Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-27

western ocean years ago. wasn't she? All
san set and no crew Log-book written
UP to the day before-captain'S watch on
the nail. and still running-his wifes sew
Ing machine with seam half finished
partly eaten dinners in cabin and fore
castle-boats all in place-no sign of a dis
turbance anywhere about her-and all that
sort of thing? s--s-,
Yes that's her only the details are
bit out. usual with newspaper reports.
You know, nothing has ever been heard
from single member of her crew from
that day to thiS-the cap'n his wife, nor
nobody-though the consular service and
the press of two continents worked at 1t
for months. How old would you take me
to be?" he asked. changing the subject
with what appeared to me the most gro
te>que irrelevance.
Sixty / replied unhesitatingly, aiming
automatically at the safe side.
L amt but fifty-three and I look ten
years older-aH on account of that vessel,
I've got to get this off my mind: It's tor
mented me long enough. If l was a Cath
Ollie suppose I'd tell the priest: but I
amt, and you're about the only man in
the world ] feel can tell it to. If
hadn't had good friends to get me into
snug harbor, guess I'd be dead now-and
a good job, too he added gloomily.
His words interested me more than I
would care to own for unless Hargreaves
was wantonly deceiving me- he was the
man who knew the solution of that mys-
terry which had puzzled the maritime ma
tions of the earth for nearly a quarter of
a century, and he was going to tell it,, /
remained exceedingly quiet, putting indus
triously at a vile, sailor-toWn cigar while
he TOOK huge gufp. of .'red eye averted
his gaze and INDUCED in. "Reminiscences
SHE was the sweetest little thing you
ever saw" he muttered, bright and happy
and long brown curls-I can't remember
the time didn't play together. / always
carried her books to school. She wouldn't
go to church nor singing school with no.
hTl hryty nd rxyba 7
promised to wait till / should get a ship
of my own l worked hard and saved my
money for three years. Then got a letter
from mother telling me that May was mar
ried-married to a captain-as though she
got tired of waiting. l went on a thunder
Ing big spree and then took to the western
ocean. There were few of the old packets
left and fought my way up to mate and
there / stuck for five years.
Then came that passage to the west
ard In the Chanticleer, when that gang of
Liverpool rats tried to do me. They found
they'd walked up the wrong passenger,
though. and there was two Of 'em that
never saw the broadside of America But
/ don't care nothing about that; that was
1ustifiable maintenance of discipiine;-hey,
waiter, why don't you fill 'em up when
you're told2 An say, sir. or Ili-what's
the matter Andy; We amt drinkin'?''
Before l could frame an excuse, he took
sampled II generously, and went on with
his yarn.
THE OF man give me what had coming
to me. an i left her at quarantine. / got
the New York papers in Philadelphia and
saw they were raking up my record from
wayback. so / shipped fore the mast in a
schooner an went to Charleston. E. C.
From there / shipped as mate of the Balti-
more bark Kate Eastman, Sturgis master.
She had cargo Of turpentine in the hold.
and yelier pine lumber on deck, and was
bound for Antwerp. I had to make a pier
head jump of 1t. when ] got down to the
wharf. cause the tug already had a hold
OF her. 1t was near the last Of the spring
tides. but We got over the bar with only a
light scrape. and when / got the last of the
sail on her. 1 went below to see IL that
blasted board'n' master had put any pipes
and tobacker in my bag. Just as / reached
the bottom step. the cabin door opened and
looked right into the eyes Of my little
May In that one glance l noticed how
thin and poor and-yes. old. she had got.
The rounded cheeks were sunken. and the
merry snap was all gone out of the sweet
blue eyes. She looked fOrfcrn. poor little
thing.
I'D been batt'n It pretty well in Charles
ton for a week. and I suppose I looked
pretty tough: but she knew me. She went
white for minute at sight of me- Then
the waxy cheeks flushed, she stood staring
and wavering, and then she went back In
the cabin. Me? Well. just st aggered into
my room and hung over the bunkboard as
limp as IL I'd been hit with an iron PIN
forgot what i came below for. and when
heard the OF man asking where the mate
was, / went up. / felt more like taking
him by the throat than giving him civil
answer. but, OF course. that would have
been subversive If discipline.
Mrs. Sturgis kept her room for three
DAYS. and then heard the OIL man tel