Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-04-29

MW
N1QN4M-
6Y a. CONAN DOYLE
"My dear friends. came in to tell
you how deeply we sympathize with you
!! all. MY girl has only Just told me
about it."
st has come so suddenly upon us,
| doctor" sobbed Mrs. Hay Denver. II
| thought had John to myself for the
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 1t. I was thrown up In the
| wind with all aback. I give you my
word that lost my bearings more COM
pletely than ever since I strapped
! middy's dirk to my belt. You see.
friend. 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
F, had been my pilot there, and now
know him to be rogue. But I've TAX
en- my bearings now, and see my
course right before me-"
/ What then. admiral?"
"Oh, I have one or two little plans.
| I'll have some news for the boy. Why.
hang it, Walker man. I may be bit
stiff In the joints, but you'll be my Wit
| ness that can do my twelve miles un-
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 man
! as ever I was-too good man to lie
/ up for another ten years. I'd be the
| again. and 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
visit in the country" He was talking
boisterously, and heaping his sea-boots
and sextants back into his chest.
"And you really think. my dear
friend. of hoisting 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.
should be plain Mr.. Hay Denver Of
the merchant service. daresay that 1
might find some owner who would give
| me chance as second OF 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
! o6 &C
/ down by Mrs. Hay Denver and patted
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 it right. 1t will be tire
/ enough then to begin to muster our 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
1 may not have thought of. For exam
pie. admiral, have always intended
that my girl should have five thousand
! from me when she married. OF course,
your boys trouble is her trouble, and
the money cannot be spent better than
in helping to set 1t right. She has lit
tie of her own which she wished to con-
tribute, but thought it best to work
it this way. Will you take the check,
Mrs. Denver. and think it would be
best If you said nothing to Harold about
| 1t, and just used it as the occasion
served?"
God bless you. Walker, you are
true friend. I won't forget this, Walk
err" The admiral sat down on his sea
chest and mopped his brow with his red
handkerchief
What is it to me whether you have
it now or then? It 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 it right, then hold back
this check. for there is no use in pour
ing water into a broken basin, and IL
the lad should fall he will want some
thing to pick himself up again with"
!; He shall not fall, Walker, and you
j 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
i that it is there
well. that is all right" said Doc
tor Walker rising. 'And II little more
should be needed, we must not let him
go wrong for the want Of thousand
or two. And now. admiral. I'm off for
{ my morning walk. Won't you come
(, too"
mo. I am going into town.
well. goodbye. hope to have bet
ter news and that all will come right.
/ Goodbye. Mrs. Denver. feel as If the
| boy were my own. and shall not be
easy until all is right with him.
CHAPTER XIII.
sc ~ q HEN Dr. walker