The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-01-13
The Turn of ;
The Tide {

We were foregathercd in the twi.
ISLANDERS. the baror and /.
There was no light because the
Gas had been shut of and cur lamp
was oilless; also the hod was vita
None of us was less than two
thousand miles from home, and the
baron counted 1t, roughly, seven thou.
sand miles to his mothers house in
Prussia. II was winter. We were hun.
CRY, not very warmly clad. and with
out work or money, but-we were
young
Olaf Anders was the leading spirit
He was a pocket edition of Morse
berserker, very small of body, but with
a large round head covered with short.
crisp, bright yellow curls. His jaw
and chin were massive. his nose was
long and thin, and his eyes, cold blue,
were sometimes irresistibly merry, and
again they fairly flashed with fight.
He was strenuous youth, so full Of
Norwegian blood and energy that one
expected to see the safety valve blow
off at any time. /, He was u civil engi.
neer by education, and possessed
wonderful aptitude for mathematics.
He hailed from somewhere along the
Massachusetts coast.
AS for myself | was a poor wretch
Of newspaper reporter with nothing
to report.
One evening the baron was at the
table, playing dreamily on the either;
for, no matter what might be the
depths Of our poverty, he always
could produce most plaintive and
dainty music. Anders stood at the
window looking out upon the rain,
which had been falling relentlessly
for days. Somehow the expression of
his back impaired the impression that
he was impatient to spring at some
thing and tear 1t apart; to do some
thing,-anything except stay In the
room and starve.
See here, you fellows" he said,
wetness without, how much have we
got?"
walked to the mantel and turned
the contents of an old tobacco box
into my palm. l was not long in
counting 1t. Seventeen cents" said,
including the Canadian penny"
We'll, take the pitcher and hustle
out" ordered Anders, masterfully.
Get ten cents worth of chowder, five
of crackers. and see II you can't get
two cents worth Of coffee"
"I'll go II the baron will lend me his
Shoes" | replied.
The baron, without taking his eyes
from the ceiling or his fingers from
the strings. nodded his assent.
Hurry, then. for we're going to
have fellow in to dine with u.s."
took the water pitcher and plopped
through the mud TO fish market on
the corner, where there was hot clam
chowder on sale day and night. / per-
suaded Tony, the Italian chowder man,
to put an extra dipperful into the
pitcher. and visibly helped myself to
an especially large additional handful
of crackers for the baron's sake. In
the little shop next door, kept by a
measure Of coffee for the Canadian
penny, explaining that the baron was
going to entertain a guest. At the
mention of the baron's name. the old
dealer bowed and beamed, and chuck
led at his extravaganza. He gave me a
cheap cigar for der herr baron" with
his Fluctuations and humble service.
The cigar we afterwards broke UP and
put In the jar to exc out the tobacco.
I was complimented by Anders on my
extraordinary ability as a commissary
Now, fellows" he added, II am go.
ing down stairs to ask Feathers up to
board with us. The Gorgon told me
this morning that she was going to
turn him out, to night, because he owes
her months rent. Feathers would
have fine time out in this night 6
rain. One of you light the lamp and
get the dishes out. You'll have to
share your bed with him, Dickens >
He called me Dickens because, he said
my writings were so different"
Presently he returned with Feath
,ers.
Fellows" he said, this is Mr.
-er. don't know your name, old
chap. but we always call you 'Feath
.ers.' Each of us has name that ouI
mothers wouldn't recognize. You
won't mind will your"
Feathers smiled good-humoredly
and shook his head in negation.
I'VE want you to eat with us, II you
will" continued Anders. 1T isn't
much, but 1t fills. Now, see here!" he
exclaimed, as IL thought had come
suddenly to him, why not come VI
and roost with us? Our motto is
share and share alike. 1t cuts dowr
expenses. Sometimes we gluttonize
sometimes we don't. What each mar
earns goes into the common purse
Come,-say you will"
fancied saw tears in the eyes O
Anders guest. II am afraid hav,
not much to contribute" he said, hes
itotI oIrr