The Washington times., 1901-10-20

Miss Susan. That's a fair bid
mo. sir" thundered Hazlett. in amaze
ment at the mans self-confidence; mot
for every penny of the pile I'm told you're
| worth"
Crackston did not move a muscle.
"WaaI friend he answered, pocketing
his book, you've had your chance and
I'd rather have done it that way, fur
don't misliiSe you; but you've refused, and
| l reckon you'll find Silas u. II make
things uncomfortable for you now in get
| tin what he's sot on
Get out CALCULATED the younger man,
get out of this-and do your worst. I'm
| not afraid"
81 didn't say you wanted grit" answer
ed the other imperturbably; but it takes
tiptop man to best Silas r. Then nod
ding a benign farewell. he took himself
OFF, leaving the sailor in no very pleasant
frame of mind.
Hazlett's uneasiness proved only too
well founded. a week or so after the
Gaelic reached port he received a curt
| notice Of dismissal from the service. The
overlooker a friend of his, confided to
him the reason for this.
You see" that gentleman said. you've
got someone's back up last crossing; and
l wouldn't wonder if it was the man
they call the Cattle King -Crackston.
! lie was about the Office more
than bit anyhow; he's a big shipper,
| and has shares in the line besides. Don't
you say l told you.
Hazlett left him, wondering where the
next blow would fall. 1t came when he
met Susan in the street quite by chance.
| "Oh, Toni she greeted him with soft
| ened eyes, I am waiting for father, and
I a. to
have been wishing to see you"
| He pressed her hand. which he had
taken, and she pulled it away. Don't"
| she said; You must not.
Must not what2'
She hesitated. Must not think of me
any more she said. turning away her
face Father says So.
But what do you say?' he queried,
| trying to catch her averted eyes. Sud
| denly these were turned full upon him
What can 1 say?" she retorted. That
horrid old man is so kind in giving me
heaps of things, and father says l can't
! refuse"
Cant refuse?" Hazlett exclaimed.
You mean"
Here is father she interrupted. u
must 60" and rushed off, although her
| lover, whose sight was keen enough.
could see no person at all resembling his
late captain.
That Susan would prove true Hazlett
! believed; but he gathered also from this
somewhat cryptic conversation that her
| elderly wooers tactics were having some
| effect, and that If he was to oust his ri
val he would have to set his wits to work
Meantime. the first thing was TO secure
| another ship. When that was done he
| could approach Captain Martin, If not
with confidence, at least with a definite
proposal for the lady's hand. But a COM
mand was hard to procure, and the Gae-
lie had sailed again ere Hazlett got a
/ berth. Moreover. he learned that both his
! sweetheart and the millionaire had gone
! West with her, whilst gossip added they
were to be married when the liner next
| returned to England.
I The Diver, Of which Captain Martins
whiiom mate was appointed master, was
a wall-sided tramp boat of some 600 tons
register, and his first voyage in her was
| from the Bristol Channel to Ponta Del
/ gada In the Azores with coal The en-
| ployment was distasteful enough to him,
| but it was always employment; and as his
! new charge wallowed her away out into
the Atlantic he felt happier than he had
| done since leaving the Gaelic. Moreover,
| luck seemed TO be in his way; for, on the
| third day out, his first officer reused him
4 at daylight to report a big liner ahead,
| flying signals asking for assistance Haz-
! lett jumped for the bridge. from which
! glance showed him this lame duck" to
| be none other than the Gaelic.
boat from her put off as the Diver ap-
| preached, and Hazlett shook hands with
the officer in charge of it as he stepped
! over the rail.
! Hulloi old man. the arrival exclaf1n-
! ed. this is little bit of all right TO find
you here. Are you the skipper"
I'm all the skipper there is on this
box o BRICKS Hazlett answered. What
wrong aboard you?"
Propeller gone" replied the other con-
ciselyi 'fouled some wreckage last night.
Skipper wants a pull into Queenstown"
Come into my room" said Hazlett,
IN need some particulars. You'rehome-
ward bound again, l suppose he went
on when they had entered the captain S
room. Are you full?"
| "Chock- a-block. both in the holds ana
cabins. She is good salvage. Old Crack
ston the Cattle King is with us too,
and the skipper has his daughter with
him"
Hazlett's face lit up. "You and I were
always good friends. Renshaw," he re-
marked; will you do me a turn now?"
| "Of course, the other responded
heartily. and call it square when you
tow US in"
IN give you message about that 70
| Captain Martin. All l want you to do
for me is to hoist the yellow flag on the
! Gaelic if you see it going up on me-"
Renshaw thought a minute. u don't
know your game" he said at length; but
| you always were white man. and you'll
| see me straight if there's any trouble"
''ThatH be right" Hazlett said, com
mencing to pen u note as he spoke You
give this to the old man with my compli-
| ments;' and, finishing the Iaissive, he
| handed 1t to the messenger, who duly de
| parted
When Captain Martin perused It he said
things unfit for publication, and sent
| quartermaster to ask Mr. Crackston to
step up to chartroom.
See, here he exclaimed when the mil
Iionaire arrived. 1T is not usual to con-
| suit passengers in case like this: but as
| you have got me s. the rness-why, you'd
best know it, and he flung him Hazletts
| letter
| The American grinned as he read it
Great snakes!" he CALCULATED when he
had mastered the contents; but l held up
! all along he had grit
| Yes" retorted the wrathful skipper;
| but that don't help me out of the hole
| Says he'll tow me in for salvage TO be
! settled in court provided | marry him to
| Susan before tho ropes are passed. What
| am / to say TO my owners?'