Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21
WINNING HIS STAR
OR THE ADVENTURES OF PAUL
TRAINERS.
WRITTEN FOB THE EVENING STAR BY SAN T.
CLOVER.
Copyrighted, 1894. All rights reserved.)
CHApTED Nv

Copyrighted. 1894. All rights reserved)
CHAPTER XIV --.a I'D. .s..-
On one OF these rambling Gays of ease
Paul paid visit to the government dry
dock at Cockatoo Island In the lower bay.
Accompanied by a young MILDLY. whose &C
Guaintance he had formed, the lad pulled
over to the island where the vised bit of
paper presented by his companion proved
an open sesame to the entire place.
About the first object of interest to hold
his attention was the hull of the old
Alert OF arctic fame. lying high AMI dry ON
the stocks. undergoing repairs. rrepara-
tory to entering the coast survey service.
A queer sensation crept over the boy ,.s lac
gazei on this historical craft. for it recall
ed an episode Of his school days that he
had almost forgotten.
1t was the same Alert which the British
government afterward rendered the United
States for Use in the Greedy relief cxpedi-
ton under Commander Schley. and whose
stout wooden ribs had been subjected to
many a nip In the icepack In the Sir George
Mares arctic expedition in 1873. There was
the least tinge or excitement In the lads
voice as he pointed toward her and rema rk-
cd Il was once crazy to so up in the re-
gicns that made her famous. 1 reckon my
bones might have been picked clean by
polar bear long ago II 1t hadn't been for
the unfortunate captain of the Jeanette Z"
How was that?' demanded the MILDLY.
We'll, It's silly story, I SUPPOSE"
laughed Paul. but l was fairly Wild TO
join Capt De Longs expedition to the
north pole. and unknown to-. my people
wrote several times to the commander BIZ e
ging him to give me berth in the Jean
nette. The first three letters I sent brought
no replies, but the fourth fetched him, and
cfrpCtn1ilV tIx,p f,v
arctic voyaging. OF course there was no
good reason why should incumbeC the ex-
petition, and that is the way Capt Dc
Long viewed the matter l remember very
distinctly every word in that short, terse
letter he sent me- 1t was dated New 9rk,
Apri! ]. 1879. and his address, l recolleet,
was $50 West 18th street Here Is what 1t
said y -
Paul Travers. Esq.-sr:4 Your svarious,
letters have been received. In reply 1
would state that have room in the Jean
nette for nobody but her officers and crew.
Inese must be seamen or people with seine
claim to scientific usefulness and unless
you can be classed with either party / can
not possibly take YOU" - 90 ',.,.,.,...,.
Was that all?
NO: It was signed. Very respectfully,
Ing arctic steamer Jeannette.''' - g,
raurs friend whistled refiectively. Pretty
chilly note. that" he said Colder than
Siberia itself, l should say. suppose You
s nave never A., GSragged much of your CORE
My not CIR a good while" admitted
the lad ruefuily. But kept the letter,
though. and when news came to America Of
rette apd her brave commander 1 hunted IL
up, ana without saying a word gave II to
my father TO read, OF course the whole
story had to be told then. and there was
cope"
Never thought much Of those north pole
fanatics, exclaimed the ingenious young
sailor. My dads q second cousin or some
thing Of Sir John Franklih' ana he's al!
ways pratsing the old chap up to the skies.
out between You and me think Sir sJ0hn
f .ss Po II, 1o Ssy #
to be gained II a fellow does discover an
open polar seat 'Twon't do comm cree "a NY
good. will u? Or open up any aew summer
use for oslld-h be arctic axplerers, who
are always AttiRg out expedi tt0ns amd then
harS1ng on by their eyebrows up'yonder in
the frozen regions waiting for rescuins
party to come along and carry home their
remains" After which. forcible but frank
expression of opinion the energetic MILDLY
let his hand fall with resopnaipx, thwask
on Paurs back. which brought that idle
dreamer up "all standing" - - ..,.- 400.
Two days after this experience the land
lord Of the Royal Hotel sent Paul, a. polite
but peremptory note and a bill. the size of
pay it would take nearly every penny he
had. but, as the demand was Imperative.
to settle 1t and get away was the only hon-
orable course.
That night he rented a cot bee at a cheap
hotel In a most questionable quarter of
the town, and next morning started out in
earnest to rustic for grub stake as he
eloquently expressed 1t. True to his phil
man to a finish as long as his money lasted.
and was now ready to try the other tack
for while.
1t wasn't pleasant, though, to find him
self with empty pockets again. and the
first day Paul almost repented the prodi-
gality Of the preceding fortnight But the
sale of pair Of cuff buttons and several
other trinkets furnished him enough funds
to keep the wolf off for two or three days,
during which time he assiduously can
vassed the town for work. Rebuffed every
where. he was on his way down Pitt street
the third morning when the sight of the
Sydney Herald building suggested that he
apply inside for position. ~
Inauiring for the managing editor, Paul
expressed his desire for employment On
the paper. For few moments the lad
feared the great newspaper man would
have an apoplectic fit when he finally
grasped the sense of this modest request.
But the magnate rallied and In pompous
tone informed the presumptuous youth that
the management of the Herald usually Sc
lected it's staff when it needed re-enforc
ing, and that it never opened It's doors to
ed when he made this announcement that
Paul was sure he had greved the editor
and he humbly apologized for the intrusion.
AS he backed out he politely asked If he
might see the advertisements in the morn
ing paper. The great man shot a whitening
glance over his glasses and CURLY observed
that the advertisements could be found
posted on the bulletin board down stairs
Paul crawled out feeling very cheap and
insignificant and approached the black
board. before which stood Il number of fell
lows. who, like himself, were trying to get
track Of work. He edged in and scanned
the list Of wants carefully, but 1t didn't
seem to be a good morning for likely situ-
ntions. There were several appeals for
market gardeners. healthy demand for
experienced coachmen. one or two requests
for London-bred footme1 Of fine appea ra &c
and a solitary invitation for a "pious young
Protestant to make himself useful in a
Christian family where two other servants
were kept. But none of these seemed to be
full of promise. The only one that offered
any encouraging prospect read as follows:
WANTED-A YOUNG MAN OF PLEAS
Ing address and some business ract TO
solicit orders for new ink. Cali at 07
Lower George street, before II O'Clock
Pleasing address" reflected Paul "WelI,
1 have no business to hail from Chicago if
1 can't count that as one Of my accomplish
ments. Don't know about the business
tact guess I'll have TO risk