The Ordway new era., 1922-04-21

Precipitation. He offered the oriinih'hs
cup cringingly TO the pale-eyed, red
nosed Chris, who reached for II win
alacrity, drank deep, smacked MS iips
medltatively, and after a moment
passed the cup back.
"'Tain't so worse" he said approx
ingly. Anyhow, it's drlnk!
Magnus suddenly began to laugh.
"S'elp me, it's the same dope what
laid out the Honorablew he chortled.
Here, darky, let's have swig of 1t r.
Cookie complied, joining respectful
ly in the captains mirth.
II guess you-all is got stronger
haids den dat young gennelmun :. he
remarked. Dis yere ole niggah has
help hisself mighty freely and dat
prohibitonist Miss Harding amt eveh
found it out. Fac is, it am puffeckly
harmless 'cept when de haid is weak
False. false Cookie! Black brother
in perfidy to Mr.. Iubbs! one friend
the less to be depended on if chance
for freedom ever came to us
Cookie refilled the pirates cups, and
set the crock beside them on the
ground.
"In case you gennelmun feels yo'
sells lille thursty later on" he re-
marked. He was retiring, when Cap
tain Magnus called to him.
"Blackie, this amt bad. It's coolin',
but thin-a real nice ladylike sort of
drink, l should say. Suppose you take
a swig over to Miss Jimmy there with
my compliments-Tm one TO always
treat lady generous if she gives me
half chance
Obediently Cookie fastened for an
other cup, set it on a tray, and ap-
preached me with his old-time ornate
manner, faced him with a whitening
look, but, unmindful, he bowed, pre-
senting me the cup, and interposing his
bulky person between me and the
deeply quafting pirates. At the same
time his voice reached me, pitched in
a low and anxious key.
"FO' de Lawd's sake, Miss jimmy,
spill it out 1t am mighty powerful
dope-it done fumented twice as long
as befo-it am boun' to give dat trash
de blind-staggahs sho'tlyw
Instantly l understood, and thrill
of relief and of hope inexpressible
shot through me. put the cup to my
lips and after a brief parade of drink
ing passed it back to Cookie, spilling
the contents on the ground en- route.
Gradually the rough dlsjointed talk
of the sailors began TO languish. Cow
ert!y watching, l saw that Chris head
had begun to droop. The hand that
held the cup was lifted, stretched out
in the direction of the enticing jar,
then forgetting its errand fell heavily.
After few spasmodic twitchings of
the eyelids and uneasy grunts, Chris
Slumbered.
Captain Magnus was Of tougher f.
ber. But he, too, grew silent and
there was certain meal-sack limp
ness about his attitude His dulled
eyes stared dreamily. All at once,
with jerk, he reused himself, turned
over and administered to the sleeping
Chris a prod with his large boot.
Hey, there, wake up! What right
| you got to be asleep at the switch?"
But Chris only breathed more heav-
| ily.
Captain Magnus himself heaved
tremendous yawn, settled back In
| greater comfort against his sustain
ing tree and closed his eyes. l waited,
counting the seconds by the beating
OF the blood in my ears. In the back
ground Cookie hovered apprehensive-
ly. Plainly he would go on lowering
unless loud snores from the pirates
gave him assurance. For myself, 1
sat lingering my penknife, wondering
whether l ought to rush over and
plunge it into the sleepers' throats.
| Ihis would be heroic and practical
but unpleasant. IT, on the other hand
merely tried to free the prisoners
and Captain Magnus woke, what
then! The palm where they We're tied
was dozen yards from me, much
nearer to the guards, and within range
OF even their most languid glance.
Beyond the prisoners was Miss
Browne, glaring uncomprehendingly
over the edge of her book. There was
no help in Miss Browne
l left my seat and stole on feet
which seemed to stir every leaf and
twig TO loud complaint toward the
captive pair. Tense, motionless, with
burning eyes, they waited. There was
movement from Captain Magnus I;
he yawned, turned and muttered. /
stood stricken, my heart beating with
loud thumps against my ribs. But the
captains eyes remained closed.
"Virginia-quick. Virginia ~ Duro,d
shaw was stretching out his bound
hands to me, and 1 had dropped on
my knees before him and begun to cut
at the knotted cords. They were
tough strong cords, and was hacking
at them feverishly when something
bounded across the clearing and flung
Itself upon me. Crusoe, of course =
] and I..ili NTH