The National tribune., 1894-10-25

held up by the Cnurcn, the Brewery, ana
HurIey's Fleet. When the Church had done
its teas and the Brewery its mailing
the Fleet was a strong supporter.
On a November afternoon, when the
branches OF the trees on the quay were black
and bare, the water in the barboT mud
color. and the blocks on the rigging Of The
moored ships stood out like warts against
cold. gray sky, Genth Hurley, the Fleet
owner, WAS doing what all owners dO-he
was paying a smack's crew their poundage.
The smack had just come up and the crew,
in duffels, guernseys, and sou'westers, were
scattered about the office. They were a
stalwart set of men, with basin-cropped
heads and shaved ntcks. Some had brought
their shifting bags ashore, and, with the
cheerful ease of men who had not washed
for eight weeks, sat on the tops of them.
One big fellow, seated thus, nursed on his
sea boots boy so small and black that he
looked as if he had just dropped down a
aue. He was the cook.
"WeIl, skipper" said Genth, as be put
first one and then another little pile of
money on his desk, what sort of weather
have you had 2"
"WelI, owner" said the skipper, who
was feeling about bis head for a chaw of
tobacco, which he had dabbed at his SOU
wester and lost in his hair, "Pll speak
the truth. 1t wOs b'isterous. A tree reeved
sail an the little lib nearly all the time,
an mount'iDs o. sea on the Dogger. Also,
most unfortunate circumstance: a-eomin'
home, pooI Billy Dabbs nearly had his
bows stove in with the mainsul bume."
Il see" said Gentb, you are a man
short. I'm sorry about poor Billy. Per-
haps one OF you will take him his pound
hau 10
Holmes. Here's your money, my lads"
He laid the last little pie of money on
his desk One By one the crew claimed
their own. When all were paid, and the
sound Of the last pair OF sea boots had died
on the pavement, Genth started to put the
books right. He was about eight-and-
twenty, v ith dark hair, dark eyes, and 4
plain, earnest face. Before he had finished
the soft illumination Of the setting sun had
tinted The muddy water that eddied against
the bridge. When the red-tiled roofs on
the opposite side were a glowing orange he
heard q knock Come ini he cried.
The invitation met no prompt response.
There was a tumble with the handle, IA
tiguing wiping of feet on the flags, then, as
if by electricity, the door flew open.
"Weil?' said Genth. What is it?"
have come" said the visitor, about a
berth-on a smack
It's nc use coming to me, my man," said
Hurley. Yuu must go to the shippers. l
don't ship any one"
The skippers," said the other; "why.
they'd laugh at me. 1 don't believe they'd
have me for ballast. Yet they'd have given
something for nod from me once. had
no need tEen to come like beggar to the
Eleet-not !. You know that, Hurley"
For he fJu,a al Hic
pen dropped from his fingers and made
great blot on the neatly-ruled page. tom
Harrington he exclaimed
All that's left of him." said the arrival
with a smile that seemed to court some
sort of praise for the remains; rather
shady, down at the heel, pockets empty,
shorn OF ms splendor, but Tom Harrington
still"
Genth suTmised as much. Tom Harring-
ton was the son Of Herringbourne solici-
tor. The old lawyer had worked hard to
save money; his son, to spend il. In three
or four years Tom Harrington had spent
the accumulatiOns of 80 or 40. Yet be had
been more fortunate than Genth Hurley,
for be had won from Genth the woman he
loved. As Genth looked at Harrington the
change in the latter startled him. There
still existed the cut of the man, trimness
jauntiDess. His hands were still small and
white, his face handsome. Bat the FIRE in
the shltty blue eyes burned low; they were
encircled by dark, hollow rims, and the full,
red lips were a shade blue and tremulous.
He was Genth's age, but looked older. He
had lost a lot Of health In the sheariBg
process.
Il was told" said Hurley, you were 60
ing the pace. But / never thought it was
h1h
"Don't-don't preach; l get enough of
that at home"
Genth's dark eyes unconsciously hard
ened. How were you brought to this? :"
ne asked.
'Cs ard Bs-Cards and Billiards, and,
incidentally, Bs and SIS. In my time have
backed many horses. If they'd won /
shouldn't have been here. Understand, I'm
not the only one-pleDty have been broke
besides me. In gentlemanly games, too. All
OF us love sport 1t is the backbone of
England | can't see it's my fault it's the
old mans"
Genth looked at him inquiringly.
II the old man didn't mean me to live
like a gentleman, why did he make a gen
tlenan Of me? Why did he send me to a
tip-tOP school, give me frst-class ideas,
and then die and not leave me enough
money to develop these frst-class ideas +?
That puzzles me. Now, if / hadn't been a
soft fool if / had married a woman who
had got bit"-
Genth's eyes grew harder. He picked up
his pen and slowly drew sheet of blotting
paper over the ink blot. How is your
wife? y he said, abruptly.
Oh, Nell is al right. She takes in bit
Of dressmaking and millinery She was al
ways a handy girl with her fingers. But
somehow trade has fallen Off with her; so
I'm forced TO do something. Oh, you
needn't look at me like that. / have tried
before / tried once for a place as billiard
marker; but some other fellow got there
before rBe and / had all the trouble foI
nothing Bat when it comes to your last
loaf
MY good -
It's time TO wake up; so / thought o.
the Fleet When there is nothing else do
ing everyone thinks of the Fleet; aud il
you have berth ready for me 10 lump into
why, I'm your man" He had suddenly set
more than ballast value OH himself II
showed that Harrington was still mereu,
rial.
Well" said Genth, "a vessel came In
this afternoon, the Comet One of the men
adeck hand, was injured by the boom. You
can go in her, if you like"
Harrington looked by no means elated
1t was evident that one of the last things
he expected was TO be taken at his word
lie had hoped for something better; an