Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-01-13
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
PRESUMPTION

They presume" said the Captain.
I've seen them in many parts of the
world, and they presume" We were
talking OF women.
| had made his acquaintance casually
on the quay at Novoe Port just below
st. Petersburg, and he had invited me
on board for final smoke and drink
before turning into my cabin on the ad.
jacent ship. The Captain had ample
quarters below. The cabin was, per.
haps. thirty feet long. with table run.
ming down the middle and cubicles
Ranking II. For this was one of the
steamers that hesitated between car
90 and passengers. The cargo won, and
this saloon, which Is now the Captains
cabin, wherein he usually sits alone, Is
the only reminder of the contest. At
one end of the long table the whiskey
was placed by respectful boy: the
Captain, from one of the side cubicles,
had brought box of cigars. Now he
leaned back in his swivel chair. blue.
eyed. with a white beard close cropped
and the unmistakable air of authority
that every sea captain acquires when
he is on his own ship. And as he
twisted his cigar in his mouth he re.
peated that they presumed.
Il was thinking OF the last time
came to Petersburg" he said There
was an instance. You know these
steamers often bring over small par.
| Rnlg (thfi let L.,
tween Petersburg and London-own.
ers' friends, you see. II saves postage
and packing, and all that. Well. I'd
made out TO clear from Millwall Dock
at / In the morning, and there was
matter of half a dozen little things
that had come down from the shipping
office that I'd slowed in one OF these
cabins. Just about when we'd made
the More Lightship. early on Sunday
morning. left the bridge and came
down for wash, and there on the ia
BILE, just where your glass is, was big
package--a sort of box. II had a name
on II, Mrs. Fleetwood. st. Petersburg.
To be called for That was the first
I'd seen of II. And when I made in.
quiries, the only thing I could find out
was that some one had brought It on
board at the last moment. The right
thing to do would be to pitch It into
the North Sea. But II struck me that
II might be some friend of the owners
that I'd never heard of, so I gave or
ders for the box to be slowed in the
cor OF the saloon. over there, where
could keep an eye on Il. Many a time.
as | sat In this chair watching that
box. | half determined to chuck II over.
board. I didn't see why | should be
turned into common carrier to
please Mrs. Fleetwood. whoever she
was. Besides which have a sort OF
prejudice against conveying mysteri.
Gus parcels into Russia. Well, I'm not
a nervous man, as rule; but that box
In the corner began to get on my
nerves as We came up the Baltic. and
by the time We made Cronstadt had
the box out ready to drop over the side.
wished afterward | had. But | was
nervous about keeping 1t, and nervous
about getting rid Of 1t. II you under
stand"
The Captain pushed the decanter to.
ward me, and then measured himself
another dose.
Next morning" he continued, when
we'd berthed at Novoe Port and the
steyedore had set his men to work on
the cargo, was just going to catch the
little steamer up to the Nicholas
Bridge to call on the agents. In fact, |
I'd got my foot on the quay, when a
doschky drove up alongside with a
girl A fine girl: quiet, you know, but |.
-. Well, you should have seen the |
way she told the ''vorshik' to wait
That's what we call cabmen In Russia,
you know.
81 wish to see the Captain she
said
I'm the Captain said. In what
way can serve you, madam
You have a packet for Mrs. Fleet.
wood she said
"'And suppose | have said. 4
don't know who sent 1t, and I haven't
the honor of knowing Mrs. Fleetwood. ,
Are you Mrs. FLEETWOOD
No. she said; I'm Mrs. Fleet ,
woods maid, and she wants that pack.
ct most particular
Il considered bit, and then / asked
what was in the parcel She said it
was hat and some other things, and
she blushed when she mentioned the
other things. or course | didn't be- -.
lieve that; but pretended did. and l :,
asked her how she'd drive out OF the
dock gates with a box full of dutiable
articles on the front seat of the drosch-
ky. had a reputation with the Rus.
sian customs, and wasn't going to
risk 1t for people I'd never heard Of
"Look here, said. at last, If your
mistress likes to come down and give
me proper explanations, I'd be glad to