San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-12

tlIhes Win foreign lisp, sometimes with
slight Yankee information, and at other
times very purely indeed. II have done
the same, mate. Maybe you noticed
brigantine standing on and off the shore
yesterday"
nodded my head.
"That was mine," he said. "rm
owner, skipper and everything else.
Why shouldn't man spend his money
in his own way? like cruising about,
and like new experiences. suppose
there's no harm in that. was in the
Mediterranean last month, but I'm sick
of blue skies and fine weather. Chios is
a damnable paradise of place. I've
come up here for little fresh air and
freedom. cruised all down the western
isles, and when we came abreast of this
place of yours it rather took my fancy,
SO hauled the foreyard aback and came
ashore last night to prospect. 1t wasn't
this house struck, but another farther
to the west'ard; however, | saw enough
to be sure it was place after my own
heart-a real quiet corner. So | went
back and set everything straight aboard
yesterday, and now here l am. You can
put me up for a few weeks, / suppose.
I'm not hard to please, and / can pay
my way; suppose we say ten dollars a
week for board and lodging and a fort
night to be paid in advance"
He put his hand in his pocket and pro-
duced four shining napoleons, which he
pushed along the dresser to my father,
who grabbed them up eagerly.
"Pm sorry gave you such rough re-
ception," said, rather awkwardly. 81
was hardly awake at the time"
"Say no more, mate; say no more" he
shouted heartily, holding out his hand
and clasping mine. lizard knocks are
nothing new to me. suppose we may
consider the bargain settled then?"
"Ye can bide as lang as you will, sir"
answered my father, still lingering the
four coins. "Archie and me II do a we
can to make your veesit pleasant ane.
It's no such a dreary place as We might
think When the Lamlash boats come
in we get the papers and a the news"
1t struck me that the stranger looked
anything but overjoyed by this piece of
information. you don't mean to say
that you get the papers here% he said.
100 aye, The Scotsman an the Glas.
gey Herald. But maybe you would like
Archie and me to row over to your ship
in the morn an fetch your luggage"
"The brig is fifty miles away by this
time" said our visitor. "She is running
before the wind for Marseilles. l told
the mate to bring her round again in a
month or so. As to luggage, l always
travel light in that matter. If a mans
purse is only full he can do with very
little else. All have is the bundle under
your window. By the way, my name is
Digby, Charles Digby."
81 thought your initials were A. w.
remarked.
He sprang off the dresser as if he hal
been stung, and his face turned quite
gray for a moment. What the devil
do you mean by that" he said.
81 thought this might be yours" !
answered, handing him the handkerchief
had found.
'Oh, is that all!' he said, with rather
forced laugh. 81 didn't quite see what
you were driving at. That's all right.
1t belongs to Whittingdale, the second
officer. I'll keep it until see him again.
And now suppose you give me something
to eat, for I'm about famished."
We brought him such rough fare as
was to be found in our larder, and he
ate ravenously and tossed off a stiff
glass of whisky and water. Afterward
my father showed him into the solitary
spare bedroom, with which he professed
himself well pleased, and we all settled
down for the night. AS went back to
my couch noticed that the gale had
freshened up, and saw long streamers
of seaweed flying past my broken win
dow in the moonlight. A great bat flut-
tered into the room, which is reckoned a
sure sign of misfortune in the islands,
but | was never superstitious, and let
the poor thing find its way out again
unmolested.