Arizona state miner., 1926-03-06

sir! Is not that sign intended to be
whales headT
"Yes," | said "This is the tavern"
One look at it's faring windows and
the cutthrOat gentry who staggered
in and out of the low door convinced
my companion that I had not misrep-
resented the character of the place
She drew back to the curb, and the
corners of her mouth dropped sadly.
Glory, what an Ill hole!" she muir
mured Now for why would the
padre come hither? Business, says
he; but"
And she shook her head with
vague and doubling emphasis.
Il would not seem to be thrusting
myself upon you, Mistress" l said,
yet | am fearful your Spaniards can
not make themselves understood. Will
it please you that l inquire within
for your fatherT'
She considered, catching a corner
Of her lip betwixt white teeth.
"Troth, SIR" she answered finally.
II see not how I can avoid going the
y
There was a moments pause
"And how shall -
"Ay de mil" she exclaimed with
bubble of laughter "HOw stupid of
me to be forgetting l am just maid
off the sea to you Ask for Colonel
O'Donnell, sir, and tell him his daugh-
ter waits without"
l shOuldered a drunken sailor from
my path, lowered my head to pass
under the Intel of the taverns en-
trance and SO gained the hazy blue at
moSphere Of the taproom, cluttered
with tables, foul with smoke and stale
ale lees, abuZZ with rough voices bawl-
ing oaths and sea songs.
1t was the chorus of one of these
songs which first distracted my
thoughts from the Irish girl outside
wild, roaring lilt of blood and
ribaldry:
Fifteen men on the Dead Mans
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rumi
Drink and the devil had done for the
rest
Yo-ho-ho, and bottle OF rum!"
l looked to the corner whence it
came, and discovered the one-lepged
sailor, John Silver, humping the time
with pewter mug on the tabletop
as he led the group around him. fore
most among whom, after himself, was
Darby McGraw, flaming red mop
standing out like a buccaneer ensign,
shrill voice carrying above the thun-
dering basses of his companions-as
villainOuS crew, to outward seeming,
as l had ever looked upon. / noted
especially pasty, tallowy- faced man,
whose shifty eyes were masked by a
skrim of greasy black hair, and a big
lusty, mahogany-brown fellow with a
tarry pigtail, who evidently found as
much satisfaction in the song as poor,
fuddled Darby.
Silver saw me almost as soon as I
spotted him, and with a quick word
to the others, got to his feet and
stumped across the room, dragging
Darby after him by the arm.
$50 you come after him, Master
Ormerod, did your he shouted to
make himself heard in the confusion
"And ashamed O. myself I oughter be-
says you, and with reason, too. But
I'm not one to lead likely lad .astray
and all Darby's had was good, ripe ale
and two earsful O. gossip ASH
give him things to dream O. for nights
to come"
II did not come after him." 1 an
swered; 'but as 1 am here he had best
return home with me. Where did you
get my name, Silver?"
He pulled his forelock knowingly.
"Why, from Darby, o. course, sir
not that anybody on the waterfront
couldn't ha' told me, seein' what a
kind-hearted, friendly young gentle
man you are. But asking your pardon
for the liberty, sir, can l serve you in
any way"
81 don't think So" l told him. ~
am seeking Colonel ODonnell"
l fancied flicker of surprise stirred
the bluff friendliness mirrOred in his
face He stared around the room.
"Never heard O. the gentleman, sir,
which amt surprizin', seem l was
never here before this morning, my
self; but l ran into some old ship