Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-08-01
HiSLOngLOSt Brother

The ring around the moon had done
its work. At 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 at the height of its
fury. As early as O'Clock the captain
had given up al hope of taking his YES
sci OUT before morning. and he. the purs-
er and the first mate settled down TO a
session al draw poker. The first mate
had just dealt ont a hand when the
cabin door flew open with bang, and
old Commodore" Brainerd came in
with gust of wind that sent the cards
whirling from the table.
well, Ill be darnedw exclaimed the
captain. stunned with surprise. What
are you doing out a night like thisY'
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 | jest thought I'D come
over an tell you how glad you ought TO
be that You amt out tonight. | 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. IT 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 in 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 cap
ital story teller. His supply of yarns
seemed to 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 sailor wish he was in some
other business. But like it-in port.
The old mans presence had killed the
interest in draw poker, and the captain
began to fish for story.
II reckon you've had plenty to DO
with bad blows like this on the open,
haven't you:" asked the captain.
81 been out when a Teller needed an
umbrella an a string to keep his hat on
with" said the old sailor modestly. Tt
was jest about such night as this that
my hair stood on ends for the first an
only time in my life"
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 a
tool chest. IAN that was darn long
time ago, more'n 40 year. l was ship
pin en- an old coast freighter runnln
tween Boston an the north coast pints.
We left Boston at dusk. The cap'n was
q bit leary, ter 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 a crash. There
was no time TO lose an it was hump
fer yerse'f In my excitement | rushed
madly TO the hole an as | 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 floor.
kind O. forgot about the tub goin TO
pieces an bent down over the form.
Let me break in here with little
family history. My mother died when
was less'n a year old. The old man
couldn't look after US kids-there was
me an Ted an Nance-an he turned ms
over to 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.
an Ted's disappearance broke her down
an killed her a few years later. BY this
time | was about 10 years old, an when
Mrs. Brenker died had to get out for
myself | took to the farm fer awhile,
but after got strong enough | went to
shippin. I'd told Mother Brenker that
I'd allus keep an eye open fer Ted
well, to git along with the story.
When l was stoopin by the side of the
form tryin to git look at the face
fash of hghtnin through a portfolio
give me a full view of his face Well.
sir. would you believe that | nearly
keeled over when seen the features
All the time the timbers was creakin.
but | didn't seem to hear 'em. / lifted
the body up and drawed it where
could git a better look at it. My hair
fairly stood
was he dead?" excitedly broke in
the purser.
did he recognize you?" asked the
first mate as he moved nervously.
We'll. sir" continued the old man,
ignoring the remarks. "the mouth was
tbera an I knovad the forehead in a