The times., 1897-07-18
The Slippers Wooing
w. JACOBS.
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By w. w. JACOBS.

ly, " we We got tne START
y should laugh If somebody was to steal
his cIothes,'' said Sam vindictively, as he
sa1ed at the garments
BE ali right for US If they did, SAID
the cook; wed have plenty q time To look
this 'ere Piggott's Bay then" He glanced
at Sam as he spoke, and read his horrible
PURPOSE il. his eyes. NO, NOT lac said
hastily.
Not steal 'em, cookie" said Sam Sc
dnctigely ,"only bury 'em under the shingle.
III toss you who does it,"
For sixty seconds the cook struggled
gameiy with the tempter.
Its just a bit OF a joke, cook said
Sam joyially ''Dick 'ud be the first to
laugh al it nisself If it was somebody else
clothes,'' He spun penny in the air,
AMI covering it deftly, held it out to the
cook
''Heads!" said the latter softly.
"Taiisi'' said Sam, cheerfully; hurry
up, cook
The cock descended without a word, and
hastily interring the clothes, not without
an uneasy glance seaward, scrambled up
the cliff again and rejoined his eXultant
acconplce. They set off in silence, keep
cliff.
Business is business, said the cook, after
a time, land he wouldn't join the syndi-
cate
''He was greedy and wanted it all, - said
Sam, with severity.
"P'raps it'll be a lesson to i'm, said
the cook, unctuously. Il took the bearings
OF the place in case e don't find 'em
Some people wouldn't ha' done that
They kept on steadily for another hour,
Tnlilat last they came quite suddenly upon
aHttle fishing village situated on tiny bay.
Two or three small craft were anchored
inside the stone pier, along which two or
three sIaall children, in all the restriction
OF Sunday clot hes, were soberly pacing up
and down.
This must he it," said Sam. Keep your
eyes open, cock"
What's the name o. this place mate?"
said Sam, eXpectantly. to an old salt, who
was passing
.'Stone-pcn Quay" said the old man.
Sans face fell. How far is it 10
Pigeott's Bay, them he inquired
"You don't tell ME you're looking for
PigGott's Bay" said the old man.
''Why not said Sam, shortly.
Instead OF replying the old man slapped
his leg, and with his pipe cooked at one
side of his mouth, laughed thin senile
laugh with the other.
when you've done laughing said the
cook, with dignity.
But / amt said the old man, ren0y-
ing his pipe, and laughing with greater
freedom. They're looking for Piggott's
Bay, joe he said. turning 10 couple OF
fishermen. who had just come up.
What a lark said Joe, beaming with
pleasure. Come faT?" he inquired
''CccklemOuth, said Sam, with blank
look. when you've done laughing, whats
the ioke?''
why, there amt no such place. said
the man. IT'S just saying in these
parts, that's all
lust wot?' said the bewil dered
Sam, family.
It's just saying like, - said the other,
exchanging glances with his friends.
II don't take it, said the cook How
can a place be saying?''
''Well, it come through chap abou
here named Capt. Piggott, said the fish
erman, speaking slowly. He was a Won
derfuI queer old chap, and he got out ot
his reckoning once. aud made out South
Amerikey-wara't it, DAM"
~ believe so,' said the old man.
He thought he'd found new island, "
continued tie fisherman, an he went
ashore an hoisted the Union Jack, and
named 1t arter hisself, Piggott's Bay
Leastways that's the tale his chaps gave
out when they come ONE Now when
anvbody's a bit out o their reckoning
we say they're looking for Piggotts Bay
It's just a joke about here"
He began TO laugh again, and Sam, not
ing with regret that he " as a big fellow
and strong, turned away and followed in
tie footsteps of the cook, who had already
commenced the ascent of the cliff. They
paused at the top and looked back; Stone
pen Quay was stiH laughing.
Moved by a common idea of their per-
sonal safety, they struck inland, prefe :rin z
an additional mile or two 70 encounter
ing Dick Conv nversation was at a discount
and they rlodded on suIkily along the dusty
road, their lips parched and their legs
aching.
They got back to The Seamew at O'Clock
and greeting Henry, who was in Die
charge, with words sandsoothing compli-
ments, persuaded him to make some tea.
Where's Dick?" inquired Sam casually,
as he at drinking it.
Amt seen i'm since dinner" said the
| boy. II thought he was with You p'raps -
sam shook his head, and finishing hi
| tea vent up on deck with the cook. and
gave himself up TO all the delights of a
quiet spra WI Fatigued with their ex.
eriions, neither of them moved until 8
O'Clock, and then, with farewell glance
in the direction in which Dick might be
expected TO come, went below and turned
in.
They left the lamp burning, to the great
satisfaction of Henry, who was reading
and, as 10 O'Clock struck somewhere IL
the town, exchanged anxious glances
| across the foc'sle concerning Dicks safety
Safe and warm in their hunks, 1t strTcl
both of them that they had been perha ps
a little bit selfish. Half an hour later
| Henry looked up suddenly as something
! soft leaped on to the deck atoye and came
pattering toward the foc'sle. The next
, moment his surprise gave way to indig.
nation, and he raised his voice in tones
of expostulation which Mrs. Grundy her
self would have enyied.
"Dlcki'' he cried shrilly. "Dickr'
"Shut upi" said Dick fiercely, as b,
flung himself painting on locker. 20, M.
Lord, have had a timet'
I'm surprised at you," said Henry, Sc
vercly, as he dragged some blankets frou
the hunks and threw them over the ex
hausted seaman. Where's your modesty
Dick?''
IF you say another word I'll knock ye'
ugly little head cff'' said Dick, wrath
fully. 'If L hadn't been modest shoul,
have come. home by da yloisht. oh, hav.