Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-10-07
COSTLY ATTENDANCE
IorigInall

l was standing on the quarter deck
(this was before the time of bridges
aboard ship, working out of New York
harbor, when man came up the COM
panion way, looked wildly about him
and gasped in establishment.
"Well, my man." | sang out, whats
the matter?'
81 don't know" he said. "How did
I get aboard this ship?"
"You probably skulked aboard, but
you won't skulk now you've got aboard
You'll work your passage"
You see, we had SO much of this sort
of deadbeat that we'd got tired of il
and didn't propose to be humbugged
The man was well dressed-in fact, too
well dressed to make a sailor of or for
him TO stand heaving coal into the fur
naees. looked him over and made up
my mind to make a cabin boy of him.
Now, see here" | said; sit is too late
to put you ashore. You know that or
you wouldn't have shown yourself till
later. I've got to take you to Liver
pool You go to the head steward and
tell him to get what he can out of you
While was speaking the man seem
ed to be trying to recall something,
Then he thrust his hands into his trou.
sers pocket, then into all the rest of
his pockets, evidently looking for mon
ey. Then he turned to me and said:
Put me ashore"
"Put you ashore? | would without
I your asking if could I've got the
mails ON board, and l daren't lose an
hour"
was watching him like cat and
felt sure he was playing the emotions
that would be expected of him unde.
the circumstances
what am to do, captainT
"Do what l told you to do-go to thu
head steward for work"
He disappeared from above the com
panionway, and I heard nothing NOR.
of him till l went to my cabin, whera
found protest drawn up in lega
form against my taking him to Liver,
pool and demanding to be put ashore
At first l was staggered, but I'd seer
many a sharper dodge than that, and
dSSullltu tuaL tlt DAOuSit tlt
paper aboard with him. paid no at
tention to it and in few days forgot
all about the fellow, till one day he
appeared in the saloon, where l was
at dinner. and handed me a plate o.
soup.
used to waiting on table," asked.
+. "Oh, yes"
'y.here have you done any waiting"
"Summers-hotels."
Like it!'
ITS the easiest job you could have
given me. but it II be ather expensive
for you before my bill is paid"
What do you mean?'
II mean that every time l hand you
plate of soup it II cost your company
81 600
smiled good humoredly, being quite
amused at the mans gall" 1t was
evident he was trying to bluff me into
giving him first class passage out
and home again. Still the next morn
ing l awoke before daylight and got
to thinking about the fellow till | be-
gan to be worried. Caution said treat
him as if you believed him. You'll lose
nothing. Whereas if you don't and he's
all right he may make trouble for you.
But the matter had gone too far for
me to retreat. and took no action.
On the return trip, the second morn
ing out, who should I see on deck,
dressed in jaunty English suit, puff
ing good cigar, but my shanghaied
man.
Good morning, captain" he said.
what II be the run todayT
l looked at him pretty steadily for
moment, then turned on my heel and
went to the purser, who told me the
man was down on the list as Nelson
Brentwood of New York. 1 began to
fear l was in for trouble.
Just before we reached New York,
going into my cabin one morning, l
saw on my bunk paper. 1 opened it
and read:
THE - STEAMSHIP co.
To Nelson Brentwood. DIR.
Handing the captain five plates of
soup Observation-Disclosures. SoOVu
Other services as cabin boy.......... 5000
Loss of time ...................... 1000
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $oO0Oo
l began to quake. I'd carried off
some one, or, rather, some one had
got himself carried Off to get up a law
suit to bleed the company. However,
there would be no use now paying any
attention to the matter. l ignored 1t,
though confess it bothered me.
Soon after We were locked I was
called on by the agent for a statement