaction on board. Do you know
anything definite, Mr.. Olson?"
The mate paused in his eating, with
knife and fork uplifted.
81 had not heard, sir. May ask
If he is rich?"
"Quite so; he was a guest on the
yacht Esmeralda. Now that I have
answered these questions, Mr.. Olson"
and stared into his rather emotion
less face intently, perhaps you will be
kind enough to answer mine."
II would know what talk" he re-
turned stubbornly. "He, this Mr.. Nc
Cam, he offers ten thousand dollars
to be put back Ia New York"
$50 that's his camel Who brought
the word forward"
"Cookie, l think, sir. 1 overheard
Jim White say that Mr.. McCann had
q belt on him with more money in 1t
than they'd ever seen before in all
their lives. The d fool-I beg
your pardon, miss-dldn't know no
more than to show 1t to 'em. Why, the
sight of 1t fairly drove them two wharf
rats crazy.
"There's half dozen men forward"
he went on slowly, "who would murder
their grandfathers, sir, to get hold O.
all that coin. The rest O. the crew are
decent enough fellows as sailormen go,
but there's liquor aboard yet, and all
this ere war talk has scared 'em
against continuing the voyage"
'McCann told them?"
''He told Cookie an Liverpool, an
they circulated the news. 'Tis said
we're chuck up with contraband, sir,
an that If we're took, every man jack
Of us will be chucked into an English
or French prison."
"YOu expect mutiny, then, Mr.. Oh
SOM"
II don't know whatll stop 1t, sir"
he answered solemnly. "The men went
aft ter sorter take your measure, sir,
and hear what it was you proposed do
ing. They amt had no chance to git
tergether an talk since, but it's my
notion they're ripe enough for the job"
loOlad him SnIorelv In tha avaq