The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-11-22

In New York Public School No. Ts /
had three chHna. 'sIIiIl" Meek, "Jim'
Fleming. and "ChArlle" Unger
nlI was full OF Wild ideas and
sehemes He had the '.get.rleh.qnlek
mania. About every two weeks he
would cali us aside and Ia a mystic.
rs0ua and important manner carefully
unfold some daring achome 10 get rich
quick, giving bis personal guarantees
that X could not fnil. Al first we
were very enthusiastic over bis
seheHlc and wanted "a 10 IN swlih
both feet and would carefully work
opt the details Of how 90 proceed.
when, bangi BllI would introduce an
other project absolutely different from
the preceding one. When we asked
him what became of HIS wonderful
proposition Of two weeks ago. he un-
blusiingly told us that unforeseen cir
cnsnsinnres which no one could pre-
vent had interfered. Then he would
unroli another Wild dream Of fortune.
And 80 Il went on; one scheme after
another vanishing IN smoke. until we
becnme very skeptieul Personally.
had no faith Ia any Of BiiI's day
Dreams but | admired, aud perhaps
enyled. his spirit Of adventure; 80 at
last 1 decided that 1 would take d
chance, success or no success.
One night I1li came around to the
house with ftAar tickets for d blood
and thunder war play entitled ''Cuba's
Vow His brother was playing the
villain. This plny greatly impressed
me IN fnct. from the flrst act to the
last tho footliEhta were gushing blood.
love and adventure-and rotten act
INK. Bins brother was awful.
min was pretty good Judge Of
human nature, He had taken Us 10
this play 10 get ua worked up 10
risch u vnthussnnn, ara thus getting
us 10 the proper frame Of mind, he
could unroll his latest scheme.
That night. after tho show, he pro.
posed a trip to South America, which
took cur brea,hs awny We were 10
run away and ship on trump steam
or, Tor passage Of about nine
months. with the money thus earned
wa were 20 equip ourselves and start
cut FOR Port I.iinon Costa Rica, and
60 Into the coffee plantation business.
We all fell for this and took Il solemn
vow 20 stick. Tho scheme especially
Appealed 10 me because here was my
chance 10 follow Dana Ia his 1.-TWO
Years Before the Mast" The next
day. after sleeping II over Charlie and
Jim decided that there was more
money ia New York, and refused 60
20. admit had d sinking sensn-
tlon Ia the pit Of my stomach when
viewed the proposition IN the sua.
Hight. bat | stuck. Then Bill aud !
mads a tour Of the docks In New
York. trying 20 find the ship we
wanted. We feil IN With several
''hoardlng masters" These men Ia.
fest the water fronts Of large cities
nna Rre nothing but bioedsuekers
proving on sailors. One Of these
parasites took us on hoard an cid
tramp Steamer. lylng IN Erie basin,
cnlled the Cushko. Here we met
the steward. Al!me julcer,s John
Royal Alinns. with the emphasis on
the hyphen. The wonderful tale OF
ease luxury and "getting paid for SEQ.
ing tie w0rla'' stuff that the steward
Ead the bearilng master unrolled be.
fFe eur eager eyes carried MS into
the ssveath heaven 81 expectation.
This was I've o'clock IN the afternoon,
The shin was 70 sail az thfee-tea the
following morning but they dld not
ton Us This. The steward said that
We were Just the two that he wanted,
there being vacancies on the ship for
second steward and second cook RE
suggested that We sleep on the ship
tbst nlght. end then Ia the morning
rficr seeing what Il was like we could
e. heme and decide whether we want
81 d ship or ret. l demurred al
this, because I had to 60 home FIRST
- he gave Biil and me permission "a
r.. hat said we had 10 set back al
rllinight We hurried home and on
The SIS | packed my grip with my be
lonGines.
That night I exploded homhshell
II lbs family, After dessert had beer
seTYed. pulled up with importance.
declared "weli. I'm going % South
snerica." "A barrRge OF laughter
ypEled around the table. This gol
ne sore, ana shut up like q clam.
Il Nas FebFusFy, and very cold
About seven O'Clock that night grea
storm came up and the streets wer,
Soon covered with sleety Ice. | turne,
into bed win my clothes On. BIN VA
- notify ne az ten o'clock By throw
ing Pebbles against the window pnn'
iu nlg raem Every time | i0oke'
ept bsto the street aud saw that h0si
Ing blizzard d picture Of q ship wal
bowling IL d trough 81 the sea con
Etantiy came before my mind aud
shlvered, and my enthusiasm droppe
70 zero. r could net take my eye
away from the clock. Il mas q
aeenY intense whiting. similar I
leter IN the trenches