The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-30
- uIonTs norHeREo HlM.
The Druggist HAD Ilis starboart aud Port
signals Mixed Abomiunbly.

I INC AANEMiNA h1M IT'S NAMNhuAAA auN A7NAN
signals Mixed Abomlnnbly.
Those drug storo lamps bothcr~l him.
Ito was an old sailor and had rtirad
I from active service to live with his dnugh-
ter IN little cottage in East Newark.
There was nothing for him Go do and time
hung heavily ON hts hands Every day lac
was Ia the habit ~ walking down 90 the
passaic river. Here be watched the craft
40 the wharyos and the scent Of tho tarrcd
for,lago made his nostrils dilate and his
,hcst swell out
Whom hc found any one 90 talk 20. he
rcNolcd in telling thrilling adventures OF
the sea and tales Of wrcck. IIis snecr was
a masterpiece when DO compnrcd the RIG
ging Of the two and thrce mnstcd sohoon-
ers with the hrigs, harks and other square
rigyprs In which be had served.
Yet with all this thore was one bit Of
wormwood which tasted bitter. That was
tho drug storc window IN Harrison avenue.
I'm the window OF the apothecary were two
large globes of colonel water One was
tinted bright gr'on and the other a ruby
rid. At night they wcr brilliant and beau
tiful with the fickcring gas jets back Of
them and lent a bright color 20 the neigh
borhood IL was when the lights illumcd
the tinted liquids that the old salt was
worried most. IL was not the colors thar
met with his disapproval, but the fact that
the colors wcrc misplaced, according 20 his
nautical instincts
Many a time ho thought of speaking 70
the druggist, bat Ufrained He's the
cap n, and ii its not shipshape it's none
OF my business I've got no call TO med
die with a strange quarter deck.
For two years he talked 20 himself and
frownod as he passed the place and hoped
against hopc that u change would occur
At last he saw'a sign in the window. II
rcad, This store VIII Move Across the
street on the First Of Next Month
His heart lcaped with JOY as thought
sprang 10 his mind lie went down TO the
river 70 cogitate and was so absorbed that
he did not notice tho unusual appearance
of a barkentiuo at tho mooring lie thought
deeply, and az last he exclaimed, IN do
IL II lose my for-s l'''
1t was growing dark as ne approached
the drug storc. and the offending lights
were casting blocks of color upon the side
walk Tie stepped boldly into the store,
and the druggist approached from a rear
room
The old salt touched the brim of his hat
in response 70 the query Of the druggist as
10 what he could do for his customer.
Il presume You m the cap Of this ere
craft. and I make So bold as 70 come 10
you and tell you that for a little more n
two years you We been noored here with
your sta board light toport and your port
light a. sta board, which amt accordin
to marine laws and customs
"Ihain't never said nothin 10 you about
il aforc, 'causc YOU was "A lyin here az an
Choir and no dungcro of any other craft a-run- |
ain foul Of you onless it might be "a boss
with She staggers. But now, how bein Is /
YOU TO "a suin To slip your moorin and
move across the channel. make SO bold 20
take that you re- "a landsman as don't know
the meanin them lights. so l thought /
as how I'd come i'm before you start and I
tell YOU that you'd orter put the red light /
TO the port side, which is the left hand /
side, and the green on the sta board, |
which is the right hama side. p And touch /
ing his cap he departed
The druggist laughed Then he laughed I
again. But that night without waiting 20 I
move across the strret. he shifted the lights |
50 that the sta board and port signals /
were in proper position. and one old salt I
happily slipped his grog after two long /
years of worry and anxiety. New York /
Recorder