Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-16

Here, he SAID, pull EN- of fol
me-"
He held up his leg, and the convict
pulled off his wet fishing stockings.
lie drew them on, and the fisher.
man kicked the brogans toward
him. In exchange the convict hand.
ed him his shoes.
Am l to wear these2" the fisher
man asked, with something in his
voice that might have been amuse-
ment.
"Yes-they're little out of shape,
I'm afraid. The queen is no Judge
of SHOE"
Il guess not" answered the other,
lacing."
There was little silence.
Il suppose, said the convict, with
a curious eagerness, that you have
seen bit of the world"
Here and there" answered the
other, sear'hIAg for the return half
of his ticket.
Should you think, now, that a
girl would wait four years for a chap
who, in thu eyes Of the world, was
not worth waiting for2"
The fisherman, not being an abso-
lutte fool knew that there was only
one answer to this But he was a
kind hearted man, SO he told lie.
There was something about this con-
vict that made him do it.
Yes, | should think she would.
Girls are not always rational, !
guess"
The other said nothing. He took
the macintosh coat and the creel
and the rod case without word,
even of thanks His manners were
brisker, as if the anglers lie had
done him good.
The change of costume was now
complete, and the convict would pass
anywhere for an innocent disciple of
[zaak Walton.
For a moment they stood thus,
looking at each other. Then the
convict spoke.
Can you lend me a fiver7" he
asked
"Oh, yes"
Carelessly opening his purse and
displaying a good number of bank
notes, he passed one to the unsteady
hand held out
Want any moreG" he asked, with
queer laugh.
"I'll take another if you can spare
it,"
A second note passed from hand to
hand.
Thanks, sand the convict. Now
tell me your name and address. !
shall want to send these things back
to you-if have any luck"
And the effort to steady his voice
was quite apparent.
Caleb S. Hardness, United States
frigate Bruiser, now lying at Plym-
outh," replied the other tersely.
"Ahl you are an Americana"
THAT is why don't care a hang
for your laws"
'Mr. Harkness-or whatY"
I'm her captain, he replied mod
estly
They shook hands and parted.
It was only as he plodded along
the Tavistock road, lmping in the
regulation shoes, that the American
remembered that he had quite omit
ted to ask the convict any questions.
He had parted with his macintosh.
and it was pouring.
Yet he regretted nothing, and at
times queer smile fitted over his
countenance He was a man hold
ing very decided views of his own
upon most subjects, and no one sus-
pected him of it, because he never
sought to force them upon others.
What he loved above all in men
was that species of audacious and
gentlemanly coolness which is found
in greater perfection in the ranks of
the British aristocracy than any
where else in the world.
Two days later he received his
waders, macintosh and brogues,
also a new fishing rod of the very
best quality made in England and
two e5 notes.
Caleb S. Hardness in due course
rose as high as he conveniently could
in the navy active and turned his at
tention to the navy passive, which
latter means nice little house in
Washington and the open arms OF
the best society in that enlightened
city.
Thus in six years time we find Ca
leb s. Hardness moving, not in the
bed of an English trout stream, but
in the lap of Washington luxury.
1t was a great night in the govern
ment city, for England had sent one
of her brightest stars to meet the lu
minaries of the United States IN
peaceful arbitration The British
plenipotentiary had not yet been seen
of the multitude, but he was the cid
est son of a British earl and had a
title of his own.
That was enough for Washington,
NTH soua IN snare for Boston and