The National tribune., 1896-07-23

In the small front parlor of No. 8, Mer-
maid Passage, Sunset Bay, Jackson Pepper,
ex-pilot, sat in state of indignant collapse,
tenGerly feeling cheek on which the print
of hasty fingers still fingered.
The room, which was in excellent order,
showed no signs of the tornado which had
passed through it, and Jackson Pepper, look
ing vaguely around, was dimly reminded of
those tropical hurricanes he had read about
which would strike only the objects in the
path and leave all others undisturbed.
In this instance he had been the object,
and the tornado, after obIiteraiing him, had
passed mp the small staircase which led from
the room, leaving him listening anxiously to
its distant mutierings.
To his great discomfort the storm showed
signs of coming up again, and he had barely
time to effect an appearance of easy uncon-
cern, which accorded but i'll with the flush
aforementioned, when big, red-faced woman
came heavily downs stairs and burst into the
room.
"You have made me i'll again." she said,
severely, land now / hope you are satisfied
with your work. You'll kill me before you
nave done with mel"
The ex-pIlot shifted on his chair.
you're not fit 10 have wife," continued
Mrs. Pepper, aggravating them and upset
ting them! Any other woman would have
left you long ago."
We've only been married three months"
Pepper reminded her.
Don't talk to mel" said his wife; at
seems more like a lifetimel"
" 1t seems long time to me-" said the ex-
pilot, plucking up little courage.
That's right" said his wife, striding
over to where he sat. Say you're tired of
me; say you wish you hadn't married me.
You coward! All! if my poor first husband
was only alive and sitting in that chair now
instead of you, how happy would be-"
" If he likes 10 come and take ii he's well
come I" said Pepper; it's my chair, and it
was my fathers before me. but there's no
man living / would sooner give it tn than
your first. All he knew what he WIS about
when the Dolphin went down, he did.
don't blame him, though"
What do you mean?" demanded his
wife.
Its my belief that he didn't 60 down
with her." said Pepper, crossing over to the
staircase and standing with his hand on the
door.
Didn't 60 down with ber?" repeated his
wife, scornfully. What became of him,
then? Where's he been this 30 years ?"
In hiding!" said Pepper spitefully, and
passed upstairs hastily.
The room above was charged with men,
ories Of the late lamented. His portrait in
oils hung above the mantelpiece, smaller
portraits-specimens of the photographers
want of art-weTe scattered about the room,
while various personal effects, including n
mammoth pair OF sea-boots stood in q corner
On all these articles the eye of Jackson
Pepper dwelt with an air of chastened
regret.
1t 'ud be rum 90 if be did turn up,
after all, - he said to himself softly, as he sat
on tie edge OF the bed. i've heard of such
things-in books. / dessay she'd be disap-
pointed if she did see him now. Thirty
years makes a bit of difference in man"
jackson" cried his wife from below /;
I'm going ont. If you want any dinner
You can get it; if not, you can 20 without
it,"
The front door slammed violently, and
Jackson, advancing cautiously to the win
cow. saw the form of his wife sailing majes
tically up the passage Then he sat down
again and resumed his meditations.
" If it wasn't for leaving all my property
I'd CO." he said gloomily. "1'here's not a
bit Of comfort in the place! Nag nag, nag,
from morn till night! All, Cap'n Budd, you
let me in for nice thing when you went
down with that boat of yours. Come back
and fill them boots again; they're too biz for
De.p
He rose suddenly and stood gaping in the
center of the room, as mad, hszy idea began
to form in his brain. His eyes blinked and
his face grew white with excitement. He
pushed open the little lattice window, and
sat looking abstractedly up the passage on
to the bay beyond. Then he put on his hat,
and, deep In thought, went out.
He was still thinking deeply as he boarded
the train f,r London next morning, and
watched Sunset Bay from the window until
1T disappeared round the curve. So many
and various were the changes that fitted
over hi, face that an old lady whose seat he
had taken gave up her intention Of appris-
ing him of the fact, and INDUCED instead in
hitter conversation with her daughter, of
which the erring Pepper was the unconscious
object.
In The same preoccupied fashion he got on
a Bayswater omnibus and waited patiently
for it to reach Poplar Strange changes in
the landscape, not TO be accounted for by the
mere lapse of time, led to explanations, and
the condnctor-a humane man, who said he
laid down the lines of his tour. Two hours
later he stood in front of a small house,
painted in many colors, and, ringing the
bell, inquired for Cap'n Crippen.
in response TO his inquiry, big man with
light blue eyes and long gray beard ap-
peared, and, recognizing his visitor with a
grunt of surprise, drew him heartily into
the passage and thrust him into The parlor.
He then shook hands with him, and. clapping
him on the back, bawled Justify for the small
boy who had opened the door.
Pot o. stout, bottle o. gin, and two long
pipes" said he, as the boy came to the door
and eyed the exploit curionsly.
At all these honest preparations for his
welcome the heart of Jackson grew faint
within him.
Well, call it good of you TO come all
this way to see me-" said the Captain after
the boy had disappeared; "but you always
was warm-hearted, Pepper. And how's the
missis?"
"Shocking!" said Pepper with groan.
mp" inquired the Captain.
Hl-tenpeIed," said Pepper. In fact,
Cap'n, don't mind telling You she's killing
me-slowly killing mel"
"pooa F" said Crippen. Nonsense! You
don't know how to manage her."
Il thought perhaps you could advise me-"
said the artful Pepper said TO myself
yesterday, Pepper, 20 and see Cap'n Grip
pen. What lac don't know about wimmin
and their management amt worth knowing |!
If there's anybody can get you out of hole,
it's him. He's got the power, and. what's