Adventure, August 1917 — page 171: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Hunch ‘Tell me about it,” said the boy eagerly. “T got to get these clothes on the line,” evaded O’Leary. ‘‘What’s the use, anyhow? It’s your prospects and not mine we’re pla . sete Instead of doing three things O’Leary suddenly became intent on one. He knocked out his pipe and put it away, closed the conversation, and bent his full attention on rinsing and hanging out his clothes. Hop could not get another word out of him, but that night he found Rebel Bryan in a loquacious mood and found out what he wanted to know. “A bald-headed first luff of the old Puritan fixed Mike,” said Rebel. ‘“Hum- phrey was his name and we used to call him Humpy. Him and Mike had a run-in. When Mike come up for boats’n, old Humpy fixed him proper.” ‘‘How long ago was that?” asked the boy. “A good while,” said Rebel, “ ’long about six years ago. Mike’s been jumpin’ from one rate to another ever since. He’s been a fireman and a water tender besides quatermaster and Jimmy Legs. I think he’s even put in one hitch with the dynamos. Since the time I’m tellin’ you about, his ambition stops when he gets to be a first- class petty officer in any rate.” ‘“‘What’s the matter?” queried the boy. *“‘Can’t he go any higher?’’ “Guess not,” said Rebel. “That old court-martial still looms big on his record, and if he made a move old Humpy, who is still in the service, would nail him.” “What'd he do? What's Humpy got against him?” persisted the boy. ‘“‘There’s only a few of us who cee about it,’ cautioned Rebel. “‘T’ll tell you if you’ll promise never to let on that you know.” “T’ll keep it,” promised Hop. “All right then. It was one of them little things that happens quick and takes a lifetime to rub out. We’re havin’ the usual trouble in Mexico and a detail of us was ashore from the Puritan to protect the gringoes. Bigger trouble loomed up or somebody got his orders balled and nght in the thick of a few of us tryin’ to keep law and order with the guns of the ship backin’ us up, "long comes a wireless to pull out and leave the place entirely. “TI was ashore and Mike was ashore, fifteen of us in the detail with Humpy in charge. Of course when the people ashore found out we planned to leave ’em, they 169 all wanted to come off to the ship, but about fifty was all we could carry. It was in selectin’ the lucky ones that Mike and Humpy had their little go. “‘The last boat was bein’ filled, and Mike was actin’ as the boat’s coxs’n when a little woman with two kids come to Mike and begged to be taken off. Humpy was not around and Mike listened to her story. She’d been cryin’, but looked more cheer- ful when Mike let her talk. Her husband worked out o’ town at a mine, and one of the trouble-makin’ bandits had tried to make up to her. She was afraid of him with good cause. Humpy not bein’ here, Mike had to decide. While he was workin’ it over, the woman made her last appeal. - ‘My husband was a sailor once,’ she sal ‘* “What ship!’ asked Mike. kK earsage, his name is Brannon, Henry Brannon.’ ‘“* ‘Not Red Brannon?’ “ “Ves,” she said, ‘he was a gunnetr’s mate.’ | ““*Red Brannon’s wife and kids,’ says Mike. ‘Get aboard. If you’d just said _ that at first!’ “The others had been crowdin’ in with their passes and Brannon’s wife took the last seat. We're ready to shove off the minute Humpy gets back to the dock and gives the word. The boat is full, crowded, with just space enough in the stern sheets for Humpy. In a minute or two he shoves through the crowd on the dock. He had two women with him. ** “Some of you'll have to unload,’ he said. ‘These two ladies want to go.’ “Nobody moved. Brannon’s wife was settin’ next to Mike. She knew the officer’s authority, and .fear made her prominent among the bunch. She was lookin’ straight into Humpy’s eyes with her arms around the kids, like somethin’ dumb that’s had a lickin’. “*You,’ said Humpy, pointin’ her out. ‘You look like a native here. Get out and give the ladies room.’ “Brannon’s wife covered her face with her hands and started to sob. It was too much for Mike. ‘“**This lady is a friend of mine, Mr. Humphrey,’ he blurted out. ‘Her husband used to be in the Navy. Couldn’t you throw out.somebody else?’ “Humpy gnawed at his mustache and CoOMmiclsoo © 5}