Evening star., 1904-01-23

smaller vessels would be certain to have no
medical man on board. Thus Parton be-
came convinced that nothing more could be
done for his old friend until the Lydia
reached port.
1t was just after conversation on this
subject that the mate really showed his
hand. He was walking with Parton aft of
the wheel, sometimes pausing to gaze over
the after rail and watch the gently whirl-
ing water as 1t was sucked under the ves-
sefs clean-cut quarters in the lazy whirl
of her wake. Suddenly he Strengthened up
and fixed his eyes firmly and for moment
unf1inchingly on Parton's.
Now. see here-Mr.-Mr. Carter" he
SAID, with that unpleasant grin which had
angered Parton several times before II
think that you and had better come to an
understanding. OF course, when the-when
the old man was all right, you know, you
didnt really have to take me into account
but now, you've got to. don't know how
much you were to give him for getting you
safe ashore in the states but know now
tnat you won't have to give him anything
because he won't be in condition to force
Parton was at first amazed and then an
gered He was much too angry to be wor-
rieo. All his fear went out of him with
ene growth of a hot indignation. He went
d step nearer to the mate. and he looked
MIN steadily In the eyes as long as the
other could face the stare. and after the
mate mad lowered his eyes he stared at the
lids which hid them
t,nd,,. r1rst . OF all" he said. very slowly and
.lnctiy' nave some other things to talk to
you ABOUT. want to tell you that you are
cur. That Is one of the things You are
~, q cur and you know that you are a cur.
,.,ne ane cap.ain knew that you were a cur and
was sorry that necessity forced him to have
you san on his ship. He told me SO before
we had been three days out of London. Yeu
nave ours reputation among sailor men
heva he .oia d1h me; can readily believe it. You
Inc mate had leaned back against the
snip ran, but as Parton paused he started
Forward with his fists clenched. But in a
moment the fingers which had been tightly
closed in great knots, SLOWLY rela xed. The
race which had been tense and drawn with
passion slowly changed it's expression to
one even less admirable but far from de-
liant nant' the voice which had been harsh and
oHGI IpeaIing became somewhat propitiat tory,
spoke. oA' do Ae
Well said he. there's no use of row.
ing over II. what ask of you is very rea-
Sohaple and you ought to be id glad that
am reasonable. Perhaps l haven't put It
very Well, but you know that l am a rough
man ana spoke roughly, suppose There
an tia no use or your flying at me like a
tlser suppose that we fellows who spend
our nves at sea do git rough in our way of
talking "' "
AS remember what has been said" said
;. nat.on not raising his voice at all, but still
USED the rough language. l will add some
tlns. You are not only cur, but you are a
coward. will go even little farther still
iou are not only cur and a coward, but
you are thief-or would be If you had
nerve enough to steal. What you lack is
the courage of the pickBocket You thought
that mad something valuable in my pos
session When I! came on board, and you
nave ransacked my bunk in trying to find
IT, so that you might steal it; but there has
Deen nothing there. You are a cur a cow
ara and thief. AS a cur and a coward
you are successful. No one could be more
co"ardly or more cur. AS a thief how
ever. you have failed. because you could
not md what you wanted to steal'
FOR an instant the mate paused, as IL
dazeo py the temerity Of the young English
man. Then he clenched his fists again and
started forward with the look of devil on
his face ' VA
"You-you-you," he said, almost fnarticu-
iate from rage. But that was all he said
clenched fists had loosened in south Africa
when the CLEAN that there was there now
mad come into Parton's eyes, and when
tnelr owners had noted the ironlike rigidity
OF tne muscles which controlled Parton's
face, holding 1t in a hard angular fixe5
expression Of real hatred
for Few seconds only the mate tried
10 answer eye with eye. Then his face
Droke weakly up into what he desperately
tried to make a contemptuous smile. but
which really amounted to nothing more
than a frightened and astonished contor-
tlon. He turned away and went out of the
cabin. ~ o
Parton went on deck, and for an hour
paced the ship from end to end, with
no more sign that he dreaded the mate or
anything which he might do than that he
saw fa1r women and heard wit passing.
AS the afternoon waned, he went below
again. The mate was in the cabin and was
smoking. This infuriated Parton. He paid
no heed to his nod of greeting but went
to the opposite side of the cabin table
and, quietly reaching across 1t, took the
cigar from between the officers teeth. and
tossed 1T through the open port hole
we will not smoke in the cabin Mr..
Brown he said briefly and calmly. II
fancy that the captain will want all the
air that he can get. If you want to smoke
smoke on dech If tomorrow Is a fine day
shall have the captain taken I'D there
where the breeze may freshen him up
bit" P
The mate said absolutely nothing. For a
moment he sat at the table, breathing so
heavlly that the Kissing of the air between
his lips and teeth was lounder than the
captains labored respiration. Then he rose
and went to the companionway and out
upon the deck.
Cro be continued)