Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-08-01

second mate, a big, powerful man,
whose usually good natured face wore
a fierce frown of disapprozal.
'Get out of that, you. What you
roun' here for anyway Get back there
quick. If you touched 1t, ZIP He
drew nearer to the instrument.
A sardonic smile. unseen by the mate,
came TO the mans face. As he turned
away his hands rested on the railing
for an instant. How easy to vault II.
What a surprise TO the mate, whose
words had been comparatively gentle.
What a sensation for the passengers.
He balanced himself for the plunge,
when the boy spoke. The man had for
gotten the boy. He was leaning against
him now, the curls of his thrown back
head touching the mans soiled shirt
sleeves, while he expostulated with the
mate.
Now, look a-here. 'Twasn't his
fault. | asked him to show me. We
never touched II. 'Tisn't hurt a bit.
now, is it?"
The mate Strengthened up from his
examination. go round there" he
ordered the Elah again. and the sailor
slunk away. Then to the boy. You
mustn't touch thin@s Ike this or | shall
tell the captain not 10 let you 20 over
the ship"
"No. won't. 'Pen my word | won't"
cried the boy. Then. turning. he ran
after the man. who lad dropped upon
the deck some distance away ..Id was
staring at tie sea with q p,rplexed
face.
Hes nice man." explained the
boy, slipping down beside him and
nodding lls head In the direction Of
the mate. "ouly he has got an awful
voice Ycllsh just Ike that once when
doesn't mean It,"
mo" answered the man. still gazing
at the sea.
The boy looked slyly up ut him once
or twice. then drew piece OF rope
from his pocket. Say" he smiled In
sinuatingly. "one OF the sailors told
me you could tie more knots than any
other follow aboard, Show me how.
won't your
The man took the rope and with
mechanical fingers began to teach the
boy how to make the simplest knots.
The mate came by presently and look
ed at them from beneath his bushy
brows, but passed on without speak
ing.
"8ly," the boy exclaimed once In
honest admiration. don't you know q
lot / bet you could beat the captain.
Where'd you learn 'em allT
"Oh, l knowed some OF 'em when
was q Kid" answered the man. and he
went on tying more.
1t was an absorbing lesson. made so
by the boys eagerness and the mans
increasing interest. Suddenly shrill
whistle sounded through the air. The
boy looked up. His father beckoned
to him from the deck above, and the
boy rose to his feet.
'I've got to CO." he said. but I'll be
practicing ,pme Of 'em. and you can
show me the rest next time"
He started to run along the deck.
stuffing the rope in his pocket. But he
had only gone n few steps when he
suddenly turned and came trotting
back. He stopped near the man a lit
tie uncertainty. pulling vigorously at
the frayed end of the rope.
Say. say. you didn't mind what the
mate said. did you? He didn't mean to
be cross. They just have to boiler that
way"
The man did not speak Again the
whistle sounded. The boy turned, but
persisted over his shoulder:
"You didn't mind, did your
Then the man laughed. strange,
sudden laugh. mo, I didn't mind"
And the boy sped away.
Then the change Of stokers came. and
the man was called below. He went I'M
grudgingly and promptly. AS he passed
beneath the upper deck the boy, who
was standing there, leaned over and
waved, and the man lifted his hand to
his hatless head in salute The memo
ry Of the orchard and stone step, Of the
apples and doughnuts, was still with
him, but II was no longer the bitterness
of death-rather the sweet savor Of life.
Springfield Republican