Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-20
TheDaI|y Short Story
His Long Lost Brother.

The ring around the moon had done
| fits work. A. s o'clock, the time sched-
| uled for the Marjory Daw TO haul in
| her ropes and start for the Michigan
| side. the worst rain and wind storm of
| the season was NJ 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-
er and the first mate settled down to a
session at draw poker. The first mate
had just dealt out a hand when the
| cabin door flew open with a bang. and
old Commodore" Bralnerd came in
with a gust of wind that sent the cards
whirling from the table.
well. I'll be darnedw exclaimed the
| captain. stunned with surprise. What
are you doing out n night like this?'
Il was over on the Sary Jane when
the blow came up" said the "commO-
| dOre" as he started to take off his old
rain coat. IAN 1 jest thought I'd come
| over an tell you how glad You ought 10
be that you amt out tonight. l done %
years service on the lakes. but L never
seen as wild a night as this before"
The commodore" was known from
one end of the great lakes TO the other.
He was nearing the threescore and ten
mark, and for five years he had not
been in active service. 1t had been said
that he was familiar with every shoal
and eddy in the chain OF lakes. and his
advice was often sought by some OF the
oldest captains i'm the service. He loved
the water and the vessels, and to re-
main away from them was hardship.
The commodore" was always vel
come on the vessels, for aside from his
worth as an advice giver he was a cap
ital story teller. His supply of yarns
seemed 10 be inexhaustible. and he was
in his glory when he was 'spinnin."
This night" said the commodore"
as he walked over TO the cabin window,
makes a sailor wish he was I'm some
other business. But like Tin port"
The old mans presence had killed the
interest I'm draw poker. and the captain
began TO fish for a story.
Il reckon you've had plenty TO do
with bad blows like this on the open,
haven't you:" asked the captain.
Il been out when Teller needed an
umbrella an a string TO keep his hat on
with" said the old sailor modestly. 1T
was jest about such n night as this that
my hair stood oil ends for the first an
only time IN my ne.
The vessel men were silent, but their
faces looked askance.
Il wasn't much more'n cub" began
the commodore as he sat down on
tool chest, IAN that was n darn long
time ago. more'n 40 year. l was ship
pin on an old coast freighter runnin
tween Boston an the north coast p'ints.
We left Boston at dusk. The cap'n was
a bit Ieary. 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 ii was hump
fer yerse'f. In my excitement / rushed
madly to the hole. an as ! came back
past some -four barrels a dark tiGger
darted by me an fell over n coil of rope.
He didn't bulge after he hit the floor.
I kind O. forgot about the tub gOin to
pieces an bent down over the form.
Let me break in here with little
family history. Ny mother died when
was less'n Il year old. The old man
couldn't look after us kids-there was
me an Ted an Nance-an he turned us
over to a good old soul by the name OF
Mrs. Brenker. Ted was little terrier.
He was allus doin Jest what Mother
Brenker didn't want him TO do. One
day he disappeared, an nobody ever
seen him afterwards. Mother Brenker
had come to look upon us kids as her'n,
m Ted's disappearance broke her down
an killed her few years later. By this
time was about II years old, an when
Mrs. Brenker died I had to get out for
myself. took to the farm fer awhile.
but arter l got strong enough 1 went To
shippin. I'd told Mother Brenker that
Id allus keep an eye open fer Ted.
well. 10 git along with the story.
When was stoopin by the side of the
form tryin to git n look Mt the face a
fash of lightnin through a porthole
give me full view of his face. Well,
sir. would you believe that I nearly
keeIed over when ! seen the features!
All the time the timbers was creakin,
but | didn't seem TO hear 'em. l lifted
the body up and drawed it where !
could git n better look at il. My hal-
fairly stood
was he dead?" excitedIy broke in
the purser.
Did he recognize you?" asked the
first mate as he moved nervously.
well. sir" continued the old man,
ignoring the remarks. 1.-The mouth was
there. an / knowed the forehead in
million"
"It sounds like fairy tale" said the |
captain. who was thoroughly interested |
by this time.
"The Teller 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, a faint |
twinkle coming to his eye. 'the Teller |
said suthin In the worst kind OF Dutch, |