People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-02-02


this, and at once spoke to the pilot.
bidding him welcome with mingled
surprise and pleasure and at once lead
ing him away TO the bridge.
One among the passengers stood
apart and saw the pilot arrive. The
instant his brown and smiling face APP
peared above the rail the passenger
turned quickly away, as ifnot wishing
to be seen. The ship resumed its way,
and the passenger felt in its movement
the approach of fate. His luck had
turned. He had trusted too much in
it, and humiliation and disgrace were
at hand. He did not know it positive
ly, yet he felt sure of it. He took out
a little notebook and counted up his
bets. Fifty pounds - twenty more
than he could control. His faith IN his
luck had led him into this; and now
Julie was on the same ship, AMI the
man whom he had so deeply wronged,
by some bewildering turn of the
whirligig of time, was to guide the
ship into port. Of course if luck had
turned in one direction it had turned in
all. He must pay his debts of honor
foolish twisting of words-before they
landed, or be branded as a man with
out honor by the honorable denizens
of the smoking.room. So far, none of
them knew the number of the pilot
boat. If the numbhr could not he Oh
tanned the debt would be declared off
as if an honest debt could be declared
off in any sense. lie, for one, would
certainly make no effort to find out
the schooner's number, for he felt sure
it would go against him.
There would be many hours before
the services of the pilot would be
needed, and, as the bridge was wet
with mist, the Captain of the steamer
! invited his pilot to his chart-room be.
hind the wheel-room.
Come right in, Captain, and make
yourself at home. l declare, l was
never more surprised and delighted in
my life. Must be six years since you
used to take US in and out at Sandy
Hook. Sit down and tell me all about
it. What brought you back to pilot
ing? All the family well at home?
Let me see, you had boy and a girl
then. Quite grown up by this time, l
suppose"
The elderly pilot seemed to be
pleased at the hearty welcome accorded
him, and, opening his big jacket, sat
down in an arm chair, put his feet
against the radiator, and made himself
comfortable in the native American
manner.
Gurus, Capt. Floyd-most Gurus
thing ever seen. Very first trip out
l make I run afoul O YOU Folks to
hum well? Guess you had a girl n a
boy or two. Spect they're pretty spry
by this time. Been well long back?
Got frst-rate ship, haven't you?"
"Yes, fine ship, but a powerful eater
of coal. I'm senior Captain of the
feet now. Capt. Rutherford died and
Capt. Perkins resigned"
"Sho! Some changes on the line
Youngsters comm up"
eyes, there have been a good many
promotions lately. Good thin G, toe
Give the youngsters a chance. Tel
me about yourself, Captain. What
brought you back to plotting? Thought
you had a snug berth at some light.
80 l did. l was 'p'inted keeper O.
Hedgefence Light. Things kinder
went ag in me last summer, and qui
and went back and got place on my
old boat at Sandy Hook. Couldn
live at the light any more after wha
happened; sides, some Teller made
fuss at Washington cause l kinder for
got to light up just to a minute on,
night"
Indeed! What was the matter?"
Trouble with my girl"
The old man fell into revery, an,
Capt. Floyd wisely let him alone for
few minutes. At last the pilot SCENE,
to think it best to tell this old seafar
ing friend all that was in his heart.
Il don't mind tellin' you bout it
Captain. Gurus case, anyway, an
mebby l shall feel better and get a
the rights O. things if l tell you
amt said a word to u soul since
happened"
"Out with it, old friend. I'll hel
you, if can; and if l cannot, at leas
you shall have my sympathy. Has tn
girl done wrong?"
, well, yes, and no. Itwarn' reall
her doin's. don't know who was t
, blame, though never could see VIII
9 she didn't say word since she N~en
, away. Can't be the folks she's wit
, wouldn't let her. Guess they don
, know anything about it. The hu
, thing is Just snarl, and l got ppsC
, thinkin' bout it, and so lost my plac,
I kinder forgettin' the light a-worryil
e over the girl and my boy. Sam, to-
: was all broke up, and took to fishin
I Dare say he's on these banks no
somewhere on a boat from the Holl.
h The old pilot was, when upon
e yarn" as he expressed it, reckless {
words, and more than an hour passe
q before he completed the tale of h
4 broken home and ruined hopes. Meal
J.. while, below in the fetid atmo
+ phere of the smoking-room, NJ
- Royal Yardsticllie was meeting Il
n first reverse in the change
4 his "luck." There had been
n vigorous discussion among the holde
| - Ill i Il .