The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-06-18

the mate collapsed.
Ben Harris shut his book on bit Of
waste Ito keep the place., and went
slowly up the ladder. When he thrust
his head out of the door that gave on
the deck he looked forward. A half
dozen dirty sailors squatted dumbly on
their blankets, while the captain and
his wife faced each other in anger.
Filthy hole" she heard Mrs. Van
Olinda say, ''and those men sleeping
there! wouldn't put a dog into a
cellar like that"
Plenty good enough for deck
hands," her husband responded.
II won't have it on this ship" re-
torted his wife. That's settled. That
place has got to be scrubbe', and paint
ed before they set foot in II again"
But -" the skipper protested.
mo butts about it
The captain glared around, and
caught an uneasy grin on sailors
face. You dirty scare-crow," he
thundered, Jump down there and clean
that out; all of ye, jump! What dye
mean by keeping your end of the ship
in such condition? Fly, now!"
The sailors tumbled around, and the
engineer withdrew his head. That
settles it," he murmured to himself.
Now for new boilers"
That evening the captain called down
the speaking tube to the engineer.
I'm going TO bring my wife down
to see the engines. Is it all right?"
Sure With this answer, Harris
called the oiler and told him to wipe
down the ratings on the ladders.
The captain and his wife were receiv-
ed most gallantly by the chief. The
motion of the steamer was very gen.
tie, and the machinery ran smoothly
and very evenly. Mrs. Van Olinda
locked and admired. Harris had never
approved of ''women-folk messing
around an engine" but he carefully
concealed any such feeling, If he ex-
perienced 1t, on this occasion.
rs there any danger?" asked Mrs.
Van, as soon as she recovered from
her first curiosity.
None in particular" said Harris,
with very apparent attempt at evas-
ion.
None in particular" she echoed.
rs there any? Might the boiler ex-
plode?"
Not exactly explode" responded the
engineer slowly. "The boilers are too
old for that. There wouldn't be much
40 i,tc ~
sort Of gentle and easy. No; they
wouldn't explode"
The skipper figeted violently, but
the chief did not apparently notice it.
"Rut The steam would come out?"
she continued.
Yes, ma'am; It comes out now. OF
course, it would come out more then,
and kill whoever was down here"
Mrs. Van Olinda moved back hastily.
I'VE had steam heat in our house in
Iowa." she explained, but never
knew it was dangerous"
"Oh, then you wouldn't mind this
little affair. Why, s'pose this would
mt heat that house, even If we fired
up extraordinary. Do tell, to think
that after living in house with real
steam heat, you should care to see
this" Harriss voice was very gentle.
He was talking for the skipper's bene-
fit. But retriDution was swift.
Il imagine" the captain roared out
(after long repression), Il imagine you
think this is funny"
Funny" repeated his wife. Il don't
see anything funny about it. Oh, yes,
Mr.. Harris, what was the funny kettle
you promised to loan me?"
"I-l-forget," suffered the engineer
in horror.
'Oh, | remember" continued Mrs.
Van Olinda, 'it was the donkey boiler" +"
The donkey-boiler!" shouted her
husband.
'Yes, to make apple-butter in. Have
you put that patch on it, Mr. Harris ?
! hope it wasn't an awfully big hole?"
Excuse me, please" said the engi-
neer hastily. 81 must see to some
thing" He did not return until his
visitors were gone. But his soul was
at peace. A couple of hours later the
captain appeared alone. Harris looked
non-committal, and handled a heavy
steel spanner gently. But his supe-
rior was past fighting, and simply
breathed heavily. Il think, Ben" he
said. presently, that you might have
joked about something else"
Look out for that main steam-p pipe.
II you lean on it, it'll break. sure"
Hang you and your engines! Why
don't you keep them in repair?"
IF you can find anything about my
engines, Cap'n Van Olinda, that amt
all repair. and repair. show me 1t.
I've nursed your blasted pots and pans
Just as long as I'm going to. Anybody
but me couldn't make that heap OF
cheap tinware turn peanut-roaster -
We'll, why didn't you say so be-
fore" growled the skipper.
Say so! Haven't said so? Then
you risk your wife down here, and ]
don't want her death on my head"
"She seems 10 be afraid of your life
She don't know me, you old lummox!