Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-23

time. and be forthwith kidnapped in the
open streets of South Shields. every mis-
ter mariner within hearing would have put
him down contemptuously as gratuitous
liar. All opinions in the captains room
were expressed strongly. and with due mar
itimc force of language.
The place seemed to its frequenters the
embodiment of LONELINESS and security.
There faint smell of varnish in the
atmosphere. and always had been. within
the memory of the Oldest habItue. and
shipmasters came back to the cdor with {.
Ugh of pleasure, as men do return to the
neighborhood of old and unobtrusive
friend Captains met in that room who
traded 10 all parts of the globe, talked, and
soon found acquaintance in common. 1t
was Il sort of informal club. with no sub
Scription. ard unlimited membership.
The holding of masters ticket the
only entrance qualification. and it not
cor sideTed pc lite to ask your neighbor
whether he Was at that moment in or out
OF employment.
If You were genuine master mariner.
but of unciubable disposition. you did
not so TO the captains room at Halietts
second time. and always made point of
getting red. and speaking of it rather con-
temptuously. when the place was mention
ed afterward. If you did not hold mas
terS ticket, even if you were that dashines
thing. newly fiedged mate the bar-maid
said that door was private" and directed
you 10 the smoke room down the passage.
Into this exclusive chamber Capt. Owen
Kettle had made his way that day after
tea. and over two modest half pintS of bit
ter beer had done his share in the talk and
listening from till 1870 of the clock. He
had exchanged views with other shipmas-
tiers on cargoeS, crews, assurances. eli
mates and those other professional matters
which the profane world mot in the ship
ping interest) finds so dreary. and had been
listened to with Difference He was man
Who commanded attention, and though
you might not like what he said. you would
not dream of refusing to listen to it,
That special night. however. Capt. Ket-
ties personal views on maritime affairs
were listened to with even more Difference
than usual A large. red-haired man swung
into the captains room some few minutes
after Capt. Kettle had seated himself, and
after ordering his beverage and a cigar.
rCdded with a whimsical smile in Kettles
direction. and asked him how he liked the
Eeighborhood of Valparaiso as a residence.
Il forget said the little sailor, dryly
enough.
.'AlI right. captain" said the red-haired
man. don't you mind me. l never remem
Der too much myself. either. Only you did
good turn out there. although you
probably don't know it. and I'd be proud il
you'd have a drink or smoke with me
now in remembrance.
You're very polite. captain
Don't mention it. captain" said the red
haired man. and struck the bell Same?
Half d 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 clean bill of health
in Barcelona. and had been sent to do
tw enty days Ienance at the quarantine
station. which is in Port Mahon. Minorca.
As natural consequence, he wanted to
give his views on Spain and Spanish gov
eminent with length and bitterness, but
somehow the opportunity was denied him.
The red-haired man put in a sentence or
two. and Il question, and it was Kettles
views on the question to which the cap
tain's room found itself listening A sal
wage question was brought up by q stout
gentleman in the Baltic timber trade, who
was anxious to al: his sentiments. but the
red-haired man skillfully interviewed. and
Kettle on salvage was asked for and
heard And on all through the evening.
The red-hair~d man did his work cleverly,
and no one resented it.
Now Kettle was man who liked being
listened to. and there is no doubt that his
vanity was tickled by all this Difference
from his professional equals. There is no
doubt also that the snug security of Hal
let's lulled his usual sense of wariness.
which may in part account for what hap
pened afterwards. And SO without further
excuse for him, it Is my painful duty to
record that an hour after he left the cap
tains room the little sailor was entraD-
ed and kidnapped by what to man of
his knowledge was one of the most vulgar
of articles
He emptied his tumbler, stood up, and
said he must be going The -ed-haired
man looked at the round cabin clock on
the wall. and mentioned that 1T was his
time also, and together they went outside
into the damp. dark main street of South
Shields.
Going back to your ship. captain?" ask
ed the big stranger
Nv by. no. captain said Kettle, II live
here and I'm OF home"
Ihen suppose L must say goodnight.
Hope to meet you again. though. What
boat are YOU on now. captain?''
Well. I'm putting in bit of a spell
haven't come ACROSS any employment quite
To my taste lately. 'Tisn't every shipOwner
care t. serve UNDER
No. said the redhaired man. They
are brutes most of them. But look here,
captain. there'd be no offense in my getting
you the refusal Of berth. would there?'
hette flushed Captain he said
you're very good. You see, I'm married.
with children, and I've never .arned
enough TO put anything by. Between men,
1 don't mind telling you I'm on nv beam
ends II l can't get hold of an advance
note this week ii will mean going to the
PaWnshop for Mrs. Kettles next SUNDAYS
dinner"
The red haired man sighed well. CAD
tam ne SAD You needn't thank me. It's
Just my duty 10 my employers to put this
thins IN your way But well not speak of
1, here in the open Come along If to my
Steamboat.
Right" said Kettle. where have Won
got herr
Shes lying at buoy in the river. We
can get II boat from the steps"
Nothlng much more was said betweep
them then The big red-haired man seem
ed ihdisposed for further talk and KettIe
was 100 proud to ask questions Together
'hry walked with their short seaman,s
strine down the wet new streets of the seq
port ana capt. Kettle made his brain ache
DS hoping that this would not be. anotbar
ITEM To ADD to his long list of ,iisapDoint
menus lie had not earned DAVIS wage
Tor SIX months. and he was in such straits
Lor want of money that he was CROWNS,
desperate. so"iiis
They got down to the steps and tool, .
"aternans boat: turned up the niece of
plank which lay In the stern sheets ami
SAT on the dry side: and then pushed off
INTO the dark river. The red-haired non
PICKED UP the yoke lines and steered tbs
boat amongst the dense shipping: past tiers
oI codStins schooners. and timber droghers
ana out-o1-work ciink built tugs: past UNI
sHniy IRON steam tramps fishing craft
Gredgers and the other resting traffic of The
Iyne. and finally rounded up under a frieze
OF SttsHs and ran alongside the gangWay
OF Sp-ton steam yacht.
Huilo. said Kettle. pleas ure?'
En- hardly that, said the red-haired
man step aboard, captain, and ri nav
n