The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-12-31

ding on the quay which is to the lands
man typical of the fisherman 1her S'"'
ON shore was limited to such time as
the weather prevented their going out.
And something more than half gale
had TO blow ere that came to pass A
tiny Bethel. with its door modestly IN
scribed: This is the Gate of Heaven
was their religious haven; and they very
politely declined the tracts whlch the rec
tor of the upper town thrust under their
noses. Here were bred the bo'suns and
coxswains of her majesty'S navy. VINO
went down TO the sea in ships and return
ed with pensions and glory and many
medals. to describe to approving seniors
their individual share in the latest an
nexations of their country. The fishing
village knew aristocratic Oldport as an
A Il. knows his superior officer
From the sandhilIs which banked thu
channel. stretched on all sides. windy
acres of coarse bents where goats frol-
licked and gulls circled. The land was IN
a state of nature. since the loose. sandy
soil defied all methods of cultivation.
But as golf links. Oldport in process Of
time found n use for its desert Iheres
on sunny days, the players skirmished
widely round a lonely house. which
seemed to have been journeying to Old
port like the Loretto GrOtto to Rome:
with the difference that it never reached
its destination. 1t was n one-story af-
fair, with a wide verandah. and its fiat
roof had been fashioned after the style OF
a quarterback even to a rugged niizzen
from the gait of which. from sunrise to
sunset. flew the Union jack. A brightly
polished brass cannon on the lawn was
used for saluting on national holidays
In the rear was a well-stocked garden Of
IoI
surrounding waste by a fence of white
palings. Here, in this oasis mid the
deserts. lived Bendigo. awaiting Leon
ards return to discharge himself of his
trust.
For many year two men had walked
that quarterback. fighting their battles
Ger again; but since Captain Jayne had
sent in his papers. old Bendigo alone kept
watch. He was of the barnacle species.
such as attach themselves to Quays in
popular watering places-an ancient wa
ter-dOg STEPPED in brine. But he might
have been an ancient Briton. so literally
was he painted with blue woad in the
modern form Of tattoo. Squat and
brawny. with arms of length altogether
dis propOrtionate. and a body every inch
muscle and no fat. he yet retained much
of his earlier strength. His hair was
silvery. his mouth large and occupied
very fair imitation OF the roaring bel
low of his native ocean. Marryat would
have been delighted with this superannu-
ated Neptune, and would have found him
a spinner OF yarns-equal to those OF
Baron Munchausen- About the strict We
racity of his tales. Bendigo did not con-
Germ himself His great aim was to pro-
duce sensation; and this he invariably
did, having to resort TO measures more
1r los - h. In
credulity or otherwise OF his hearers.
What HIS real name might be no one
knew. and It is probable that the old man
himself had forgotten IL. Bendigo he
called himself: from having run away
TO those famous diggings IN his teens
Like all sailors, ne was q handy man. the
cook. housemaid. butler and footman OF
Beach Cottage; and rarely left It. for fear
something might go wrong in his absence.
For exercise no tramped the quarter
deck. with a glass under his arm and
frequently at his eye. He hated women
as he loved his grog. Ike the crusty
marlin-spike he was.
The day after Jayne's arrival, tho
bosun walked his watch, sweeping land
and sea for q sight Of his young master.
AS he Well knew, the Chinese squadron
had arrived and was anchored in Flet-
mouth harbor: but Leonard had not vet
appeared, although Il was now o'clock
Bendigo suspected him OF dangling at Miss
Wharton's apron strings; ignorant wholly
OF the rumors which at the moment wers
rife in OldpOrt and Fletmouth. Of the
mysterious disappearance of Lieutenant
Jayne Where these had originated no
one could say But it was asserted conf
IDENTIFY that Jayne had not returned TO his
ship. and could not be found. Bendigo
was Just wondering whether 10 would be
consistent with his trust 10 lock I'D and
20 forth for Information, when inteili-
gence was brought him by Norah herself
In spite OF the bo'sun's misogyny, he
hailed the approach OF the girl with de-
light. though he was sorely puzzled TO
account Tor Jayne's absence. With "a
grunt OF disappointment. ne shambled
down and met her on the verandah, pull
ing his forelock. and scraping his foot
in approved nautical fashion But Norah
was much too highly agitated 10 return
these cOurtesies.
80 Bendigog Is he herer"' she o-1ed-
anxiOusly.
THE lootenant. m;ssyr Amt he along
side your
Miss Wharton paid no attention to this
question. ''Not hereP' she gasped, and,
overcome with sudden faintness, she sat
down. whitefaced, on near chair.
20 Leonard, Leonard, where are you?"
Go Be Continued.