The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-10-09
The Pilots Story.


/ see." said the pilot with her hair all
fluffy anG BLOWN in tn breeze and q
trustful way Of lookin' at ye out OF her
big brown eyes that would melt the
heart OF pirate; why, she hadn't been
aboard two days till she was poplar
with tn hull crew-even the deck hans
used to draw back respectful like when
the first mate took her below to see the
propeller shafts driving tn big side
wheels, and our second mate-why I'll
be bowed il he didn't swear at the
roustabouts in a whisper when the gang
plank was run out at landing. You'd
laughed to hear him yell, Haul ay!
haul sy there. Steady now! Heave to
there. Heavs away. Slack that line, l
say with never an oath. and he told me
afterwards be never struck one OF the
niggers with his club all one day till he
said he was afraid he'd get to be a mis-
sionary or something. ard went back
and basted them few times while they
were putting lime into the hold.
AS said, she was general fsvoritr,
but tn second day she begun to be un-
easy like and ask about tn laadin's. and
where we expected to tie up next, and
how long. ard then she'd stand on the
deck and watch everybody that came
aboard. peared as though she was ex-
pectin' some one, and sure enough tn
third morning about o'clock We made
another landin and the slickest Teller
you ever see walked up the gangway and
registered as a passenger. She didn't
see him until he stood in front OF her,
and then she gave little smoth-red
scream and went up 10 him and took
both his hands. They speht nearly all
day 10 the pilot house-thatis always a
gIeat place for spooney couples on a
steamboat, anyway. 1 was at the wheel
and didn't pay no attention 10 EN-
kind Of got in the habit, you know, Of
being deaf and blind 10 such cases, but
sized them up before they had been
there an hour, and 1 saw just how it
was. and was sorry for her because l
had got to like her unusual. l had
spotted him by his eyee. though he was
the most genteel chap ever see. Shs
Was runnin' away from her pa and her
ma with this Teller. He had put her
aboard and then gone father up river
by rail and there took tn boat himself
felt like warning her but the Teller
was SO genteel looking and so well
dressed, and then know'd it would be
no use.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
We Passed small landing on the right
bank where we most allus stopped. bat
b I'D no height for it ard no word OF any
passengers. As we plowed along in
mid stream We could see four men
stsn1in on the landing half mile away
waving Their hats like they wanted US
70 stop: when they saw Us go by they
got into sklff and rowed for dear life
aud came alongside calm for rope; We
stopped the wheels and took them
aboard; III Teller and III girl had
walked out sfore OF the pilot house to
tn front of the upper deck. and, when
the men come within hailin' distance, tn
girl screamed and they both run back
into the pilot houee. tn Teller begin
me t,hids iem away some place, but l
lust laughed at him. There was no
place to hide. any way, and l was glad Of
II. By this time the whole boat was 10
an uproar. q great noise below; then We
heard, men coming up the ladders. Tn
Teller was terribly excited and thought