Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

750 officer, he had had his siesta cut down to a niggardly eighty minutes, and even at times had been forced by a hated superior to keep a watch at night. There are some terrible martinets in the Brazilian navy. - As part of the international force that was chasing after Admiral Teach, up and down the oceans, the Jao Geraes had been driven reluctant from her moorings by the weighty hand of shore authority, and forced to sea. She had been allotted a in definite patrol, and an extremely clean chart, with the limits of this carefully mapped out, reposed on the battens under the chart-house roof. I forget the exact number of tons of coal that Captain Smith signed for as being delivered into the bunkers of the Jao _Geraes, but will represent it by that much £ abused letter x. In actual fact, 5 tons had been so delivered. The trifling balance. of the remaining 3 tons was a matter of ami- cable arrangement between the coal mer- chant and Captain Jacob Smith, whereby they both profited, but over which you and I have no pecuniary concern. These things are no doubt lamentable, - but they occur. So, continuing out the illustration, if a supply of x tons of coal would, by the calculation of shore author- ity, enable the Jao Geraes to steam exactly y miles, it was quite obvious that a supply -of § tons would do nothing of the sort. But Captain Jacob Smith was a mathe- matician, as indeed all sailors have to be nowadays. He merely split his y as be had: previously mutilated the x, and all was for the best ai once. § tons would carry the Jao Geraes { sea miles. Z What mare could any one want—espe- cially if the elaborate chart which called for double the distance lay collecting dust behind those mahogany battens overhead. There were no earnest enquirers among of- frcers or crew. Even the snuff-and-butter colored ones, who thought themselves some- bodies, hoped to be captains themselves one day and come in for the sweets of office. “T have come to look upon the old Jao ~ as my own private yacht,” Captain Smith confided one perfect morning 4o his passen- ger. “I don’t like hurrying, so we never ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. hurry. I can’t sleep at night if the screw’s grinding, so the chief engineer humors me and doesn’t let it grind. a “IT don’t like wet decks, so they aren’t wetted. But I must confess to a weakness for garlic in most dishes, and there. I am afraid I have offended you.” ‘““ Not at all,” said Mary cheerfully. “ At home in Skipton, I'll grant you never see garlic from one year’s end to another. But I put in thirty months as a W. A. A. C. France, and rarely came across food without it.” - Captain Smith waved graceful plum-col- ored fingers to indicate Miss Arncliffe’s blacked bobbed hair. “You still carry your battle-scars, I see. I am sure that all other warriors wish their scars could, be as effective. ‘‘ And now what shall we have for lunch? Yi have the chef up and you shall inspire him. By the way, we are rather short of room on the Jao, but I turned out my first lieutenant to give you the best cabm I had. I hope you are comfortable?” ‘“ 'Ye-es,”’ said Mary thoughtfully. ‘ Oh, yes, I’m quite an old campaigner, you know. But Mr.—er—Mr. Buz—" . ‘Mr. Alvarado.” ‘“‘T never could pronounce that name as you do—but he’s got all his own little com- forts there, and it makg me feel horrid to displace him. Couldn’t you let me have a bit of a piace here on deck, Captain Smith, where I’m pointing? ‘“‘J’d much prefer it if you would. You see, we’re tremendously keen on open air at home.” “I’ve heard a tale that you Yorkshire folk sleep out of doors all the year round,”’ said Captain Smith, with a luxurious shud- der. “We do,” said Mary, lying stoutly, and suppressing a grin as she thought of. Skip- ton’s winter climate. ‘I suppose I couldn’t have that round shed thing there for a cabin?” “You could certainly, if you care for it. It’s only a gun-house. If you’ve really a preference that way, I’ll have it cleaned out. It can be ready for you in a couple of days.” “Now that’s delightful of you. Lend me a hairbrush, and a bit of looking-glass, ANICLOOOKKS (C(O) (C(O)