Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-20


tons, Tom Harrington took the berth |
offered him. A week after the interview
in the office he sailed in the Comet for
the fishing grounds OF the North Sea.
Eight weeks, long and dreary to those
at sea, soon pass ashore, 70 Genth, in
the office, time flew. The morning the
Comet was due again found him ner-
vously pacing the quay. lie had made |
his plans. This trip would prove Toms
salvation. lie had found q desk fol him
in the office, and under his own eye
Harrington should commence the new
life. Though Genth's mind was busy,
his eyes kept straying down the harbor;
and at last he heard tile pant, pant, pant
Of a tug, and saw her red banded fun
mel passing the lower ferry. Astern was
a dandy-rigged trawer Scores Of
smacks and luggers We're already
moorcd at the quay side, and what with
| scandalized sails, masts, shrOuds and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, it was minute or
two before he could make her out,
| When the snake-like coil of the tow
rope was cast off and the tug shcered
| out, GCnth saw the newcomer was the
Comet. He made step forward, then
stopped as if he had been shot. His eyes
were glued to herrigging She was lily
| ing her ilas half-mast hight II was not
the first time Genth had beheld that
ominous sign, but now it turned him
faint. lii his mind ran one thought
suppose it was flying for Tom Ilarring-
ton! He stood for minute fascinated.
then walked gloomly back to the office.
lie sat there with his face buried in his
hands, when the opening of the door,
d ,Nf G1u hNpts Ia, ,,tf.,.f ,f
| Holmes aroused him. 81 ken see, owner"
he said, you ha been on the quay"
"fell me- said Genth, with dry lips,
"whom have you lost?h
The skipper Of the Comet passed a
large hand through his oakum-textured
hair. "Well, owner" he said slowly,
I'm speak the truth. 'Fwor this way
the wind were east"
In Gods name" cried Genth, "who
is ityn
"ro sail straight to the pint owner,
It's the new deck chap"
Genth looked al him helplessly. Har-
riugton! He had made all his little
plans, and u greater Hand than his had
swept them away. when did this take
place" hcaskcd.
1.-The night afore larst. We wor a.
|
his Ea2a 10 d nautical almanac and tell
ng his tale to it as it hung on nail,
wi the wind east nor east; had lest
, fixed the port an starboard lights an
wos taking spell at the tiller. All of
student | secs y great green sea a.
comm, which knew we'd ship, an |
sung out to the chaps to keep below,
/ Jest as the words passed my lips some
,
/ panioM) The sea an him must ha'
. touched the Comets deck at the same
time, an afore | could clutch him he
was swept over the starboard rail. |
5 hullcd belt at him an put the tiller
7 up. Almost as sumo as we gat about
our boat was launched, an the chap.
, We're in her. They pulled like madmen
! but you know, owner, how fast {
I dr0wmiiu' man drifts 10 wind ard. They
I could Meyer git nigh him; an when
picked the crew Q the boat up, they wor
e done for. they couldn't ha' pulled
I another stroke for the Indies. An tn,
deck chap wOs gone, All we picked u,
! w"s ths'-he held up soilcd sou Yves
ter.
!. "You must report it, said Gtenth
= heavily Its ali YOU can do now
Holmes nodded ana slouchcd away
|, When lie was gone, Cienth went 10 hi
! desk ami drew from it . sheet Of not
q paper: on il was written the number %
i "row."
y "And | must break tile news" he said
3. On a bleak January afternoon tw
I years later, man came through til
7 tJllgatc, 10 save mile o. 50, 6e M
reached llarriuTbournc by cherries
trpplpss f,It rul1T1 ~. ..,V l.nJ 1