Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-18
A SHIP OF 40.
BY BRET HAIeTE.
copyrighted by Houghtou, Mifiin q Co., and
9. published by arrangement with them.



But wot makes Mr.. Rcnshaw go father,
SEE she; 'wot makes everybody run away
from the ship" seq She rather pcart like
and sassy for her Mr. Reushaw hcz
contractn' business ser |; got II big
thing mp in Sacramento thatIl make his
FORUM, sez for | wasn't goin' to give
yer away, don't We see lie had some
business to talk to you about the ship
seq she, lookin' at me under the corner of
her pocket handkerchief Lots o. bust
ness, seq I. "Then ] reckon he don't care
20 hev me write to him., ser she. Not a
bit, SEE |, he wouldn't answer ye if We
did. Yen never hear from that chap
agin' )"
but what the devil''-intcrruptc the
young man impetuously
keep yer hair onl'' demonstrated the
old man with dark intelligence. ''Ef you'd
seen the way she founccd Into her state
TOomi-she, Rosey, ez aIius moves ez
softly ez n spirit-you'd bcv wished I'd
new unloaded n little moro. No sir, gals
IS gals in some things all the time"
Rcnshaw rose and paced the room
rapidly. Perhaps I'd better speak to
pulsivey.
"P'r'aps you'd better not, ~ replied the
imperturbablc Mott.
Jrritated as he was, RcnsIuw could not
avoid the reflection that thc old man was
tight, What, indeed, could he say to her
With his present imperfect knowledge
How could she write to him if that
knowledge was correct
"Ef, - said Mott, kindly, with a laying
IN of large benedctory and paternal
hands, "et yer are willin' to see Rosey
agin, without speakin' to her. reckon |
ken fix IT for yer I'm goin' TO take her
down to the boat in half an hour, Ef yer
should happen-mind, of yer should hap
pen to be down there, scciu' some friends
off and sorter promcnadn' up and down
the wharf like them high toned chaps on
Montgomery strcet-ye might kctch her
eye unconscious like. Or. ye might do
thisp He rose after a moments cogita
zion and with face of profound mystery
opened the door and beckoncd RcnS{aw TO
follow him. Leading the way cautiously,
ne brought the young man into an open
mparttioned recess beside her state room.
It seemed to be used as u store room, and
Renshaw's eye was caught by trunk the
size and shape Of the ono that had pro-
Vided Rosey with the materials of her
masquerade. Pointing to il MIR, Mott said
IN a grave whisper: "I'his yer trunk is
she companion trunk to Roscy's. She's
rot the things them opery women wears
%his yer contains the he things, the buds
and flxin's O. the men o. the same stripe"
Throwing it open lie continued: "Now,
Mr.. RenShaw, gals is gals; it's natral
they should be took by fancy dress and
store clothes on young chaps az on their
selves. That man Ferrcrs hc2 got the
dead wood on all Of ye in this sort of
hing, and hcz been playing, so to speak,
a lone hand al along Aud uf thar's any
dim in thar,N he added, lifting part of
a theatrical wardrobe, '.hat you think
you'd fancy-anythin' you'd like to put
IN when yo promenade the wharf down
yondeT--its yours. Don't ye bc bashful
lut help yourself"
Ii was fully minute before Renshaw
fairly graNped the old mans meaning
But when he did-whcp the suggested
spectacle Of himself arrayed q Ia Fcrrcres,
Jravoly promcnading the wharf rs Il last
gorgeous appeal to the affrctious of Rosey,
,ose before his fancy, he gave way to II
lit OF genuine laughter The nervous
Aenson Of the past few hours relaxed; he
laughed until the tears came into his eyes;
ne was still laughing when the door of
he cabin was suddenly opened and ROsey
appeared cold and distant on the thres-
mold
1-beg your pardon" stammered Rem
shaw hastily. II didn't mean-tO dis
turb yon-I'--
Without looking at him Roscy turned
20 her father. 81 am ready" she said
coldly, and closed the door again.
A glance of artful intelligence came
into Motifs eyes which had remained
,olankly staring at Rcnshaw's apparently
causeIess hilarity. Turning to him he
winkcd solemnly. "That kcerless kind O
hoss laf iist fetched her." he whispered
and vanished before his chagrined com
panion could reply.
When Mr.. Mott and his daughter de
pasted Renshaw was not i'll the ship
neither did be make a spectacular appear
auce on the wharf as Mr. Mott had fOudl,
expected, nor did he turn up again unit
after 0 O'Clock, when he found the ole
man In the cabin awaiting his return will
some agitation. ~ mint ago. he said
mystcriously closing the door behind Ren
shaw, ~ heard voice in the passage
and goEn' out who should ! see agin bu
-hat darncd fuu'in Niger c2 | told We
bout, kinder hidin' in the dark, his eye
shinin' like q catamouut ] was jis
ceachin' for my weppns when he rz u
with n grin and handed Inc this yer letter
told him | rcckoned you'd gone to Sac
ramento, but he said he WEI sure you wa
IN your room, and to prove it | went thar
But when | KEN back the ID skun
had vamoosed-got frightened, reckon
and wasn't nowhar to be seen"
Renshaw took the letter hastily