The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-11
A CASE OF VERTIGO.
BY J. 0. PLUMMER-


 fCopvrirht 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Col It would be just my blooming luck to meet Mackay tonight" muttered Capt. Duncan Strong, of the steamer Talisman' as he walked unsteadily up the street. An evening spent with fellow captains joyial and bilious, is not conducive to sobriety and, despite resolves to the con- trary, Captain Strong left the party drunk.
 Most people would regard an occasional lapse from sobriety as mere matter or headache. brandy and soda ana brand new resolve, but it was not Just so with Captain Strong. He was much in love with Doris Grey, 'one of the prettest girls in Newcastle, and he was engaged to her provisiOnally. He had promised l to refrain absolutely from ardent spirits and on this promise Miss Grey had al- lowed herself to be engaged. As prl- vate citizens actions are not of inter" national importance it would seem pos siible for Captain Strong to get drunk in America and his dereliction not be known to a girl in England. but there was Mac kay.
 Captain Mackay, stern old temperance advocate, secretary of the Seaman's Blue Ribbon Society, was Doris Grey's uncle and guardian. It was Mackay who had consented with a bad grace to his niece's engagement on the promise alluded to, and it was Mackay who would instantly have 1t broken if. the promise was not kept. His influence over her was great and she was also an enthusiastic temper ance worker who hated strong drink as | fiercely as did her uncle.
 Captain Mackay was now in Baltimore | in command of his steamer and hence | the foreboding that the unfortunate fate of Captain Strong would bring him In contact with Captain Mackay this very evening.
 Tt would be just my luck" muttered | the captain, gloomily. "Ill take tram and go to the steamer
 He entered the car with wavering step, fell heavily into a seat and his eyes rolled vacuously around the car until they fixed themselves with a stony stare, i for directly opposite with a queer ex- pression on his weather beaten face, sat Capt. Andrew Ma ckay. He had witnessed the entrance of Captain Strong into the car and was evidently fully aware of the cause of his stumbling into the seat. For a moment the befogged brain of Captain Strong wrestled with the proD- lems as to whether he should speak to Mackay, keep silent or get off the car, but Mackay settled the matter by arising and abruptly getting off the car himself. Captain StrOng's eyes followed him as, under the glare of a street lamp, he walk" ed with a strangely halting step to the pavement and then stood with his arm around the lamp post.
 He's so angry he can't even walk, " murmured Captain Strong to himself, its all over with me now"
 During the next day Captain Strong expected a visit, a thunderous and de- nunciatory visit, from Mackay, but the visit was not paid and in the afternoon Captain Mackay's steamer pulled out of the pier and started on her voyage to England, leaving Captain Strong in a most perturbed state of mind.
 Some men conceal their troubles in their breasts as the Spartan boy did the fox an diet it gnaw there, but others seek confldants and so did Strong. He laid the matter before Mir. Stokes, his quartermaster. and asked his advice. l MT. Stokes listened sympatheticaIly. He was not a Blue Ribboner and he had sailed a number of years with Captain Mackay.
 ''The pint of the thing is that Mackay didn't see you drinking hanything. so he can't swear you were drunk. Wertigo's the word for this mix," remarked the old | man. coolly.
 ''Vertigo?" exclaimed Captain Strong.
 ''Yes. vertigo. men stagger haWful when they have 1t and it's common complaint"
 T don't want to lie about it," objected Captain Strong.
 There's times when lying must be | done,' said MT. Stokes with firmness, | "and there is one of them"
 The bewildered captain considered the situation without committing himself to Mir. Stokes's expedient.
 When the Talisman entered the Tyne it was too late to dock. so she dropped her anchors in the stream. Captain Strong did not go ashore. Newcastle had no charms for him. To be coldly received by Doris was a blow from which he re. coiled and efelt sure. strong-minded, enthusiastic girl as she was, that his weakness would be bitterly resented. He simply turned in and dreamed depress- ing dreams.
 In the morning he started for the of- flee to report his arrival and on the way came face to face with Doris. She Nac. knowledged his salutatiOn Coldlx pd