New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-01-30
Whistled
One Tune
Cook on John Henry Suffers
Attack Of Insanity from
Overindulsence in Favorite
Air While at Wheel. X
BY EARL DERR BIGGERS.


stood on the deck and gazed wonder
ingly at the distant quay. where h
. beheld the newly-hired member of hi
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"
= "Es tryin' to make known is awful
4 state returned the cook, solemnly
Joe started ashore to fetch i'm. but e
offered no to come a-near i'm. Z
, 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 a man."
, There IA an eloquent pause.
The smallpox, | said" ventured
the cook.
We'll, I'm not deaf card you"
responded the skipper. testify, ,:wot of
it? e amt likely to get it, an if e
does, 'oo's afraid? I've 'ad it, an so
as the mate. Joe. row IN an fetch
m 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 a lady friend in
Plymouth had beer wrecked by the
captains decision to leave a day early.
and in the new hand which the master
of the John Henry had engaged there
he saw his only salvation. BY a vivid
recital of the cruelties practiced by
the skipper, together with a 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 name 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 it was
the cook who spoke.
We're pore men," he said, but
there amt no law to make us risk our
lives for nothink. If that man
aboard the John Henry. we'll ave to
CO."
"Wot nonsense" the skipper
sneered. you ave to die o. somethink.
an why not the smallpox? Wot's a
few sailormen. mor or less? Why.
they're as plenty as flies"
"Of all the 'ard'earted talk" muir.
INJURED the cook.
Il 'ad some trouble gittin' this fel.
IAN | amt goin' to lose i'm now-no,
not If 'e's been exposed to a ole die.
tionary o. diseases. To find another
like i'm would take a day or more, an
| 'aven't even a minute to spare"
IT'S unfort nit an unhappy" put in
the cook; Its come at a very bad
time, an it's ard on all o. us. But 1t
can't be 'elped. It's providence. that's
wot il is"
Providence nothink," rejoined the
skipper, who was no novice in dealing
with such situations. Joe, If you pre-
fers a trial fer mutiny to obeyin' my
orders, I'll go ashore fer the new and
myself"
He started for the ships boat. but
the cook planted himself in his path.
I'm sorry, sir" he said. but If that
Teller comes aboard. me an the other
lads will ave to leave. 1t amt human
to arsk us to stay"
One glance at the faces of the crew
told the skipper he need expect no
sympathy there.
Well" he said shortly. "mebbe
you're right. Mebbe you lives are
somethink, though it's foolish of 4
you. never to prove il to me-" He
walked to the rail and addressed the J
smallpox victim. who was sitting de- Q
on the edge of the pier. 60 I
away, pore %feller." he shouted, go a
iway to some quiet spot an die" Then c
he turned to the crew. watch in hand. $
sail in ten minutes" he re- I
marked. 9
This announcement came as a dis Q
met shock. especially to the cook, who !
leard it at a time of inward rejoicing !"
'ver his apparent victory.
low about the new and? ?" he in. c
Iuired timidly.
Its unfort'nit IN unhappy" the cap e
ain returned. but as | said before, v
aven't time now to look up a new p
nan. Wen ave to sail without. It's
ONE at a very bad time. an it's ard "
n all of us. But it can't be 'elped. It's
that's wot 1t is. s;
Yes. it'll be pretty ard on us all. la
guess" he went on, after a pause, ST
cause the boy1l ave to do the cookin', ca
is repertory amt large. Soup an
the extent o. Johnny's pore ly
bility. an sometimes it's ard to tell tn
-hich e means fer which"
An why will Johnny ave to do the az
inquired the cook haughtily. ID
ut with no little anxiety in his tone. 81
Why" answered the skipper sweet it,
Z. because you're goin' to take the as
lace of the pore Teller wot was ex- dc
osed to the smallpox You can be la
.ady to take your turn at the wheel
might along with the rest" pa
The cook drew himself up loftily.
I'll take no turn at no wheel" he le-
lnounced. in a dignifed tone, I'll tn
We you know sir, as 'ow I shipped
it'll this vessel as cook, an as ioy ly
tend to stay cook to the end o. this fin
y'ge. I amt been no common sailor "a,
fore. an amt goin' to begin now" e
You'll do as | say, my lad" re- sa
rned the captain warmly. "dooty is ca
,oty. an when I tell you to do any, to-
ink. I amt goin' to ave any back
TX. You'll do your turn at the ubaal IN,