The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-08-26

herself slowly backward and forward.
'Hullo, doctor" said the admiral,
holding out his hand, there's foul
weather set in upon us, as you may
have heard, but / have ridden out many
a worse squall. and please God, We
shall all three Of us weather this one
also. though two of us are a little more
cranky than we were"
MY dear friends, / came in to tell
you how deeply we sympathize with you
all. My girl has only just told me
about it,"
1T has come so suddenly upon us,
doctor" sobbed Mrs. Hay Denver. Il
thought / had John to myself for the
rest of my life
rest of our lives-Heaven knows that
we have not seen very much of each
other-but now he talks of going to
sea again.
Aye. aye, Walker, that's the only
way out of it. | was thrown up in the
vim with all aback. / give you my
word that / lost my bearings more com
pletely than ever since l strapped a
middy's dirk to my belt. You see,
friend. l know something of shipwreck
or battle or whatever may come upon
the waters, but the shoals in the city of
London upon which my poor boy has
struck are clear beyond me. Pearson
had been my pilot there. and now /
know him to be a rogue. But I've TAX
en- my bearings now, and l see my
course right before me-"
What then, admiral?"
"Oh, / have one or two little plans.
I'll have some news for the boy. Why,
hanr a. Ill ,n- hn a hit
stiff in the joints. but you'll be my wit
ness that 1 can do my twelve miles UNI
der the three hours. What then? My
eyes are as good as ever except just for
the newspaper. My head is clear. I'm
three-and-sixty, but I'm as good a man
as ever / was-too good a man to lie
up for another ten years. I'd be tho
better for a smack of the salt water
again, and a Whit of the breeze. Tut,
mother, it's not a -four years cruise
this time. I'll be back every month or
two. It's no more than if | went for a
visit in the country" He was talking
b~oisterously, and heaping his sea-boots
and sextants back into his chest.
And you really think, my dear
friend, of hosting your pennant
again."
My pennant, Walker? No. no. Her
majesty, God bless her. has too many
young men to need an old hulk like me.
l should be plain Mr.. Hay Denver Of
the merchant service. | daresay that l
might find some owner who would give
me a chance as second or third officer.
1t will be strange to me TO feel the rails
of the bridge under my fingers onCe
more"
Tut. tut! this will never do, this will
never do, admiral!' The doctor sat
down by Mrs. Hay Denver and patred
her hand in token Of friendly sympathy.
I'VE must wait until your son has it
out with all these people, and then We
shall know what damage is done, and
how best to set 1t right. 1t will be time
enough then to begin to muster u re-
sources to meet it."
"Our resources The admiral
laughed. There's the pension. I'm
afraid, Walker, that our resources won't
need much mastering"
'Oh, come, there are some which you
may not a thought of. For exam
pie. admiral. l a always intended
that my girl should rave five thousand
from me when she married. OF course,
your boys trouble is her trouble, and
the money cannot be spent better han
in helping to set it right. She has a lit
tie of her own which she wished TO con-
tribute, but 1 thought it best to work
it this way. Will you take the check.
Mrs. Denver, and / think 1t would be
best if you said nothing to Harold about
1t, and just used it as the occasion
served?"
:rn1 h1noc x-nt NVolJyAr 20,
true friend. / won't forget this, Walk
er." The admiral sat down on his sea
chest and mopped his brow with his red
handkerchief.
What is it to me whether you have
1t now or then? 1t may be more useful
now. There's only one stipulation. If
things should come to the worst, and
If the business should prove so bad that
nothing can set 1t right. then hold back
this check. for there is no use in pour
ing water into a broken basin, and if
the lad should fall, he will want some
thing to pick himself up again with"
HE shall not fall, Walker, and You
shall not have occasion to be ashamed
of the family into which your daughter
is about to marry. have my own plan.
But We shall hold your money, my
friend. and it will strengthen us to feel
that II is there"
We'll, that is all right said Doc
tor Walke rising. And If a little more
should be needed. we mrat not let him
go wrong for the want of a thousand
or two. And now, admiral. I'm off for
my morning walk. Won't you come
too?"
mo, l am going into town"
We'll, goodbye. / hope to have bet
ter news and that all will come right.
Goodbye, Mrs. Denver. I feel as IL the
boy were my own, and l shall not be
easy until all is right with him."