TEN MINUTES' STORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3839, 23 May 1913, Page 3

TEN MINUTES' STORY.

THE BAT mm HtYfR i'XiSnU

After you. have read a few thrilling South Sea yarns qi ragmg typlioi.ns and desperate, shipwrecks, v,i„ii the attendant honor of being cast upon a desort island inhabited by savage head hunters, it may seem sitvt king a point to affirm that, granted a seaworthy vessel intelligently navigated, ocean risks fail. considerably' below those on land. To prove it there are statistics. In an afternoon walk a score of accidents may happen from which you are entirely secure on ship-, board. But for the mere traveller by sea, against this must bo set dangers

particularly appropriate to tho old saying regarding a Forkcd-Jjailed Individual and unemployed hands. For example,"lie .who goes into the smok-

ing-room would. do well to t-’ko hood of the official notice that, if not Satan himself, sonic of his followers- may bo lurking there. This '» usually written m such plain language that there was really no excuse for Barker. Nona at' all 1 " When tne “City of Seattle'’ set forth westward bourn? a-toss the Pacific almost anyone could "have informed Barker that the two pleasant fellows h© foregathered with were morally no better than ocean sharks. But ho was so absurdly uncophisticated, was that little man Barker.. Ho told ail about his affairs, of how an undo had loft him a. pile-Sand that* 15.000 dollars of it was deposited with tho purser. Messrs Flint- sand Needham, the two agreeable fellow., aforesaid became deeply interested and stimulated further particulars. Barker was apparently eager to confide. He war going to buy a mine in Australia, though lie know noth in «r about mining, but ho trusted implicitly- the man on the other side. A point which ho did not think it worth while to disclose was that he had made tho round trip across tho -Pacific* before. Now it cam bo cosily understood liow two sincere/ sharpers' folt in honor bound to prevent the man on tho other side robbing Barker. That would have- been/culpable negligence on their part, a disgrace for which they would have liked to be held accountable. Therefore they pr corded after their usual method in landing him in a game, having previously verified his statement that the 15,000 dollars was in the purser’s safe. But Barker suddenly developed a conscientious exception to games of chance, arguing that his deceased uncle held all such to bo a. profitless waste of time. He declared ho much preferred to hear them discuss mission work in penitentiaries, with which they appeared to be familiar. To persuade, entice and nerve Inn to alter his mind was like trying to induce a mule to eat oysters. He drew back every time. In the process over two-thirds of tho voyage was consumed, ami the two agreeable follows had almost given up hope, when a change of disposition was noticed in Barker. First "he thought he would like to see how the game they dronosed was played, then if it would be possible for him to learn so that he might not make an exhibition of himself. _ A jtew hope was born in the conspirators of the green cloth. Great was the encouragement given, earnest the instruction, and most flatetring comments on the skill Barker chin loved. For a beginner. Gee AYh'jkl it was astonishing. Considering that aces> and kings were shuffled into his hands, it is not surprising that he did fairly well, even to tho extent of winning a few dollars.

In a perfectly natural transition of opinion, he became quite enthusiastic, and in that spirit early one morning made a- rather curious proposal. “I would like to play quite a long game,” be suggested, ‘‘just to see if my luck holds good, with a time limit fixed ahead, say—to-night at lights out.”

“All right,” eagerly agreed Flint

“We’re willing.'’ “I say lights out to-night,” explained BaiJier, “because i have a name of squaring my accounts once a moncii, uic cue 2/th, and tins is the 26th. i invariably pay a.l elects clue oh tnat date —the anniversary of ltiy lamented uncle’s death —ana expect others to settle any sums which may be owing to me. That- enables mo to start another month with a clean sheet.

'■ Good idea!” exclaimed Needham, with a side wink at his companion. “That’s the way to keep things straightened out.' I remember learning something like that when I was a it id at school out of a copybook.” The expression on Mr. JNkodiiam’s face seemed to recall a beautiful childish memory.

“In this ease,” - went on Barker,

“I reel rather particular about it, liecause I might, of course, lose a few dollars: and —” “Hardly think it likely from the way you’ve been doing,” put in Flint-. “Looks as if we’d have'to pay up.”

“Well, in case I should' be so unfortunate,” argued Barker, “it is understood that we settle on that day and no other—Thursday, the 27th. You sao, I make a rule never to draw money except on that- date, and tho purser has instructions not to break -the seal of my packet until then.” “Oil, all right, if it suits us,” agreed Flint, while Needham nodded. “It’s usual to put up the money as we go along, but- I guess we can make an exception in your ease.” They thought they had sized up their man, and that- timidity of conscience would impel him to pay without a murmur according to his regular schedule. “Thursday, the 27th then, is settlement day,” repeated Barker with a -smil-e. It’s just as well to have a matter like this clearly decided, because if the ship should happen to be wrecked on the 28tli, 1 should feel very badly if I went to the bottom of the sea. owing any one money.” “So would we,” laughed- the men in chorus, Flint adding in a jovial mood; “Don’t let a little thing like that worry you. If you owe us money on the 27th, and we cfon’t see you pay up on that dato, wo’ll call the debt jolf. Will that comfort you ?”

“Perfectly,” responded l Barker. That is exactly-what I mean. Now

I am ready to chance my luck.” For the reason that mental concentration could be better exerted in private, it was agreed to play out the game in Flint and Needham’s stateroom. To the seclusion of which place the three adjourned, where they substituted ia steamer trunk for a table and sat up<m stateroom stools. Then the game was opened, proceeding cautiously at first on the part of tho conspirators, so that their simpleminded victim might- not be alarmed by too sudden losses. But what surprised Flint and Needham was the indifference displayed by Barker. When the lunch hour came and _ the steward was summoned.to bring in a bite, Barker merely Smiled when informed when luck had gone against him tortile extent of 840 dollars.

“Oh, well,. I can’t expect to have luck on my side all tho time, can I?” he asked innocently. - They agreed noth him that such had been, their own unhappy experiences in times past, and made renewed efforts to land that 15,000 dollars in the purser’s safe. Thus, while the “City of Seattle” slid along on an even Reel, Flint and Needham piled up their gains by fifties and hundreds, and all. the time Barker sat on His stool-with as much ease as if peanuts H’d not dollars -were slipping from him. In -this way they played through the dinner hour, and on until the four hells at 10 p,m. were struck, being also the signal for lights out. “Well I’ll be hanged 1” exclaimed Flint, reckoning up tlio final scoria. “Fll be switched.if ever I saw a man have such a run of hard luck! You are out 9762--.dollars;-Barker, but: remember', -it was you who prdposed the game.”. . ... - - \ T' . . < “I don’t mind,” returned Barker, cheerfully, rubbing his hands together,

winch were a bio suit mmi nunuang liio cards so long. "1 iU uU M*i a male iuoiivv, in i i-noruu^uij

enjoyed tho game. As my uuuo w&ou LU 0.. V, rutti j/lvUSUiv, UIUI.OO DO ineluyinoG “by pneo, theiviovo he must nave Wv>C ii rtiuug about games or clnuwo proiiiiess. agreed, i snail seitie witu you, geuiienieii, oil too 2/tn.” , , ■, ■ .ill right,’ 1 agreed both, in tin, most inemiiy manner. ixioii Baiher naixod away, anil JL'riiii stared. at Necurnuii. “Wiiatao you i-iiinx of iirinr' ques-

UOileii riillii. •Mao easiest vein wove ever

Stlina. , , v ~, ••.past a nuno or money. 'd '* OUDht AT il» uu uu d J idHAP OAV Se S ( rl ’U.hll Uill{ 04111 n.p 0} eniaj. Guitars at a stroke. That in.gilt have marie him suspicious. As it is. ho Bucks we’re dead on the level.’ _ \v.ih which gratifying reiiection they aimed in ioy tiie night. Tue next morning i’Tint and Needham eiimbed on dock early, where they found Barker talking to the first mate. When ho caught, sight of them, he loft tho mate’s skle and strobed over, whistling lightly.

“Fine day,” he greeted, casting a glance aloft. “Great! ’’ echoed Flint. “ivind of day on which it is worth wliilj living.” added Needham, thinking ( t L iio big roll which would shortly bo°transferred from tho purser’s safe to his pocket. “Yes,'” nodded Barider. “It's a curious fact, but wherever I’ve been I’ve noticed that Friday, the 28th of this month is a remarkably fine day.’ “Friday the 28 th?” questioned Flint, with a shade settling .on libs face. “You’ve mistaken.' tho cLato. This is-Thursday, the 27th.”

“Oh, no it isn’t,” replied Barker. “This is the 28th. There was no 27th.”

“Why, that’s nonsense.” Needham began to argue hot-iy. “Yesterday was Wednesday, the 26th, therefore this must lie Thursday, the 27th. You know that well enough.”' “For answer Barker hailed the mate.

“These fellows,” ho said, “don’t believe this is Friday the 28th. 1 guess you can settle the dispute.” p“Sure,” responded the mate. “Of course this is Friday tho 28th. We crossed tho 180 degree of longitude last night, westward bound, and dropped a-day as usual. Coming east we add a day at the same place. If we didn’t wo’d arrive in Australia a day behind, and on tho return trip, in San Francisco, a day ahead of time. Everybody knows that.”

Everybody, per haps ; except Flint and Noedliam, as their looks of amazement clearly bore witness.

“I think,” remarked Barker, patting Flint on the shoulder, “our settlement related only to Thursday tho 27th. That day was not marked on the ship’s log—in fact, for us it never existed. It’s too Fad for you to lose a day like.that, but you can make up for it on the return trip. If I am not mistaken,” he added, “I ran up against one of you fellows when a stranger in New York, and didn’t eome off quite so well. This time you got left, but thcn/I’ve been across the Pacific before, and this, is your .first trip.” With a grin on his face and his hands thrust deep in his pockets Barker turned, and . strolled along the deck forward, humming a popular air from a comedy opera as he went.