The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-30
Vital y lin n lvhlvILf Romance.
By PHILIP LITTLE Copyright by Author.

marks are all registered ana CANNOT DO
mistaken"
"woud 1t mako much difference II you
could not be identihed2''
ut might some day."
"Ah. / eee."
"See what7'
'srhere is some mystery about you
You do not care to speak about 1t,
suppose" So,
mystery It is not great one, captain,
but 1t is rather painful subject 10 me
at present"
II ask your pardon. I am u rough
| chap, and / have been 80 long at sea
| that a small thing like that Interested
me. I had no desire to pry into your
| private concerns"
"That is all right, captain. ! do not
blame you. Perhaps some day. IL we
| If we do not, L doubt II shall be found
| to be identified"
"strange things happen In this life,
| Mr.. Jennings, and the moro YOU travel
| over the world the smaller you will find
| that 1t Is. We will hope for the best.
| I must go on deck and see II there has
been any change" He wrapped heavy
oilstin around his body and clanbered
up the narrow companionway.
Ralph Jennings remained seated after
the other had left him, his hands rest
ing idly upon his knees.
1.-THE old chap is right" he said. half
aloud. we must hope for the best"
He made his way to the other end OF
the cabin and took a largo handbag
from one OF the hunks. Opening this.
he produced several papers. together
with some Bank of England notes, all
Of which he carefully folded in az small
space as possible. Again he dlved into
! ~ ~ M h,1,, "a oh a MIR
oilskin. needle and ball OF pack
thread. with deft fingers he construct
| ed a bag, into which he inserted the
bundle Of papers and notes, and then.
sewing 1t UP carefully, made strong
bit of twtne fast to the two corners.
buttoned his flannel shirt, tucked 1t
carefully away in his bosom.
'~Therel" he exclaimed "at least II 1
get ashore have something to fall
back upon, and If my body is found
they will know what to do. think
that I will follow old Rivers ON deck
and sec what there Is to be scent"
He slung the bag back into the bunk
and balancing himself as the cabin floor
rose and fell with the lurching and toss
ing of the ship. he managed to get into
a macintosh and made his way after
the skipper, only moro slowly, and not
without being thrown against the BULK
|
| At last he stuck his head above the
hatchway and the force OF the wind at
once became apparent.
| "Phewl' he exclaimed 1T will blow
my hair off I do not wonder that the
old man carries no sail. Any canvas
would be blown gally west by this wind"
| by the light OF the pinnacle he could
see two figures crouched on the dock
near to the wheel. He made no at
tempt to go to them, and soon saw
that one was crawling toward him on
the wet and slippery deck.
It was Rivers.
blowing like - he yelled into
Jennings ear.
Tho latter wondered It 1t always blew
at this rate in the place mentioned. and
wanted to say that it must be forced
draft II such was the case. but the
bowling Of the wind made all conyersa-
| ton impossible, unless 1t came from
widwnrd position. such as that held by
the captain. He therefore said nothing,
but simply nodded his head.
It was, as the skipper had said. as
dark as a pocket. Except where the
light of the pinnacle shone family and
the feeble rays OF the cabin lantern
made their way UP through the COM
panonway, not a thing was to be seen;
The darkness was palpable; IT couio
be felt, not seen.
After sitting in silence for Willie,
Rivers again leaned over and said:
go below; will follow you.
Jennings started down, but heavy
roll and lurch Of the ship tore his
hands from the companion rail and ne
| landed In a heap upon the floor below
Picking himself up. he staggered into
the cabin and sat. or rather. was sat
down upon one of the transoms at the
side.
The captain followed him more care
fully.
wishes" said the young man, laughing.
"You show good pluck. Just the same,
SIR"
Flow so?"
"Why. for a green hand to make as
| little fuss as you do upon night IKE
| this, shows that he has good stuff In
him. You should be sailor. not lands
man"
the British navy" and then he stopped
| suddenly He had not intended to say
nm ything about his family. "Pshaw!" he
said to himself, what ODDS does 1t
make anyway? This Yankee skipper
knows none of my people. 1t can 40
| no HARM
"Hnmph! Well. that accounts for 1T,
"You think that It. runs In the blood g
ut does In yours, my boy
| 81 need it tonight, but do not know
what particular good 1t will DO mo-
| ut does me a great deal OF good, Mr..
/ Jennings. II we get into a tight box
know that I have no coward with me.
mt any rate"
"Thank you. captain. but It Is hardly
necessary that man should have
grandfather as an admiral to keep him
| from being that"
rYou mean that towards are horn. not
made?" replied Rivers, nnconsciously par
| aphrasing famous saying.
| Jennings looked at him keenly,
"This chap has more brains than gave
him credit for" he said to himself Then
aloud, he added:
"That depends upon what kind of a
coward you mean. There is the mental,
moral and physical coward" He Won
dered II he was getting beyond the 9TH
er's depth but anything was relief. he
| thought, under the circumstances
you have the advantage over me In
education, Mr.. Jennings, hut yours is
| the education of books; mine Is that OF