American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-01-31
Whistled
One Tune
Cook on John Henry Suffers
Attack OF Insanity from
Overindulsenee in Fsvorite
Air While at Wheel. ~ ~
BY EARL pERR sIeoERs.

The skipper OF the John Henry
stood on the deck and gazed wonder.
ingly at the distant quay, where he
beheld the newly-hired member OF his
crew indulging in unusual and pic
turesque contortions.
"Wot's the matter with Im," he in
Quired of the cook. why don't e come
on board? We sails In arr an hour"
"'E's tryin' to make known is awful
state" returned the cook. solemnly.
Joe started ashore to fetch I'm, but e
offered not to come a.near i'm. 'E
seq as 'ow 'e's been exposed to the
smallpox"
Why. that's all right" said the cap
tain. heartily; tell i'm not to let that
worry i'm. I'm not one to old any
think like that ag'in man."
There was an eloquent pause.
The smallpox. said" ventured
| the cook.
We'll. I'm not deaf card you"
responded the skipper, testify, 'wot OF
It? Il amt likely to get II. an II q
| does, 'oo's afraid? I've 'ad II. an so
as the mate. Joe. row in an fetch
IN at once"
| Another pause ensued, during which
the cook shifted uneasily from one
foot to the other. His plans for spend
ing that evening with lady friend In
Plymouth had been wrecked by the
captains decision to leave day early.
and in the new hand which the master
of the John Henry had engaged there
he saw his only salvation. BY vivid
recital OF the cruelties practiced by
the skipper, together with liberal
purchase of beer. he had induced the
new recruit to play false, seeing In the
delay which the search for another
seaman would occasion his chance for
an evening OF festivity. But the frivol.
GUS manner in which his smallpox
story was being received took him un-
prepared.
"Wot ails you. Joe?" the captain bel
lowed. Ave you quit takin' orders
from me?"
Joe cleared his throat. but II was
the cook who spoke.
We're pore men," he said. but
there amt no law to make us risk ouI
lives for nothink. II that man comes
aboard the John Henry. wen ave &c
co."
"Wot nonsense" the skipper
sneered, you ave TO die o. something
an why not the smallpox? Wots {
few sailormen. more or less? Why
they're as plenty as flies"
"Of all the 'ard-'earted talk" muir
INJURED the cook.
II 'ad some trouble gittin' this Eel
ler," went on the captain, savagely
"an' I amt goin' to lose i'm now-no
not IL 'e's been exposed to a ole die
tionary o. diseases. To find anothe
like i'm would take day or more, an
l 'avent even a minute to spare"
He started for the ships boat, bu
the cook planted himself in his path.
I'm sorry. SIR" he said. but II tina
Teller comes aboard. me an the othe
lads will ave to leave. II amt huma
to arsk us to stay"
One glance at the faces Of the GREY
told the skipper he need expect n
sympathy there.
We'll" he said shortly. "mebb
, you're right. Mebbe your lives ar
worth somethink. though it's foolish {
, you never to prove 1t to me-" II
| walked to the rail and addressed tn
smallpox victim. who was sitting d.
, jectedly on the edge Of the pier &c
away, pore feller," he shouted, e
, away to some quiet spot an die" The
, he turned to the crew, watch In ham
I'VE sail In ten minutes" he r
, marked.
!. This announcement came as a di
tinct shock, especially to the cook, wi
n heard 1t at a time of inward rejoicir
over his apparent victory.
, low about the new and?" he |
a quired timidly.
n ITS unfort'nit an unhappy" the ca
a tain returned. but as | said before.
a 'avent time now to look up a ne
man. Wen ave to sail without. II
n come at a very bad time, an it's "a
, on all OF us. But II cant be 'elped. II
"a providence, that's wot II is.
a "Yes, it'll be pretty ard on us a
"a guess" he went on, after a paus
cause the boy'll ave to do the cooki
Z" an IL repertory amt large. Soup q
n coffee's the extent O. Johnny's pc
ir ability, an sometimes it's ard to L
which e means fer which"
ia AN why will Johnny ave to do [
cookin'?" inquired the cook haughtl
but with no little anxiety in his toni
why" answered the skipper swe
ly, because you're goin' to take
is place OF the pore Teller wot was
We posed 10 the smallpox. You can
IL ready to take your turn at the witt
tonight along with the rest"
or The cook drew himself up loftily,
"Pll take no turn at no wheel"
as announced, in a dignified tone, ="
An ave you know sir, as 'ow | shipT
an with this vessel as cook, an as 'oy
is intend TO stay cook to the end o. Z
he vy'ge. | amt been no common sal
AT before an amt goin' TO begin no.
to You'll do as say, my lad"
es, turned the captain warmly, "dooty
he dainty an when | tell YOU to do a