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6 THE ARGUS, TUESDAY.. FEBRUARY 4. 1908. Btj STEWART EDWARD WHITE And SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS COPYRIGHT. 1 907. BY Me C SynoNl f rrecritini; ( hnp(r. f'HAITKR I. Th officers or tlu Vniteil St.-ttt-s ship Wolverine, cruisinp In the F;niii arc mystilied by a Ktrannc nolianee which appears sud denly on the face of the nea. and van-isln-s as suddenly. Tli ofliiers discuss tlio "UratiAt: d isappiai ancc, two years previously, ol' tin- schooner Laughing Lass, chartered by In-. Schermerhorn, u scientist. i CllAI'TKU II. The Wolverine picks up the I-auhlo with everything: shipshape Have tluit there is no living beitifj aboard. rHAl'TKIi Hi. -Knsi-n I'M wards is P'-nt aloard the l,u mailing Lass witli a prize crew. CllAI'TKU IV. The Wolverine see? the strange liiil ariin. In a volcanic mist Hie l.anhlni; bass drifts away and is found aain with no one on beard and her boats untouched. CllAI'TKU V. A second prize crow Is sent aboard the schooner. The mys terious lixlit is si-cti u train, ami ihe Wolverine discovi rs a voI. ;;th in full eruption. The Laughing Lass vanishes Jif:ani. CI I AT'TKR VI The Wol veririe picks lip a dory beloiiyini;' to the Launhinir Lass, it contains Kalph Slade, a jour nalist knowa to have hecn with Scher merhorn. and the corpse of the Wolvcr ine's ho's'n's inal. who had ttue with Kdwatds. Slade is in very bad condi tion from fever, thirst and exhaustion. CHAPTER VII. lT the following afternoon Dr. Trondon reported his patieut J J as quite recovered. 1 "Starved for water," pro ffer- ed the surgeon. "Tisstu-s fairly dried out Soaked him up. Fed him broth. Put hint to sleep. He's all right. Just wakes tip to eat. Then ,!T again like a two-year-old. Wonderful constitu tion." "Tlie gentleman wants to know if he can come on deck, sir," saluted an orderly. "Waked up, eh? Come on, Harnett. Help nie boost liim on deck." The two officers disaipeared to re turn In a moment arm in arm with Ralph Slade. - Nearly twenty-four hours' rest and Fklllful treatment had done wonders, lie was still a trifle weak and uncer tain, was still a little glad to lean on the arms of his companions, but Lis eye was bright and alert and his hol low checks mounted a slight color. This, with the clothes lent him hy Har nett, transformed his appearance and led Captain Parkinson to congratulate himself that he had not obeyed his first impulse to send the castaway for ward with the men. The oflicers pressed forward. "Mighty glad to see you out." "Hope you've pot your pins under you again." "Old man, I'm mighty glad we came along." Tho chorus of greet ins was hearty enough, but the journalist barely paid the courtesy of acknowledgment. Ills eye swept the horizon eagerly until it rested on the cloud of volcanic unoke l.iilowing up across the setting sun. A Fish of relief escaped him. "Where are weV" he asked Harnett. 'T mean since you picked me up. How Jong ago was that anyway V" - "Yesterday," replied the navigating cfTieer. "We've stood off and on look ing for some of our men." "Then that's the same volcano" Harnett laughed softly. "Well, they aren't finite holding a caucus of vol canoes down in this country. One like that is enough." Hut Slade brushed the remark aside. "Head for it:" h cried excitedly. "We may be in time! There's u man on that island:" "A man:" "Another!" "Not Hilly Edwards?" "Not some of our boys?" Slade stared at them bewildered. "Hold on," interposed Dr. Trondon authoritatively. "What's his name?" he inquired of the journalist. "Da trow," replied the latter. "Per cy I arrow. Do yon know him?" "Who in Kamchatka is Ferey Har row?" demanded Forsythe. "Why, he's the assistant. It's n long Btory" "Of course it's a long story. There's a lot we want to know," Interrupted Captain Parkinson. "Quartermaster, head for the volcano yonder. Mr. Slade, we want to y know where you came from, and why y u left the Fehooncr and who Percy Harrow Is. And there's dinner, so we'll adjourn to the messroom and hear what you can tell us. P.ut there's one thing we're nil anxious to know-how came you in the dory which wo found and left on the Laughing Lass later than two days ago?" "I haven't set eyes on the Laughing! Lass for well, I don't know how Lrog, but Its five .lays anyway, pcrnap; more." replied Slade. , They stared at him incredulously "There wVwln ZQ teh . , . ., . I "'I1"1"1 "oh" mmacii ill iucull will. er. The other ones still there. I sup-. Mgo much for ,f SIade con. pose. Did you nnd her on the stern tlmeJ ..Ag f th LaugM Lass" davits?" - I "Yes." "That's it, then You see, when I left"- Captain Parkinson's raised hand checked him. "If you will be so good. Mr. Slade, let us have it all at once. after mess." At table the votinsr officers at a sharp hint from Dr. Trendon conversed on Indifferent subjects tint II the journalist had partaken heartily of what the phy- . . .. ... . . . . ... Kii ian allowed mm. siaue aie wren keon appreciation. "I tell you. that's good," he sighed, when he had finished. "Real, live, after dinner, coffee too. Why, ,hy, gentle- men, I haven t eaten a civilized meal, Mystery LURE. PHILLIPS 8t CO. with a!l the trimmings, for over two years. Doctor, do you think a little of the real stuff would hurt me? It's a pretty dry yarning." "One glass," growled the surgeon, "no more." "Scotch highball, then,'! voted Slade. "the higher the ltetter." The steward branght a tall glass with lee, -in which the newcomer mixed his drink. Then for quite a minute he sat silent, staring at the table, his fingers aimlessly rubbing into spots of wet ness tue water roans as iney gaiuereu on the outside of his glass. Suddenly he looked up. "I don't know how to begin," he con fessed. "It's too confounded Improba ble. I hardly believe it myself, now that I'm sitting here in human clothes, surrounded by human beings. Old Serubbs and the nigger and Handy Solomon and the professor and the chest and the well, they were real enough when I was caught in the mess. Hut I warn you you are not go ing to believe me, and hanged if 1 Maine you a hit." "We've st en marvels ourselves in the last few days," encouraged Captain Parkinson. "Fire ahead impatiently. ' , ma n," advised Harnett "Just begin at the bogin- ning and let it go at that. Slade sipped at his glass reflectively "Well." said he at length, "the best way to begin is to show you how happened to bo mixed up in it at nil." The ollicers unconsciously relaxed into attitudes of greater ease. Over head the lamps swayed gently to the swell. The dull throb of the screw pul sated. Stewards clad in white moved noiselessly, filling the glasses, defer entially striking lights for the smok ers, "clearing away the last dishes of the repast "I'm a reporter by choice and a de tective by instinct," began Slade. with startling abruptness. "Furthermore I'm pretty well off. I'm what they call a free lance, for I have no regular desk on any of, the journals. I gener ally turn my stuff In to the Star be cause they treat me well. In return it Is pretty well understood between us that I'm to use my judgment in regard to 'stories' and that they'll stasd back of me for expenses. You see, I've been with them quite awhile." lie looked around the circle as though in appeal to the comprehension of his audience. Some of the men nodded. Others siiied from' their glasses or drew at their cigars. "I loaf around here and there in the world, having a good time traveling, visiting, fooling around. Everv once in awhile something interests me. The tiling is a sort or instinct. 1 run it i down. If It's a good story. I send it I In. That's all there is to It." He laughed slightly. "You see. I'm a sort of magazine writer in method, but my stuff is newspaper stuff; also the game suits me. That's why I play it. That's why I'm here. I have to tell you about myself this way so you will understand how I came to be mixed up in this Laughing Lass matter." "I remember," commented Barnett, "that when you came aboard the North Dakota you had a little trouble making Captain Arnold see it." He turned to the others with a laugh. "He had all kinds of papers of ancient date, but nothing modern letter from the Star dated live years back, recommen dations to everybody on earth except Captain Arnold, certificate of bravery In Apache campaign, bank identifica tions and all the rest. 'Maybe you're the Star's correspondent and mayha you're not,' said the captain, 'I don't see anything here to prove it' Slade argued an hour. No go. Remember how you caught him?" he Inquired of Slade. The reporter grinned assent. "After the old man had turned him down good Slade fished down in his war bag and hauled out an old tatter ed document from an oilskin case. 'Hold on a minute,' said he. 'you old shellback. I've proved to you that I can write and I've proved to you that : I have fought, nnd'now here I'll nrove to you tl)at j can sal, Jf writllTgi flght. ; Jni; ., 8aiing (lon-t flt me adequately to report any mtIe disturbances your antiquated washboiler may blunder . luto r g0 t0 raising cabbages.' With i that he presented a master's certifi- cate! Where did you get it anyway? uever founi out?" "rassCd as 'fresh water on the great iaUeSt- repie(1 Sia(le briefly. ..Wel,t the spunk an(J tJje certificate ! l CHAPTER VIII. A uiAciuiMjK got me aboard the Laughing Lass. I'll tell you how it was. One evening late I was just coming out of a jdark alley on the Barbary Coast, San Francisco. You know the water front, where you can hear more tongues than, at i'on aaiu. see stranger sights and meet auveiiiuie wun me joyous cer- .:.... . wi .1 1 i t , 1 luimj iWn ui umes. iu oeeu down there hunting np a man reported j hy a wharf rat of my acquaintance to, have just returned from a two years' whaling voyage. He'd been "shang - haied" aboard, and as a matter of fact' vtas worth "nearly a million dollars. Landed in the city without a cent, could get nobody to believe him nor trust him to the extent of a telegram east. Wharf rat laughed at his yarn, but I believe it was true. Good copy anyway - Just at the turn of the alley J. nearly bumped into two men. -On the Bar- bary Coast you don't pass men in nar row places until you have reconnoiter ed a little. I pulled up, thanking for tune that they had not seen me. The first words were uttered in a voice I knew well. You've all heard of Dr. Karl Augus tus Schermerhorn. He did some big things and had in mind still bigger. I'd met him some time before In con nection with his telepathy and wire less waves theory. It was picturesque stuff for my purpose, but wasn't In It with what the old fellow" had really done. He showed me well, that doesn't matter. The point Is, that good, staid, self centered, or rather, semicentered, Dr. Schermerhorn was standing at midnight in a dark alley on the Barbary Coast in San Francisco talking to an individual whose facial outline at least was not ornamental. My curiosity or professional instinct, whichever you please, was all aroused. I flattened myself against the wall. The first remark 1 lost. The reply came to me in a shrill falsetto. So grotesque was the effect of this treble L '1 haf been told you m'njht rent her," said the doctor. f tvim (i liiillr ci-i cnn?ifr fin.1 Itrvul mid ... ... .. ,..... ....v ....w .... . hairy as the silhouette before me t ailnost laughed aloud. "I guess you've made no mistake on , that. I'm her master and her owner too." "Well. I haf been told you might rent her," said the doctor. "Kent herl" mimicked the falsetto. "Well that-yes, I'll rent her!" he laughed again. "Doch recht." The doctor was plain ly at the end of his practical resources. After waiting a moment for some thing more definite, the falsetto in- quired rather dryly: -How long? What to? What ?or? iQ j,re you anyway?" -r ain Dr. Schermeihorn," the latter nnswered "Seen pieces about yon In the pa pers." "How many men haf you In the . . crew? "Me and the mate and'the cook a;ad four hands." "And you could go soon?" ' "Soon as you want if I go." "I wish to leaf tomorrow." "If I can get the crew together I might make it. But say, let's not haag out here in this run of darkness. Come over to the grog shop yonder, where we can sit down." To my relief, for my curiosity was fully aroused Dr. JJchermerhora'a movements are usually productive this proposal was vetoed. "No, no:" cried the doctor, with some haste, "this iss well! Somebody 1 might oferhear." The huge figure stirred into an atti tude of close attention.. After a pause the falsetto asked deliberately: "Where we goin'?" "I brefer not to say." "D'm! How long a cruise?" "I want to rent your schooner and your crew as long as I please to re main." "H'm! How long's that likely to be?" "May lie a few months; maybe sefer al years." "H'm! Unknown port; unknown cruise. See here, anything crooked in this?" "No. no! Not at all! It iss simply business of my own." "Not that I care," commented the other easily, "only risks Is worth pay ing for.", "There shall not be risk." ''Pearls likely?" hazarded the other. ; without nftich heed to the assurance. i Jap guniaV hard to dodge of late years. However, I ve dodged 'em before." Now as to pay how mooch Iss your boat worth?" I could almost follow the man's 3 -- r, - - :- I .V::.-::-':-i : uiougnts as ne ponuerea now mucn'ma(e st00j leaning over the rail and ! he dared ask. I ..,.' directed curses from letween j "Well, you see, for a proposition like , that don't know where we're going. when we're going to get back, and them gunboats how would a hundred and twenty-five a month strike you?" j "Double It up. I want you to do ass 1 pay, ana 1 win also give your crew : .1 i - . . . uuuum wages, uua 1 want goot men who will stay and who will keep the mouth shut." "Gosh all fishhooks! ' They'd go to ! hell with you for that!" "Now you can. get all you want of Adams & Marsh. Tell them it lss for me. provisions for three years any how. Be ready to sail tomorrow." "Tide turns at 8 in the evening." "I will send some effects in the morn ing." The master hesitated. "That's all right, doctor, but how do I know it's all right? Maybe by morn ing you'll change your mind." "That cannot be. My plans are all" "It's the usual thing to pay some- j thing" "Ach, but yes. I haf forgot. Dar- row told me. I will make you a check, Let us go to the table of which you spoke." They moved away, still talking. I ; did not dare follow them into the light, for I feared that .the doctor would recognize me. I'd have given my eye teeth, though, to have gathered the name of the schooner or that of her master. As it was, I hung around un til the two had emerged from the cor- nor saloon. They paused outside, still talking earnestly. I ventured a hasty interview with the barkeeper. "Did you notice the two men who were sitting at the middle table?" I asked him. "Sure!" said he, shoving me my glass of leer. "Know them?" I inquired. "Never laid eyes on 'em lefore. Old chap looked like a sort of corn doctor or corner spellbinder. Other was prol ably one of these longshore abalone men." "Thanks," I muttered and dodged out again, leaving the beer untouched. I cursed myself for a blunderer. When I got to the street the two men had disappeared. I should have shad owed the captain to his vessel. The affair interested me greatly. Apparently Dr. Schermerhorn was about to go on a long voyage. I prided myself on being fairly up to date in regard to the plans of those who in- j terested the public, and the public at that time was vastly interested in Dr. Schermerhorn. I, in common with the rest of the world, had imagined him anchored safely in Philadelphia, im mersed in chemical research. Here he bobbed up at the other end of the continent,- making shady bargains with obscure shipping captains 11 ml paying a big premium for absolute secrecy. It looked good. Accordingly I was out early the next morning. I had not much to go by. Schooners are as plentiful as tadpoles In San Francisco harbor. However, I was sure I could easily recognize i that falsetto voice, and I knew where the supplies were to be purchased. Adams & Marsh are a large firm and cautious. I knew better -than to make direct inquiries or to apiear in the; salesroom. Hut bv hanging around the . - : t soon had ltri UL lilt? IMlllMUJJi; IIHJU1 X EOOU IHUtt track of the large orders to be sent I thnt day. In this manner I had no j great difficulty In following a truck to j pier 10 nor to identify a consignment to Captain Ezra Selover as probably that of which I was In search. The mate was In charge of the stow- V' ' a" " " - 150 tons burden. I looked her over. You're all acquainted with the i Laughing Lass and the perfection of her lines. You have not known her under Captain Ezra Selover. She vJIs the cleanest ship I ever saw. Don't know how he accomplished it, with a crew of four and the cook, but ho did. The deck looked as though it had been holystoned every morning by 8 crew of jackies. The stays were whip- 1 , , . ' ., , 1 and every foot of running gear coiled ! down shipshape and P.ristol fashion. There was a good deal of brass about her. It shone like gold, and I don't believe she owned an inch of paint that wasn't either fresh or new scrub bed. I gazed for some time at this marvel. It's uuusual enough anywhere, but aboard a California hooker it is little short of miraculous. The crew had all turned up apparently, anil a swarm of stevedores were hustling every sort of provisions, supplies, stock, spars, lines and canvas down Into the hold. It was a rush job. and that mate was having his hands full. I didn't wonder at his language nor at his looks, both of which were somewhat mussed up. Then almost at. my elbow I heard that shrill falsetto squeal anil turned just in time to see the captain ascend the after gangplank. He was probably the most disheveled and untidy man I ever laid my eyes on. His hair and beard were not only long, but tangled and uukempt and grew so far toward each other us bare ly to expose a strip of dirty brown skin. His shoulders were ltowed and enormous. His arms hung like a gorll l:i"s, palms turned slightly outward. On his head was jammed a Hnoti boat ing hat that had owe been white, (aping away from his hairy chest was a faded dingy checked cotton shirt that had once been brown and white. His blue trousers were spotted nnd splashed with dusty stains. He was chewiug tobacco. A figure more in contrast to the exquisitely neat vessel It would le hard to imagine. The captain mounted the gangplank with a steadiness that disproved my first suspicion of his having been on a drunk. Tie glanced aloft, cast a spec ! uIative pye the stevedores troo'ping across the wa'st of the ship and as ; tn th nnnrtor Heck. whPi-A ttio "sweat beaded lips. There the big man ! miimed nimlesslv on what seemed to j be a tour of casual inspection. Once , stormed to breathe on the brass binnacle and to rub It bright with the 1 dirtiest red bandanna handkerchief I ev,,r want to see. I : r;g aCfiol)S amused me The dls- j crppnncy between his personal habits , particularity in the matter of cf ',.inffo ' T,.,;iw- tn. L'r, i ti....7i th. such discrepancies seem to iudicate ex ceptional characters. As I watched him his whole frame stiffened. The long gorilla arms contracted, the hairy head sunk forward in the tenseness of a serpent ready to strike.. He ut tered a shrill falsetto shriek that brought to a standstill every stevedore on the job and sprang forward to seize his mate by the shoulder. Evidently the grasp hurt. I can be- Hove it might from those huge hands. The man wrenched himself about with an oath of inquiry and pain. I could hear one side of what followed. The captain's high pitched tones carried (clearly, but the grumble and growl of j the mate were indistinguishable at that distance. "How far is it to the side of the s!llP - you hound.'; shrieked the cap- 1 tain. Mumble surprised for an answer. "Well.J'Il tell you, you swab! It's just two fathom from where you stand. Just two fathom! How long would It take you to walk there? How long? Just about six seconds! There and back! You" I won't bother with all the epithets, although by now I know Captain Selover's vocabulary fairly well. "And you couldn't take six sec onds off to spit over the side! Couldn't walk two fathom! Had to spit on my quarter deck, did you r" Humble from the mate. "No, by Cod, you won't call up any of the crew. You'll get a swab and do it yourself! You'll get a hand swab and get down on your knees! I'll teach you to be lazy!" The mate said something again "It don't matter if we ain't tinder way. That has nothing to do with it. The quarter deck is clean, if the waist ain't, and nobody but a son of a sea lawyer would spit' on deck anyhow!" From this Captain Selover went j) into a good old fashioned deep sea cussing" out," to the great Joy of the stevedores. The mate stood it pretty well, but there conies n time when further talk is useless even in regard to a most heinous offense. And of Course, as you know, the mate could hardly consider hinm lf very seriously at fault. Why, the ship was not yet tit sea and in all the" clutter of charging, lie began to answer back. In a moment it was a quarrel. Abruptly it was a light. The mate marked Selover beneath the left eye. The captain with beautiful sim plicity crushed iiis antagonist in his gorilla-like squeeze, carried him to the side of the vessel and dropped him limp and leatcn to the pier. And the ! mate was a good stout specimen of a seafarer too. Then the captain rushed below, emerging after an instant with a chest ! which he thing after his subordinate. jit was followed a moment later by a stream of small stuff mingled with language projected through an open porthole. This in turn ceased. The captain reappeared with a pail and brush, scrubbed feverishly at the of fending spot, mopivod it dry with that same old red bandanna handkerchief, glared about him and abruptly became as serene and placid as a noon calm. He took up the direction of the steve dores. It was all most astounding. Nobody paid any attention to the mate. He looked toward the ship once or twice, thought better of it and be gan to pick up his effects, muttering savagelyf In a moment or so he threw his chest aboard an outgoing truck and departed. It was now nearly noon and I was just in the way of going for something to eat when I caught sight of another dray laden with boxes and, crated af- Dropped him limp and beaten to the pier. falra which I recognized a aclentWc apparatus. It was followed In quick succession by three others. Ignorant as I was of the requirements of a sci entist, my common sense told me this could be no exploring outat I revised my first intention of going to the club nnd bought a sandwich or two at the corner coffee house. I don't know why. but even then tha affair seemed big with mystery, with the portent of tragedy. Perhaps the smell of tar was in my nostrils and the sea called. It has always possessed for me an ex traordinary allurement. A little after 2 o'clock a cab drove to the after gangplank and stopped. From it alighted a yoiftog man of whom I shall later have occasion to tell you more, followed by Dr.. Scher merhorn. The young man carried only a light leather "serviette," such as stu dents use abroad, while the doctor fairly staggered under the weight of a square brass bound chest without han dles. The singularity of this unequal division of labor struck me at once. It struck also one of the dock men, who ran forward, eager for a tip. "Kin I carry JU box .for .vou. boss?" l x. 1 maP ! Tp.5 accepted fundamental principles of exquiiite beauty are: a per fect co nolexlon. ar.d a luxuriant growth ot beautiful hair, which can be completely acquired by the use of WMkzSCo R Ml$ & Preparations 53 differ :r-5 r.ric'.ej in all. tnJ each remedy is an unre-erved revealing of tome prsrit fi-c'or in the daeicprcenl an-J maintenance of M;ic. Yale" own world acknowl- i i 1. vi'.'.y. For exiraple, this rcncJy lays the foundation for Ine establishment of a j .'rteci o-ppieiion; that one means -Is successful attainment for all time, while this one i. ih 7: ji'.CLt ii-ur "rower Lnown, and stops hair falling, cures iLndrelf, 'c; and so on. "ilme. Yale's Almond Blossom torasiexion Cream 81.00 Size, 89c 50- Size, A5e 1 ijdu ai: aspiring la improve ;our perianal bcauiy. you trtouTJ mtdj fjmuiax'se yourc'if u:iih Mme. Yale's preparation 55 in c.'. a i I v-t l'.-f" 11 cfiy in;. Y:il If y-i ttal of luv4. wnle L. S. McCABE & CO. he asked, at the same time reaching for it. The doctor's thin figure seemed fair ly to shrink at the idea. "No. no:" he cried. "It is not for you to carry!" He hastened up the gangplank, clutching the chest close. At the top Captain Selover met him. "Hello, doctor," he squealed. "Here In good time. We're busy, you see. Let me carry your chest for you." "No. no!" Dr. Schermerhorn fairly glared. "It's almighty heavy," insisted the captain. "Let me give yon a hand." "Yuu must not touch!" emphatically ordered the scientist. "Where iss the cabin?" He disappeared down the compan ionway . clasping his precious load. The young man remained on deck to superintend the stowing of the scien tific goods and the personal baggage. All this time I had been thinking busily. I remembered distinctly oue other instance when Dr. Schermerhorn hail disappeared. He came back in scrutably, but within a week his re sults oh aerial photography were pub lie property. 1 told myself that in the present instance his lavish use of mon ey, the elaborate nature of his prep arations, the evident secrecy of the ex pedition as evidenced by the fact that he had negotiated for the vessel only the day before setting sail, the impor tance of personal supervision as proved 1. jt... e . a. 1. 1 m im i in; met unit 11c notoriously nu- practical in practical matters and no- lns!Wti(in. i 0(,um p.t along perfect torionsly disliking anything to do with j ,y wt willlolJt passes, so I discarded business -had conducted the affair . t'he,u i i,nd mv hair cut rather dose, himself instead of delegating it-why. , tl,.t SO!. ,MMt!. gentlemen, don't you see that all this iiio.e ii..,i, fi.uiu iu nauu uie up. body and soul? Suddenly I came to a detinue resolution, captain selover had descended to the pier. I approach ed him. "You need a mate," said I. He looked me over. "Perhaps," he admitted. "Where's your man?" "Bight here," said I. Iiis eyes widened a little. Otherwise he showed no sign of surprise. I cursed my clothes. Fortunately I had my master's cer tificate with me I'd passed fresh wa ter on the great lakes I always carry that sort of document on the chance that It may come handy. It chanced to have a couple of naval indorse ments, results of the late war. "Look here," I said before I gave it to him. "You don't believe In me. My clothes are too good. That's all right. They're all I have that are :ood. I'm broke. I came down here wondering whether I'd better throw myself in the drink." "You look like a dude," he squeaked. "Where did you ever ship?" I handed him my certificate. The indorsements from Admiral Keaysand Captain Arnold impressed him. He stared at me again, and a gleam of cunning crept into his4yes. "Nothing crooked about this?" he breathed softly. I had the key to this side of his character. You remember l had over heard the night before his statement of his moral scruples. I said nothing, but looked knowing. "What was it?" he murmured. "Plain desertion or something worse?" I remained Inscrutable. "Well," he conceded, "I do need a mate, and a naval man even If be Is wantin' to get out of sight" "He won't spit on your decks any way," I broke in boldly. Captain Selover's hairy face bristled about the mouth. This I subsequently discovered was symptom of a grin "You saw that, eh?" he trebled. "Aren't you afraid he'll bring down the iolice and delay your sailing?" I asked. -- f tor uraakenneis, Upturn, La WMW V .l. t-U- " U-lJ Eli CaofidntiaL "ISBBCS lSl-03 Size, E9c www - - i ; pus1 l-Mk on Et-.tuty ami l'liTsic-al uuii we wiii taut yuu i:.jiiy. He grinned again, with a cunning twinkle in his eye. "You needn't worry. There ain't go in' to be any police. He had his ad vance money, and he won't risk it by try in' to come back." We came to an agreement. 1 pro feased stii prise at the wages. The cap tain guardedly explained that the ex pedition was secret. "What's our port?" I asked, to test him. "Cur papers are made out for Hono lulu." he replied. We adjourned to sign articles. "By the way." said I, "I wish you wouldn't make them out in my own name. 'Eagen will do. "All right." he laughed, "I sale. Eagen it is." "I'll be alK.ard at G." said I. "I've got to make some arrangements." , "Wish you could help with the lad ing." -said he. "Still I can get along. Want any advance money?" "No." I replied. Then I reme!uler ed that 1 was supposed to be broke. "Yes," I amended. He gave me .$10. "I guess you'll show up." he said. "Wouldn't do this to everybody. But a naval man even if he Is dodgln' Uncle Sam" "I'll be here." I assured him. At that time I wore a iointed beard. This I shaved; also I was accustomed j to use eyeglasses. The trouble was merely a slight astigmatism which 1 ivi,,.,....i ,...1.. ;., -,,.,.1!..., trousers and shirt, a pea jacket and a , f..,t ,.., s.lf,, f ....... . nl- ! ,., , c..i.mi.r I 11011 i'L 11 iiiiiii iiik. "x u a aiav a uni "x u 1 aiav a - 1 u. In fact, as you shall see, I hardly spoke to him during all the voyage out. Promptly at (J. then, I returned with a s:?a chest, bound I knew not whither, to be gone I knew not for how long and pledged to act a second offiver on a little l."0 ton schooner. (To be Continued). The Jumping Off Place. "Consumption had me in its grasp; and I had almost leached the jumping off place when I was advised to try Dr. King's New Discovery; and I want to say right now, it saved my life. Improvement began with the first hot lie, and after taking one dozen bot tles I was a well and happy man aga'n." says George Moore of Grimes- land. N. C. As a remedy for coughs and colds and healer of weak, sore limes and for preventing pneumonia New Discovery is supreme. 5ft cenis and $1 at all druggists. Trial bottle free. Use DeWitt's Little Early Risers; pleasant little pills. They are easy to take. Sold by all druggists. V V V-V V V V . ON THE M 0 Installment Plan 0 N E WE LOAN ON Furniture Pianos Horses Wagons, Etc. Y $ $ r o s Y $ $ T 0 $ WE OFFER Unequaled Rates Quickest Service Absolute Privacy Courteous Treatment $ MUTUAL LOAN C0.,$ L (Unincorporated.) PeODlra National llank bnllillaa-. L I'fflplo National Hank budding- ! II Trlrolione. old wet 122. II iiuoin 4ii. itfffK lainnu, til. w , 1 I) nice noiirM, 9 a. in. to w p. Ba w a ua nearasthenia. Oim-h Wednesday aad Saturday - TRE KEEIEY A ""' - A K2ffiN $$$,$$ $ $ N