Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-05-15
a VICTIM OF
Il EFORM.
BY John Fleming Wilson.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

skipper had gone east to get married.
To the friends of Capt. Van Olinda
the two facts were indicative of a rev.
olution. To think that the grimy San
Anton should glory in fresh colors!
To think that her stiff-legged, heavy
handed, hoarse-voiced tyrant of
master should take wife! Now that
the day approached when the bridal
pair were expected, the mate and en-
gineer grew strangely uneasy. II
don't like it bit,' said the mate.
Ben Harris, the chief engineer,
grunted amiably. '.Oh, you take it
too hard, Sam. One 'ud think it was
you, instead of Van, that was getting
spliced. It won't make any such
tremendous difference to you and me.
Well just work on twenty-four hours
day, same as usual. Old man may
beef around little more, may bat
the mess-boy little oftener, but I
reckon we'll make about the same
number. of revolutions per minute.
Nothing makes much difference to
me, s long as have boilers made of
tomato-tins. I horrify to think
whatll happen some day when they
get really het up"
$50 on" grumbled the mate; "you
sit around in any old weather and
watch your stew-pans. and run that
egg-beater engine of yours, while I'm
trying to tell by the color of the wa
ter where we're at, and hanging old
clothes on a rotten clothes-line to
try and claw off lee-shore. And
then, when the old man finds we've
gone back 20 miles instead Of fetch
ing so, he blames me.''
$50 he does, so he does. And I
s'pose you'll be pretty sore when they
he two OF 'em to cuss you. Likely
enough the new misses is ten feet
long, and has an arm as heavy as
pacGng-case. But she can't fool with
me. If she does, I'll accidentally
rock up against the main-steam and
scald her to death. Say, Sam, have
ye got some good, stiff putty? The
donkey-boiler's got hole in it, and
I'd like to patch it. I've used up all
the oilers shoes already on that hole.
Somehow, leather won't hold.''
The mate gave no response to this
pleasantly, and went forward to hit
deck-hand who was over-anxiously-
Tightening fast.
It was on fine February afternoon
that Captain and Mrs. Van Olinda
were met at the gangway of the San
Antonio by the mate. ;
Hello, Sam!" shouted the skipper.
"Hows everything?"
ssFirst-rate, sir" answered the
mate, with one eye on the 'smissus."
.'Sam, this is my wife, Mrs. Van
Olinda," said the captain. proudly.
ssAfrs. Van, this is Mr.. Twizzle, my
mate"
''Mr. Twizzle, I am glad to meet
you," responded the lady.
.tso'm T." said the mate, after a
pause of desperation. For the lady,
into whose face he was looking, was
wholesome, clear-eyed matron Of
perhaps 35-the opposite of all he
had fancied. The husband did not
notice his mates embarrassment,
but in stentorian notes was calling:
"Ben! Ben Harris! Hang you,s
Ben, where do you keep yourself?''
The engineer rose out of the en-
CINE room depths and walked stead
lily up with outstretched hand.
s'Glad to see you back, sir. Con-
CALCULATIONS compliments - this
last to the lady.
.'Afr. Harris, I'm pleased to make
your acquaintance" said Mrs. Van
Olinda, without waiting for her hus-
band.
Hope you'll never regret it, an
swered the chief, politely. He, too,
was surprised, but he plumed him
self on never showing his feelings.
It was late that evening before the
San Antonio reached her new place
on San Francisco water front. When
all was fast for. the night the mate
and engineer washed away the most
of the CRIME and went aft to dinner.
The little saloon was spick and span
in new white paint, and, to the mates
NASS3 u9VS Oil AAhOSCAGCAV pldC1uk Oh
his hand on the bulkhead left a smut
unmistakable. 'And I just washed
it," he muttered to the engineer.
'.P'raps it was the other one" sup-
gested the chief.
This did not mend matters, and
they devoured their meal in silence.
She's too good for him. said
Harris, finally.
'sL,m not so sure of that" replied
Twizzle. "It doesn't lower any wom-
! an to marry q good, skillful seaman.
And he evidently sets his course to
please her. They've gone to the play
tonight"
so the mess boy told me when /
was cleaning up"
8 Well, now, Ben, doesn't that show
he's bound to do the square thing?
Not but that I agree with you that
she's all right. Somehow, she re-
minds me Of my mother"
sLookee here, 4 suggested the mate.
The old shippers married, see?
What's to hinder MS getting a few
wedding presents ourselves? I need