A QUEER THIEF.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 185, 23 June 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

A QUEER THIEF.

THE FATE OF A "U" BOAT COMMANDER. Tlio majority of men arc adaptable, and Otto von'Seezem commander of C-Double Blank, belonged to the majority. It may have been that he knew the "Englischer pigs. Gott strafe 'em/' called him a pirate, and he was determined to justify the name; or, like a loval son of the Fatherland, he might only have been showing his admonition of the Crown Prince by copying that most exalted and gallant warrior's example. Whichever of those hypotheses is correct (writes ".)..).," in the "Daily Mail,'') it was an undoubted fact that since ho left the Elbe. Von Seezem had gathered together an interesting assortment of watches, gold coins and the like, as the result of assidduous "harvesting'' upon the seas. And lie spent many plea-ant halfhours in his hunk looking through the collection. In it were watches of such plutocratic mould that a man felt like a millionaire immediately he dropped one into his fob. There were fat-faced silver watches with staring white dials, that ticked aggressively and defiantly as though declaring, "We don't mind: we're used to being 'lifted.' " There were watches of the "turnip" varitty, and others of the humble-it metal. Al-o there were the gold coins, the sovereigns and half-sovereign-, yielded by many reluctant pockets. Von Seezem often ran the=e through his lingers aad dreamed sweetly of a day when the Kaiser's image and superscription should adorn the metal in plare of his cousin's. That day might be far distant, but dreams were not forbidden, and who should prevent a man from extracting what soul-tonic he could from them ? Not being the man to let a good resolution grow rusty, Von Seezem looked into the periscope and saw a likely quarry some few miles away. It was an awkward-seeming old tub of a ship, wallowing through the water with the easy but uncertain gait of a sailor wiio has swallowed a double --hare of grog ration. "One or two more watches and some more money aboard there. Quite an easy matter to get them before I sink the old hooker," thought Von Seezem, as he gave an order which sent lDoub'e Blank up to the surface. Once there, she switched on full speed and headed towards the tramp. The latter made no attempt to rim away, but lumbered steadily onward, as if unsuspicious of any sinister design on the submarine's part. By all appearances the job of rifling and destroying her would he quite as easy as Von Seezem anticipated. The one unsatisfactory aspect of it was that she did not seem likely to add much to his collection. However, her destruction meant another notch upon his periscope, and that would take him a step nearer the Iron Cross. Some honour would thus conic- out of the affair, even though it might not show much fit"Lie to!" commanded Von Seezem, as I'-Double Blank approached the tramp. "Aye. aye, sir." came the answer from her bridge. "Get out your boats; I'm going to sink you," shouted Von Seezem. "Give us a little time, sir," pleaded the tramp's captain. "Only ten minutes at the outside," ■replied Von Seezem. " Lower your steps; I'm coming aboard you." " Very good, sir." answered the captain, and forthwith a ladder began to t-lip down the tramp's side, while her crew started swinging out the boats. "There's half a dozen o' them bloomin' thieves coniin' aboard us. Get ready to clump Yin, Bill," quoth the tramp's captain, as he watched lDouble Blank's dinghy being mann d. '■Righto!" answered a voice from under the nettings. Swiftly the dinghy rowed aires- and made fast alongside, and her occupant* began to swarm up the ladder towards the tramp's deck. First to step through the open port was Von Seezem. As he did so, a brawny list shot out and caught him a smashing blow under the ear, and he pitched head-first down an open hatchway. One after the other, as tliej came aboard. Ins men met with a like reception. Bill "clumped "em" neatly and .scientifically, being somewhat of an art st at the job, as a champion heavy-weight should be. Without ever a chance of giving a warning cry, down tumbled the pirates into the old ship's dingy interior like so many sacks of potatoes, and there oblivion fell upon them. "Clap on the hatches," directed the captain, and in a trice this was done. "Now," came the sharp order, and almost as the word was spoken a fiery destruction leaped from gun-muzzles and sie.ete U-Double Blank to the death. For a moment she reeled as if taken aback by this rude, unexpected assault, then sank with a gurgling moan, leaving on the surface only a patch of white water flecked darkly with oil to show where she had lain. Meanwhile,, down in their dismal resting place. Von Seezem and his men came gradually round, with sore heads and sorer hearts, to find themselves pri-oners. And Von Seezem had the added mortification of knowing that his much-prized collection of coins and trinkets had gene to " Davy Jones' Locker," while he himself was bound for a place where money cannot be had for the taking, and the only " wajehct-" kept are of a kind no pirate appreci-