Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-04
Tuesday, November 4, 1919.
Randall
Raa4.ishl

iAe of service to her would be immeas-
urably increased. 1 withdrew my
hand, swiftly deciding my course Of
action.
81 suppose I might. as well earn
bit" admitted, hesitatingly. "Only l
had about decided I'd enlist if the
war was still going On when we got up
there"
"That'll be all right. Wen keep yer
busy till then, enyhow, Go on down
below now an eat, an when yer git
through climb up the ladder an report
ter me. What'll I call yer?"
"Steve."
"Steve-hey; sorter handy man,
amt yer2"
"Well, I've done a little Of every
! thing in my time. I'm not afraid to
work"
During most Of the remaining hours
of the morning the mate kept me en-
ployed below, in company with num-
ber of others of the crew, in sorting
over the miscellaneous cargo, which
had evidently been very hastily load.
ed. The work was hard and dirty,
and after q few hours of 1t I mus
have looked my assumed part to per
fect,on. tfhe overseer gave me hat
which added little to my personal ap-
pearance, and by the time we were
called TO knock off for the noon meal
was thoroughly tired and disgustedi
feeling as much a roustabout as GER
tainly looked. .
The meal was served on IN un-
Splaned plank, the ends resting on kegs
+ In front of the boilers. I was still
busily munching away on the coarse,
poorly cooked food when Mapes,
growing about, CHANGED to spy me
among the shadows.
"Hullo; is that you, Steve?" he
asked gruffly. "Well, when yer git
done eatin' I got another job fer yer
on deck. Yer hear me?"
3 I signified that did, and indeed was
even then quite ready to go, my heart
throbbing at this opportunity to sur
yey other sections of the boat. Hfol-
lowed him eagerly up the ladder and
ten minutes later was busily employed
with scrubbing brush and bucket Of
water, in an endeavor to improve the
outward appearance of the paint Of
the upper deck. was engaged busily
scraping at the dingy paint Of the pilot
house, when a negro, evidently cook,
from his dress, came up from the
lower deck, bearing tray well laden
with food in one hand, and disap-
peared aft. He did not even notice
my presence or glance about, but
instantly shrank back out of sight, for
I became Immediately conscious that
someone wa closely following him.
This second man proved to be one OF
the fellows in civilian clothing I had
previously noticed at the table below,
tall, sallow individual, attired in a
suit of brown jeans, his lean, cracker
| face ornamented by grizzled bunch
of chin whiskers.
! "Yer wait a minute thar, Jim," he
called out, still I unlock that thar
door. I amt ther kind tibet takes
chances with no niger"
! recognized the peculiar voice in
stantly, for had listened to that lazy
drawl before while hidden in the dark
ness beneath the Beaucaire veranda-
the fellow was Tim, the deputy Sher.
If from st. Louis. The negro rested
his tray on the rail, while the white
man fumbled through his pockets for
a key, finally locating it and inserting
the instrument into the lock of the
second cabin from the stern. I heard
40 words exchanged with anyone with
10, but the negro pushed the tray for
ward without entering, sliding it along
the deck, while Tim, evidently salts
fed that his charges were quite safe,
promptly reclosed and locked the door,
returning the key to the security of
his pocket. After staring moment
over the rail at the shore past which
we were gliding he disappeared after
The negro down the ladder. Eager as
/ [ certainly was to make the poor girl
aware of my presence on board, the
/ chance of being seen, and my purpose
suspected by others, restrained me.
| Besides as yet had no plan of res
I cue; nothing to suggest.
Even as I hesitated, industriouslI
lcrubbing away at the paint, Kirby
and the captain appeared suddenly