n6 



RECREATION. 



peal of laughter that caused MaGee to 

 peer in and say : 



"You have cause for laughter, gentle- 

 men, if 40,000 cigars are a subject of 

 mirth." 



We arrived at Philadelphia the next 

 morning and proceeded to unload. I 

 made arrangements with a truck driver 

 to deliver our cigars to their destination. 

 Each day we would break the seal, ab- 

 stract 5,000 cigars and replace the 

 broken seal by softening the back of one 

 of the impressions, applying it over the 

 string and lock. It was impossible to 

 tell that the seal had been tampered 

 with. Twice each day MaGee exam- 

 ined the seal, when we made it so hot for 

 him that he left the stateroom as soon as 

 duty permitted. 



In this manner we contrived to get 

 the 40,000 to our consignee and event- 

 ually proceeded down the river with 

 MaGee on board. He now importuned 

 us for a few cigars, which all hands were 

 puffing, for on this occasion discipline 

 was lax. Finally, opposite Cape Henlo- 

 pen, the cutter ranged alongside and 

 MaGee came to the stateroom door and 

 said : 



" Boys, that seal is of no further use and 

 you may break it. If you will not give 

 me some cigars, will you sell me a box ?" 



''I am sorry to say I have only suffi- 

 cient for home consumption," I said, 

 biting the end of a fine Henry Clay. 



"Nonsense!" replied the officer. 

 ''You have 40,000 cigars in that closet." 



" Is that so ?" I responded. " Well, 

 if I have 40.000 cigarsyou may open the 

 closet and take a box." 



" Thank you," replied MaGee with 

 alacrity, pausing a moment to inspect 

 the se.il ; then taking hold of the end of 

 the string he tore it off. I threw him 

 the key, which he inserted into the lock 

 and opened the door. Of course there 

 were no cigars there. 



"With peals of laughter, Breen and I 

 threw ourselves into each other's arms 

 and danced hilariously, shouting in 

 chorus, "Outwitted !" 



With face suffused with rage he shook 

 his fist at us and cried 



" I'll have you prosecuted as sure as 

 my name is McGee." As he ascended 

 the side of the ship I handed him a 

 handful of cigars. " To show I have no 

 ill feeling, McGee," I said. He took 

 them with the remark, " You outwitted 

 me this trip, but expect no mercy when 

 I catch you again." 



As my companion finished his story 

 I laughed heartily. We were now near 

 the city and I was about to whip up, 

 when just ahead I spied Jessie and her 

 father They were hurrying along as 

 fast as the feebleness of the old gentle- 

 man permitted. The tolling of the 

 church bells told me they had wandered 

 farther than they intended and were now 

 late for service; there was a nervous in- 

 tensity in their stride that indicated 

 their anxiety. 



Pulling up sharply, I directed my 

 companion's attention to the couple and 

 said: 



" Those people are dear friends of 

 mine, with whom I am not on speaking 

 terms. The gentleman is a minister 

 and is late for church. I am going to 

 get out and I desire you to do me the 

 favor to surrender this carriage to them 

 and request them to leave it under the 

 shed, in the rear of the church. Prom- 

 ise me you will not allow them to know 

 that they are indebted to any but your- 

 self, as I would rather die than have 

 them know I sent you." 



" Very well," he replied, as I alighted, 

 " wait a moment and 1 will walk into 

 town with you." 



" No ! I am going a route you would 

 not care to take; in fact I am going 

 over the field to their church, and wish 

 to get there first." 



" All right; good-bye. By the way, 

 to whom have I been indebted this 

 morning?" 



"Allen Olney." 



With a nod he drove off and I sprang 

 over a fence to make a short cut to the 

 church. 



(to be continued.) 



