The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-23

goblet OF rum and hmejuice to give relish
10 my next pipe.
Hello, old man! Why have you turned
out? Three bells have not struck yet.''
The face that looked up TO mine from
the mess-table was that of beautv-so re-
fined, not masculine comeliness, but posi-
tive beauty-that no debutante at a Lon
don drawlng-room, no matter how lovely,
could demur TO an exchange. There was
nothing effeminate about the figure. The
shoulders were square and muscular, and
the neck showed unmistakable signs of
strength. Arthur Bescoby. though we
called him Miss Bescoby'' in the mess,
was no girl boy, but young lad from the
pleasant county of Kent, who was good
oar and gave ample promise of being a
valuable addition TO her Majesty's navy.
Il can't sleep, Paddy paddy was my
pet nancy. don't know what it is wor-
ries me so. but feel wretched."
You're in love, Bessy. That visit you
made to Scotland has settled you"i
Bescoby's pale face flushed. ;'No, l
don't think I'm very hard hit, Paddy he
rejoined, 'only something TO keep nv
mind busy between mails. BY the way,
what did you make her out to be yester-
day?"
gave him the ships position at noon,
and chaffed him at having forgotten it.
Suppose you take a turn on deck with
me, Bess,'' / said, land you can get a
Jolly good hosing al eight bells, which will
do you more good than scribbling in this
messroom. Como along and I'll tell you
about the girl that saved my life in Linn
erick."
Before I concluded that remarkable tale
Bescobvis blues had disappeared, and
when the next watch was mustered he
was all right again. He was favorite OF
mine, and though he spoke to me freely on
many things there was still an air of re-
serve about him that made all perfect con-
fidences impossible. He was sensitive to
degree, and suffered under the chatting
which lot of larlIy midshipmen find in
dispensable to fill in their leisure hours.
I'D like to speak TO you, sir, for a min
ute" said huge fellow, the tailest man in
the ship. marine whom we called Cog
Thompson, and who looked after Bescoby' S
clothes and washing, as well as mine.
What is it, Cog? Quick; reel it off.
I'm sleepy"
CAV, ay, sir. It's about Mr. Bescobv.
Did he ever talk to you about st. EImo's
light"
Well, what of it"
He's more than curious. sir. He's SUI
perstitious about it. He thinks it will
have an effect upon his life"
Nonsense" said l. ''Mr. Bescoby has
been chatting you, Cog"
80, SIT, rcplleu the Dig marine, ear
nestly. who loved the handsome young
MILDLY as if he had been his son. ~ know
YOU are his caum, sir, and that if | told
Won you'd talk him out of those ideas.
But please, sir, don't mention that | had
anything TO say about il"
Certainly not. Cog, and as the marine
saluted and walked forward | remem-
bered that Arthur was superstitious and
had asked me many things about ghosts
and fairies and banshees and other uncan-
nv things indigenous to the Isle of Saints.
But he had never mentioned st. Elmo's
LIGHT. that peculiar ball OF electric light
which is occasionally seen in the low iati-
tudes clinging to the trucks and the ends
of the yards.
"Pll pump him about it to-day" l
thought, and fell asleep.
That afternoon when | was writing up
my individual log Bescoby came into the
pnnroom 1 saw the same curious ana
worried expression on his face had OBJ
served the night before. =,
"Ressy what the deuceis the matter with
Won? Are you fretting because you nave
not vet seen st. Elmo's light"
.sWho has been telling you that yarn,
Paddy 2" he answered quickly, with nush
of annovance 81 know. That big donkey,
Chg has been loading you up with lot OF
bosh.
Look here. old man." said, you con-
fide in me. Now, l have talked to you
about banshees and ghosts, tell me about
this light business.
He Sat down beside me, and putting his
arm on nv shoulder, said In shamefaced
'O my ~ dear Paddy, I'll tell you all. am