The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-08-31

tar was TO be detected in the stagnant
autumn air. Men with the blue jersey
and peaked cap of the boatman or the
white duck of the lockers, began to re-
place the corduroys and fust1an OF the
labOrers. Shops with nautical lnstru-
rnents in the windows, rope and paint
sellers, and slop shops with long rows
of oiIskins dangling from hooks, oil
proclaimed the neighborhood OF the
docks The Admiral quickened his pace
and straightened his figure as his sur
rOundings became more nautical, unul
at last, peeping between two hlgh.
dingy wharfs, he caught glimpse OF
the rnud-colored waters of the Thames,
and of the bristle of masts and tunnels
which rose from it's broad bosom. TO
the right lay a quiet street, with many
brass plates upon either side, and wire
blinds in all the windows. The Ad-
mjral walked slowly down it until The
Saint Lawrence Shipping Company
caught his eye. He crossed the road,
pushed open the door, and found him.
self in a low-ceilinged office, with
long counter at one end and great
number of wooden sections Of ships
stuck upon boards and plastered all
over the walls.
us Mr.. Henry in ?" asked the Admiral.
mo. sir" answered an elderly man
from a high seat in the corner. HE has
not. come into town to-day. I can man
age any business you may wish seen to.
you don't happen TO have first or
second officers place vacant, do your
The manager looked with dubious
eye at his singular applicant.
do you hold certifcates?" he asked.
Il hold every nautical certificate
there is
Then you won't do for u.s."
'Why not?''
your age, sir"
II give you my word that can see as
well as ever, and am as good a man
in every way"
81 don't doubt it,
"'Why should my age be bar, them
"Wen, L must put it plainly. If man
of your age, holding certificates has
not got past a second officers berth,
there must be a black mark against him
somewhere. 1 don't know what it is,
drink or temper, or want of judgment,
but something there must be-.
Il assure you there is nothing, but 1
find myself stranded, and so have to
turn to the old business again."
''Oh. that's it," said the manager,
with suspicion in his eye. How long
were you in your last billet?"
''F'ifty-one years
''Whatr'
Eyes, sir, one-and-ffty years"
'In the same employ?"
Eyes"
"Why, you must have begun as a
child"
81 was twelve when I joined"
''It must be a strangely managed
business said the manager, (which al
lows men to leave it who have served
for fifty years, and who are still as good
as ever. Whom did you server"
"The Queen. Heaven bless her!"
ooh, you were in the Royal navy.
What rating did you ho1d?"
81 am Admiral Of the Fleet"
The manager started, and sprang
down from his high STOOL
MY name is Admiral Hay Denver.
There is my card. And here are the
records of my service. I don't, you I'M
derstand, want to push another man
from his billet; but if you should chance
to have a berth open, I should be very
glad of it, 1 know the navigation from
the Cod Banks right up to Montreal a
great deal better than L know the streets
of London"
The astonished manager glanced over
the blue papers which his visitor had
handed him. Wont you take a chair,
Admiral?" said he.
THANK you'll But 1 should be obliged
if YOU would drop my title now I told
you because you asked me, but I've left
the quarter deck and am plain Mr.. Hay
Denver now"
''May l ask said the manager, "are
YOU the same Denver who commanded
| at one time on the North American sta
tion?"
II did"
Then it was you who got one of our
| boats. the Comus, off the rocks in the
| Bay of Fundy? The directors voted
you three hundred guineas as salvage,
| and you refused them"
1T was an offer which should not have
| been made said the Admiral sternly.
.seWeI. it reflects credit upon YOU that
YOU should think so. If Mr.. Henry were
| here I am sure that he would arrange
| this matter for you at once AS it is 7
| shall lay it before the directors TODAY.
| and | am sure that they will be proud
| to have you in our employment, and. I
| hope in some more suitable position
| than that which you suggest
| Il am very much obliged to you, sir.