The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-10-04
POOLING THEHARBoR THIEVES

si.sI . ions TOO dosn The nver. lay 81 ID
end Of The u. a 4 vbsrt Tee wsitr 80
kppirs np,icslly sroepd ter bos. th
stssm bummea drov,ily 10 Ler boiler
The night ~. dark. cold, iosgy;s yer!
sood night fer sby sort o. rsii 10 be fac
10 swhsri
All hsrds we're 90 shore eIcsp, Captain
King, the eommsndsr snd part owner o
the boat, snd bis sou Ralph. ubo hsi jas
passed hi. sirteep,h birthday. Fer ih
lee, two years, Ralph bad spent oil ih
time be could on The boat, and be vas .
vsys teasing bic i.lber to TAKE him ou pc
msoepily % one Of the cres.
Bat the captain would not be persuaded
by the boy's arguments: II seemed 10 bin
that cspsble hand oonld not hsy'
stown up IN the lime since Ralph ssi
only fat little toddler, 10 danger OF fsl
log into The water or down into the tir.
room.
| Why. you're only hoy yet. the c'p.sir
would sal; aud II takes msn with .
mans strength and . mans grit Tor oui
business
Bat I'm almost as tall as you. dsddy,
a1d just feel ny muscle.
Feel OF your muscle Hol Hol might
IS we'll try to pail the tail OF sn oyster.
Yes, daddy. you slssys make ION OF me.
bu, why don't you give me a chance the
nsIi time yon need q new msnS don't
knov oi anything very hard TO do on the
Rogers.
OF ooursel You think ifs oil iunl How
about hauling 10 water soaked tow lines
10 frosty weather when they come in oil
coated and sti1. and icicles freezing In
clusters on your Ange,sf guess you
would be whimpering.
! guess not, daddy.
Well, don't bother any more now.
Your day will coma. hope you'll always
be as su1ious.
Some such such dialogue ss this bad
ust passed between father and son In the
warm. cozy engine room OF the Rosere,
where they had taken refuge from the
driving damp and fog, Some one on the
wharf shouting, hey, C.pl Captain King
called them outside. Ga the edge OF the
wharf above them stood q man who greeted
the captain ismiliarly.
Hslloo. captain! Just heard you we're
here, he said. Say, Logan wants to see
you about job tending his dredges mp iu
Bucks Iulet. Can you come up right
away? He's waiting.
Captain King reached for bis long nl
ster and cap, Illbe right up, tell Logan.
be replied, stirring round With business
like hustle, You're not afraid to stay here
alone. are you? be asked Ralph, when be
was ready TO climb On the wharf.
What should | be afraid OH Ralph re
piled, little Indignantly.
don't believe I'll be gone very long,
said the osptsin as be strobe away up the
wharf, and was lost in the night and fog.
Ralph turned back into the pleasant
warmth Of the engine room, closed the
door, and Icy down on the long, cushioned
,eat, with his hands under bis head. The
big brass lsnSern hanging just over the
cylinders swung lazily with some almost
motion Of the hull, and cast
isncing reflections on shundred polished
urisces Of the engines. For perhaps Q
quarter Of an hour Ralph thus lay think
ng before he heard footsteps on the deck
outside. Not expecting bis father back so
oon. be wondered IL II we're one OF the
,oat crew.
A hand lifted the latch; the engine room
|oor on the side toward the horbor SWING
lowly open. and burly stranger. with q
ruff greeting, stepped 10 out OF the dark
less, and turned to close the door. Ralph,
siaing himself TO sitting petition. motto
a the breadth OF the mans shoulders.
nd bis muscular poise.
Bad night outside, sir, said the newcom
T, facing round and regarding Ralph !.
eenly from under bis busby lrows.
Bad enough, Ralph sssented. In severe
ea,ber be had seen many wharf rat,
Ismp or longshoremsn. come to warm
imsei in the engine room. bat be
1ough, be had never seen rougher look II
IL character than this intruder. .
The stranger, pulling of bis mitteps y
nd iucking them under one arm, warmed q
10 grimy hands carefully on the hot jack :.
OF the nearest cylinder, and cast quick q
lance around the engine room. He stud u
a the clock faced pressure cages for sew
Ial seconds, and Ralph wondered IL be o
ere familiar with the machinery. Then. .
uickly tnrrine, be drew . long revolver u
ID thrus. II almost into the boys face. =
Ralph, though surprised, Was not reslly "
ishtened. He sst perfectly still and q
lent and looked bis ssssilsnt squsrely In y
10 eye. =
I'm the csp'n OF this here boat now. u
,uug feller. And I'm so'iu to do . little 90
lex With her. The rufii,n was moving "
d revolver menscinely within six inches ~
Ralph's nose. II you want 10 save 70
,ur bacon, you keep mum. Not word
j, OF you or yon'll get cbucked over o.
,ard With 9 busted headi Yon under 81
sndi Heyl Then be seiEsd Ralph by &c
Q collar.
no, only the hopelsssness OF
bet the necessity OF avoiding . In
ock on the head that mish. deprive ~
"a OF sense TO know whst was going on 10
out him, Rilph alloxed bimseti to be &c
.ssed oni on the deck. Although bis or
l.tf.l nth vaxsrtoaert his IN a.