The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-26

moot, Of South Shields. every mas
= rn.rinor within hearing would have
mn him doWn cOntemptuouslF as Il Sra-
Initious liar. All opinions IN the cap
tain's room were expressed strongly, anu
with due maritime force "t language,
The place seemed to its freduenterS .he
o~nhodinent Of LONELINESS and security.
There was a faint smell OF varhiSh Ill
tho atmosphere. and always had been.
within the memory of the oldest habl-
tue. and Shipmasters came back t" the
odor with n sigh OF pleasure. as men DO
roturn 10 the neighborhood Of an OLD
and unobtrusivo friend. Captains mel
in that room who traded TO all parts OF
The globe. talked. and soon fonnd nc
auaintanccS in OmmOn 1t was Il Sor'
of informal club. with no subscription.
and an unlimited membership. Inc
holding of n masters ticket Was tn"
only entrance qualification. and 1T wa"
not considered polite 10 ask our neigh
Dor whether he WAS at THAT moment III
or out of employment.
IF YOU were a genuine master MARI
ner. but of an unclubable disposition
YOU did not 60 to the captains room at
Hallctt's a second time. and always
made A point Of getting rather red. anh
epraking of it rather contemptuous!y.
when the place was mentioned a1ter-
ward. If YOU did not hold n master :
ticket. even if you were that dashIn@
thing a newly fedged mate. the bar
maiden on guard spotted You on the in
slant. and said that door was private.
and directed you 10 the smoke room
down the passage.
Into the exclusive chamber Captain
Owen Kettle had made his way that day
after tea. and over two modest half
1,,+. - I.;+n. lnor had damn his IN n .a
in the talk and listening from s till 1870
OF the clock. He had exchanged views
with other shipmastels On cargoeS.
crews. insuranccS. climates and those
other professional matters which the
profane world mot in the shippin" i'll
tereSt) finds so dreary. and had been
listened to with Difference. He was Il
man who commanded attentions: and
though YOU might not like what he said.
YOU would not dream of refusing TO
listen to it.
That special night. however. Captain
Kettles personal views on maritime af-
fairs were listened to with even mora
Difference than usual. A large. red
haired man swung into the captains
room some few minutes after Captain
Kettle had seated himself. and after or
dcring his beverage and 4 cigar. nodded
with a whimsical smile in Kettles Iii
%rection. and asked him how he liked
the ncighborhood of Valparaiso as 4
residence.
Il forget said the little sailor. Orgy
enough.
IAN right. captain" said the rod-hair-
ed man. don't you mind me. I never
remember too much myself either. Only
Won did me a good turn out there. al
though YOU probably don't know it. and
ia ba nrpnI If ron'1 bavo n lripl- ~. =,
smoke with me now in remembrance"
You're very polite, captain"
Don't mention it. captain" said the
red-haircd man. and struck the bell.
Same? Half n pint of bitter please.
miss. and one Of your best fourpenny
smokes
The general talk of the captains room,
which had halted for the moment. went
on again. One worthy mariner had re-
Gently failed to show Il clean bill OF
health in Barcelona. and had been SEN
to do 20 days ponance at the quarantine
station. which is in Port Mahon. Minor
ca. AS a natural consequence. he want
ed to- give his views on Spain and Span
ish government with length and bitter
ness. but somehow the opportunity WA,
denied him. The red-haircd man put il
a sentence or two. and Il question. am
1t was Kettles views on the question /,
which the captains room found iiSel.
listening. y salvage question wa
brought up by a stout gentleman in tn,
Baltic timber trade. who was anxious 4,
air his sentiments. but the ed-haire,
man skillfnlly interviewed. and "KettI
on salvage was asked for and heard
-And so on all through the evening. Th,
red-haired man did his work cleverly
and no one resented il.
Move Irottla vr,c =, NC, II III, i
ing listened 10. and there is no donb
that his vanity was tickled by all thi
Difference from his professional equals
lhere is no doubt also that the snu,
security of Halleft's mlled his usua
sense Of warinesS, which may in par
account for what happened afterwards
And so without further excuse for him
1t Is my painful duty TO record that u
hour after he left the captains room
inc little sailor was entrappcd and kid
mapped by what to a man of his know.
cage was one Of the most vulgar of m
tifices.
He emptied his tumbler. stood M. an
sand he must be going. The red-haire
man looked at the round cabin clock o
the wall. and mentioned that it was hi
Time also; and together they went on
SIDE into the damp. dark main street q
South Shields.
Going back to your ship. captain:
asked the big stranger.
why no. captain" said Kettle, :.
1--we here. and I'm off home"
Then | suppose / must saw 600
nIght. Hope to meet you again, though
What boat are you on now. captain:.
well. I'm putting in a bit Of :, sne
ashore just now. captain. Fact is.
maven come across any employmer
quite TO my taste lately. 'Tisn't ever
Shlpowner | care to serve under"
No said the rcd-haircd man. Tho
are brutes most of them. But look her,
captain, there'd he no offense in an
getting YOU the refusal of q bert
would there
Kettle flushed. "Captain," he sal,
YOU re very good. You see I'm ma
RED. with children, and I've never ear;
cd enough 10 put anything by. Betwee
men. | don't mind telling you Pm on m
Enlm-nnIS If "at ~.4 l-Jl