Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-12
CUApTER NJ.
ONE FRIEND AT LAST.

oNfI Al LtlSl
1t was a busy day for the master and crew
of the Mermaid. The cargo consisted chiefly
of salt, saltpetre, and a large quantity of
oil, intended for one of the experiments in
oiling the angry waves for which Peterhead
was become famous. The captain was de-
sirous of having all cleared out before the
noon of the following day, and his men
found him more impatient than they had
ever known him before.
Cargill would have persuaded Annie to
accompany him on an excursion inland to
view some of the beauties of Buchan, which
he had been told were numerous. She de-
clined, pleasantly enough, as it seemed, but
so firmly that he cid not persist He count
ed upon his victory during the return pass
age. Meanwhile he sauntered into the town
by himself, to crafty the eyes Of the folk
with view Of his manly person and the
latest style in tailoring.
Annie felt as if the atmosphere were
somehow purer during his absence. With
out exhibiting any deliberate design to avoid
him-and certainly without dscourtesy-
she contrived to escape being left alone
with him during the next two days, when
the business of unloading having been COM
pleted, that Of reloading was in progress.
On this second day after the departure Of
Ross there was amaZement on board the
Mermaid at sight of old Dick Baxter hirp-
ling along the quay, as calmly consequential
and as much at home as if he had been at
Newhaven.
'Dod, there are surely few bees i the
Dyke when the drones come out" exclaim-
ed the captain cheerily. "Whar in the world
do ye come frae, Baxter?"
Just frae hame, captain, and I'm want
in you to taxi me back again."
''And are you out on business, or are you
just taking daunder to see the kintry?'
800, bath, bath, captain; mans never
over auld to learn, and hae been learning
heap as CAM alang. But would never
hae started if it hadna been that naething
would satisfee Bell Cargill except that
should gang ance errand to look after her
calf"
"What's ta'en the auld wife?" said the
captain, laughing; ''does she think he Gamma
take care O. himseP?-he's auld enough"
II couldna say, but Bell has notions, and
she will hae them carried out"
'Aweel gang you below and Annie will
see that you hae something to eat"
''And whar's Jeems the-noo?"
up the town, some gate"
At that Dick Baxter hirpled down to the
cabin with unusual alacrity. To Annie his
only salutation was, as he presented q let
ter
bob Ross sends you that, Missy"
Her face flushed with pleasure; but she
put the note in her pocket in order to at
tend to the wants Of the unexpected guest.
Ma na," he said hurriedly; 'read your
bit letterie, and while you're doing that l
want to look into Jeems's cabin. hae got
an idea in my head that puir Bob didna get
fair play, and 1 want to try and make sure
| o't."
You think that?' she cried joyfully
| 81 hae nae doubt about it, and the doctor
that saw him in Edinbro' has nae doubt
about it-for, taxi his word for it that he
tasted naething a. day eXceptin' what Jeems
gied him. But we want to maxi sure afore
speaking. Whar's his cabin?"
She pointed to door, Old Dick passed
into the place, closing the door after him
Annie, like many others, had great faith in
Dick Baxter's wisdom, for as he studied the
newspapers so carefully he could always
tell about everything that was going on,
and no one had ever been bold enough to
| question his judgment on any question of
right and wrong.
She opened her letter with fingers which
were not quite so steady as usual, and read
her first love-letter. 1t was strange one.
II write this to let you know am better,
Annie, and to tell you that there has been
some mistake about me somewhere.
''On the way to the station, Campbell told
me about everything that happened, and al
though | could not take it all in clearly at
the tilneI have been able to do so since.
You all think that | was drinking. You
will believe mel had nothing except what
after what you had said to me | was kind OF
pitying him, and did not like to show i'll
| feeling. There was something wrong about
that whisky. Dick Baxter had been read
ing something in the paper that made him
accident
''He is going to YOU. If he should be right
/ will be able to face vour father and the