Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-01-23


a breath of you for the last six years
or more"
Dick Corbett laughed recklessly, and
looked at his one-time chum, Michael
Fenwick, mas the latter thought
peculiarly defiant way.
mo; they haven't; but, as that is
my business, and not anybody's, just
be content, my son, to know that I've
been 'sailoring' in nearly every sea,
and that now I'm chief mate OF the
fastest little fruit steam tramp that
trades between Liverpool and the Span
ish ports"
"Have you vacancy for forrad
hand'?"
'sWho for-for you Why!-what's
pretty little Kitty about that she's let
ting you go TO sea?''
Never mind Kitty, Dick,-Tm go
ing to sea again, because things have
been q bit rough round about Tats
Corner lately.
He spoke as if any reference to his
sweetheart by the other was distaste-
| full to him; for he clearly saw that
Dick Corbett, since he had seen him
last, was changed, and for the worse;
he was no longer the good fellow"
of old days.
For the moment Dick was inclined
to resent Michael Fenwick's evident
Discrimination to bring Kitty Hazelrs
name into the conversation. but think
| ing better of it, he brought his hand
suddenly down upon Michaeis shout
der
Look here, old chap!" he said. with
show of good-natured frankness that
quite deceived the other. Il don't
want to poke my nose into your love
affairs; I've lived out my soft side, and
don't care a 'rope-yarn-end' for the
trimmest petticoat that walks the
earth. If you want a berth on the Erl
King you can have tim going aboard
now; come along, and you can sign
on, and finish the business"
The two men were standing by the
high wall which bounds the Albert
dock, and but few yards from the
dock gates.
when do you sail?" asked Michael,
as he went up the Fri Kings gang
way.
DAY after tomorrow" returned the
mate over his shoulder.
Thine enough to send letter to
Tat's Corner and get reply"
Eyes," muttered Dick Corbett as he
unlocked the door of his cabin in the
alleyway opposite the engine room
hatch.
"You can write your letter here he
continued, before you sign on. After
that, for the sake of discipline, l can't
say anything to you much in the day
time-but at night, middle watch some
times, we'll have chance for pa
laver'"
Michael Fenwick's letter was to Kit
| ty Hazel. 1t was not long one; just
saying that "she must not think bad
! " of him for leaving her in this way,
and that an unexpected meeting with
Dick Corbett had made things easier
and the future more hopeful
He was addressing the envelope,
when Dick, who had left him for 10
minutes, returned.
The mates eyes cleaned yiciously
as he caught sight of the superscrip-
ton over the others shoulder.
"Shall post it for your" he said.
mo Dick-or, Mr. Corbett, / sup
pose l ought to say-no thanks. I've
got to go after my buds to the board
ing house."
The other tried hard not to appear
disappointed, and so far succeeded as
] to awaken no suspicion in Michaers
mind of any desire to tamper with the
letter.
The new A. 3. then signed on;
agreed to be on board the following
afternoon and left the ship.
Had he but turned around as he
went down the gangway he would not
have failed to see such an expression
on Dick Corbett's face as the latter
stood watching, with his arms on the
rail, as would have set him thinking
that the easiness of things, and the
hopefulness of the future, were not
quite so substantial as they appeared
to be.
So he posted the letter in the first
1 pillar box and the play went on.
Tat's Corner was a quaint little old
world fishing village on the west coast,
where, seven years before, Dick Cor
bett and Michael Fenwick idled as in
separable cronies.
Kitty Hazel then a girl of 16 only,
was pretty and sweet enough to turn
the heads of more than one young fell
low in the place. But from the first,
Michael made the running.
One thing he did not know; that his
| friend was, behind his back. schem-
ing to supplant him in Kitty's affec-.
tions; using as his principal tool the
| girls own father, Joshua HAZEL; the
kdrunkenest fisherman in all the fleet
that sailed out of the little harbor of
Tat's Corner
Kitty's would-be lover played upon
the old fisherman's weakness to such
an extent that in short time things
seemed ripe for a declaration on his
-Corbett's part.
Fortunately, however. for Michael
and his sweetheart, though disastrous
ly for old Joshua, a storm, that swept
the whole of the west coast, was the
means Of defeating, for the time being.
at any rate, Dick Corbett's mean and
dastardly betrayal of his friend.
| Old HAZEL, with many another deep
sea fisherman. was drowned, almost
! within sight of land.
| In him Corbett lost the only ally who
could have influenced Kitty; though
she herself declares today, that not
| even her father could have shaken her
faith in Michael Fenwick
| Hard times then came to Kitty, and
at the date Of Dick Corbett's disap-
| pearance, she was earning scanty
living as one of the many net-mem-
bers Of the fishing feet.