Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-08-22
HiSLOngLOSt Brother

The ring around the moon had Aeua
Its work. Al s o'clock, the time sebsd.
ulsd for the Marjory Daw to haul In
her ropes and start for the Michigan
aide, the worst rain and wind storm Of
the season was at the height OF its
fury. As early as o'clock the captain
had given up all hope of taking his YES
sci out before morning, and he, the purs-
or and the first mate settled down to q
session st draw poker. The first mate
had just dealt out q hand when the
cabin door few open with q bang, and
old Commodore" Brainerd came In
with q gust OF wind that sent the cards
Whirling from the table.
well, III be darned" exclaimed the
captain, stunned with surprise. What
are you doing out a night like thisT
II was over ON the sary Jane whea
the blow came up" said the "cemmo-
ders" aS he started to take sE his old
rain coat, IAN Jest thought I'd come
over an tell you how glad you ought to
hs that you amt out tonight l done 20
years service on the lakes, but never
seen as wild night AZ this before"
The Commodore" was known IRON
enc end Of the great lakes to the other.
BE was nearing the thrsesoere and ten
mark, and for fvs years he had not
been In active service. 1t had been said
that he was familiar with every BhSal
and eddy In the chain Of lakes, and hia
advice was often sought by some Of the
eldest captains In the service. He loved
the water and the vessels, and to re-
main away from them was q hardship.
The "commodors" was always well
come on tbs vessels, for aside from hiS
worth as an advice giver he was cap
itsl story teller. His supply Of yarns
seemed to be insxhaustible, and he was
IN his glory when ho was "spinnin."
This night" said the Commodore
a. he walked over to the cabin window.
makes a sailor wish he was in some
other business. Butt like it-in port"
The old mans presence had killed the
interest in draw poker, and the captain
began 10 6Hh for a story.
II reckon you've had plenty 70 do
with bad blows like this on the open,
haven't your asked the captain.
~ been out when q Teller needed an
umbrella an a string to keep his hat On
with" said the old sailor modestly. TT
was jest about such q night as this that
my hair stood ON ends for the first SR
only time In my life"
The vessel men were silent, but their
faces looked askance.
II wasn't much more'n q cub" began
the "commodors" as he sat down on
tool chest, IAN that was q darn long
time ago, mors'n 40 year. / was ship
pin on an old coast freighter runniR
tween Boston an the north coast p'ints.
We left Boston at dusk. The cap'n was
q bit leary, fer the look In the west was
anything but cheerful. We had round
ed Turkey pint, when the blamedest
blow you ever seen come up in hurry,
The cap'n knowed the old tub couldn't
stan the pressure, an he made for an
arm around the pint But the wind
was too much. an the boat. the Lenox.
rode to some rocks with crash. There
was no time to lose. an It was hump
fer yerse'f. In my excitement / rushed
madly to the hole, an a8 came back
past some -four barrels a dark figger
darted by me an fell over coil Of rope.
he didn't bulge after he hit the foeE.
] kind o. fergot about the tub Goin to
pieces an bent down over the form.
Let me break in here with q little
family history. My mother died when
was lsss'n q year old. The old man
couldn't look after " kids-thers was
me an Ted an Nance-an he turned us
ever to a good old soul by the name OF
Mrs. Brenker. Ted was little terrier.
He was sllus doin jest what Mother
BFsnker didn't want him to do. One
day he disappeared, an nobody ever
seen him afterwards. Mother Brsnker
had come to look upon as kids an her'n,
An Ted's disappearance broke her down
an killed her few years later. By this
time was about II years old, an when
Mrs. Brenhsr died had to get out for
Rysef took TO the farm fer awhile,
but Rrtsr got strsng enough went to
shippin. ia told Mother Brenker that
I'd allus keep an eye open fer Ted.
We'll to git along with the story.
When was stoopln By the side Of the
form tryin to git look at the face Q
cash Of lightnin through o portfolio
give me q full view Of his face. Well,
sir, would you believe that / nearly
kesled over when / seen the featurssf
AL the time the umbsrS was crsRkin.
but / didn't seem to hear 'em. lifted
the body up and drawed il where
could git a better look mt It My haiE
fairly stood"-
sWas he deadf" excitsdly broke 10
the purEeF.
"Did h0 recognise your asked the
frst mate as he moved nsryouHly.
"Wsll, sir" continued the old man.
ignoring the remarks. "the mouth was
there, an / knowed the forehead In 0
million"
fIt sounds like q fairy tale" said the
captain, who was thoroughly interested
by this time.
"The feIler finally opened his eyes,"
went on the Commodore" with great
feeling. IAN spoke to him. There was
NO German in our blood"
What had that to do with IT" asked
the captain.
We'll" began the old sailor, faint
twinkle coming to his eye, "the feller
said suthin In the worst kind Of Dutch,
nm | made for the deck, him arter me-"
Chicago Record Herald.
Personal anA Real.
Lord Wellesley's aid-de-camp, KEEP