The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-09-16

His way now led towards the river
sid regions. and a cleansing Whit Of
tar was to be detected in the stagnant
autumn air. Men with the blue jersey
and peaked cap of the bcatman. or the
white duck OF the lockers, began to re-
place the corduroys and fustian OF the
Iaborers. Shops with nautical instru-
ments in the windows, rope and paint
sellers, and slop shops with long rows
of oilskins dangling from hooks, all
proclaimed the neighborhood of the
docks. The Admiral quickened his pace
and Strengthened his figure as his sur
roundings became more nautical, until
at last, peeping between two high,
dingy wharfs, he caught a glimpse OF
the mud-colored waters of the Thames,
and of the bristle of masts and tunnels
which rose from its broad bosom. To
the right lay a quiet street, with many
brass plates upon either side, and wire
blinds in all the windows. The Adj
miral 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 a
long counter at one end and a great
number of wooden sections OF ships
stuck upon boards and plastered all
over the walls.
rs 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. l can man
age any business you may wish seen to-"
You don't happen 10 have a first or
second officers place vacant, do youE
The manager looked with a dubious
eye at his singular applicant.
do you hold cer~tiicates?' he asked.
81 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"
II don't doubt it,"
why should my age be a bar, Them
well, / must put it plainly. If a 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 1t is,
drink or temper. or want of judgment,
but something there must be-"
II assure you there is nothing. but l
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 biliet?"
"Fifty-one years"
"Whatl'
Yes, sir, one-and-hfty years.
I'm the same employ"
Yes
why, you must have begun as a
child"
II was twelve when I joined"
at 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 herr
"Oh, you were in the Royal navy.
What rating did you hoid?'
II 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. l { don't. you un-
derstand. want to push another man
from his billet; but If you should chance
10 have a berth open. l should be very
glad of it. i know the navigation from
the Cod Banks right up TO Montreal a
great deal better than / know the streets
of London"
The astonished manager glanced over
the blue papers which his visitor had
handed him. Won't you take a chair,
A6miral?" said he.
Thank you! But / should be obliged
IL you would drop my title now 1 told
you because you asked me. but I've left
the quarter deck, and am plain Mr.. Hay
Denver now"
May ask" said the ARE
you the same Denver who commanded
at one time on the North American sta
tom"
II did"
Then it was you who got one of our
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.
well. 1t reflects credit upon you that
you should think so. If Mr.. Henry were
here l am sure that he would rrange
this matter for you at once. AS 1t is. l
shall lay 1t before the directors to-day.
and l I'm sure that they will be proud
to have you in our employment. and. l
hope, in some more suitable position
than that which you suggest"
i am very much obliged TO you. sir"
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