Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-20


if man could"-
"Never mind arguing now, Arthur.
There she comes, the one with the
pink parasol just passing under the big
oak. Look at her well as she goes by.
She's the most lovely creature in the
world"
Arthur Moreton, smiling at his
friends enthusiasm, directed his atten-
ton to the owner of the pink parasol,
who was walking slowly along the
broad walk, accompanied by demure
little woman in black. She was tall,
fair beauty, with the figure of Juno
and the carriage Of a queen. AS she
passed she turned and caught the look
in Munro's eyes. 1t evidently discon-
certed her, for she colored slightly and
lowered her sunshade.
"Why, that's Miss Armstrong, the
Lancashire beauty, us they call her"
whispered Moreton.
Miss who?" asked his sailor friend.
Armstrong, daughter Of old Ninety
nine Ship Armstrong, the millionaire
Didn't you know?"
mo. How should I?'' said Munro.
"She isn't the girl you brought me
here to see, the one you said you'd fall.
en- in love with?"
"Of course she is, you oakum head.
Don't expect anything better, do you?"
mo; but don't be quite blathering
idiot, Bob. What on earth do you sup
pose you are going to do?"
"Dow calculated the young captain.
'I'm going to marry her."
Moreton shook the seat silently for a
few moments, then burst into the most
uproarious laughter. "Bob," he said
later, II see now why you don't be-
lieve in obstacles. Well, I wish you
luck. If good looks and determination
will win a woman, you can do it, but
for the life of me can't see how you
can ever get an Introduction to Miss
Armstrong"
"NoT" replied Munro. Nevertheless
shall marry her."
"What's that you say, Mr.. Calker, a
stowaway?" said Captain Pugley testi-
ly as he leaned over the poop rail.
eyes, sir" replied the mate, looking
up from the deck below. 1--WE found
him in the fore peak, slowed among the
pork barrels"
"Well. well, send him aft, Mr.. Calk-
er, and let me see him, and in the
meantime keep sharp lookout for a
no'th'ard bound vessel. We may get
chance to ship the beggar back"
Captain Pugley was furious. After
all his care and anxiety that things
should run smoothly on this trip Of all
nate bitches for which the layman sees
no excuse and which therefore create
false impressions. Under ordinary cir
cumstances the discovery of an extra
mouth to feed would not have aroused
the little captains ire. A stowaway on
the third day out is usually turned to-
and accepted with philosophy born
of the knowledge that, though disa-
greeable, he is an Interchangeable fact
while the mates watch rejoice over
the sinner as an extra hand. In this
case, however, things were little out
of the ordinary-a little strained, per.
haps uncomfortable = the reason for
which will be readily understood when
explain that that awful and powerful
parsonage alike to shipmaster and
mates, the owner, was aboard.
AS Captain Pugley stamped savagelJ
back and forth at the break Of the
poop the stowaway, with the boatswaiI
behind him, came slouching aft. He
stopped at the after hatch and stood
cap in hand, shutting his feet like III
embarrassed schoolboy. looking dow
ut the deck. A tall. sQuarely built fel
low he was, with an almost shaver
head and weeks growth Of blacl
stubble upon his upper lip and chin. A
faded brown overcoat, with the collar
turned up and much too small, wa.
buttoned tightly across his chest, while
below it hung q pair of patched an(
greasy dungaree trousers. His foul
days sojourn in the dark bowels of tn,
forepeak, amid the coal, the tar barrels
the brine oozing ''salt horse" casks ant
all the rust and sweat Of that sailor,
corner cupboard, had apparently affect
ed him very little, except that he hat
gathered souvenirs Of them all and wal
in consequence besmudged and dirty.
"This is the man, sorr," said the gruf
voiced boatswain.
The captain abruptly ended his wall
and danced down the poop ladder like
man on wires.
"You scoundrelv' he cried, shaking
his fist under the dirty ones nose
Glow dare you stow away aboard IN,
vessel, you skulking lubber2 How dare
you. say! What do you mean by
sneaking aboard to eat honest mem,
food and give nothing in return. yor
thief! You jailbird! You-you"-
BEG pardon. sir, but I amt afryd tt
work, SIR" protested the stowaway
meekly.
"Don't talk back to me, you hull,ine
loafer, or I'll put you in ironsw snap.
ped the skipper. "And you can make up
your mind that, If l don't send you
back before, you'll get three months
hard labor when we reach Adelaide.
What is your nameY'
"'Awkins, SIR"
ever been to seaY"
mo, sir, can't rightly sly rs I've
been to sea, sir, but I've knocked abaht
the river quite bit, and I've been as
far as Margit once, SIR"
The boatswain grinned broadly at
this; even the captain could not forbear
smiling.
"Well." he said, put him to work,
bos'n." And the green hand went for
ward to be initiated into the mysteries
of the "slush bucket" and the "soogey-
moogey" can.
Unfortunately, as the captain put it,
no homeward bound vessels were sight
ed until 1t was too late to think of re-
turning the stowaway. He was there
fore taken into the mates watch as
dirty workman, where he showed re.
markable aptness for some things and
marvellous stupidity about others. In
most matters pertaining to seamanship
he was hopeless. He seemed Incapable
Of learning the names or positions Of
rODes sails or anara and neither c,1rcaa