Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-08-27
MR.. PERKY'S FINDING

the Dolphin, loaded and ready to sail
for Portland. Capt. Higbie had bid
den his many friends ashore some
what spirituous farewell, and his liba-
lions, together with coming from the
darkness into the lighted cabin, caused
him to blink owllshly at his mate and
stranger.
This is Mr.. Perky" said the mate,
hes going with us to Portland as a.
passenger"
GAY, ay," responded the Skipper,
shaking affectionately the hand Of Mr.
Perky. take the port stateroom, my
lad"
"You see, captain" said Mr.. Perky,
confdentially," I'm leaving Baltimore
kind O. sudden because I'm afraid
might be taken back"
Capt. Higbie became interested
police matter?" he asked.
"No. It isn't" replied Mr. Perky. with
decision, 1--WE been boarding with the
widow Manship and she's made up her
mind that I am to marry her. Now,
don't want to marry her nor any other
woman and won't" Here Mr.. Perky
spoke In decided tones. But, you don't
know Mrs. Manship She gets terribly
set on a thing. and IL | stayed in Bal
timore she'd marry me sure. If she
knew was on this schooner she'd take
me off of her"
IF you keep under hatches," re-
marked the mate" you'll be all safe"
II wouldn't feel safe from her IL was
sitting on top Of the North Pole" re-
torted Mr. Perky, gloomily.
The Dolphin was two days getting
down TO Hampton Roads and then
boat put off from shore and hailed her.
A tall bony woman scaled the ladder
easily and walked to the quarter deck
rs this hyar schooner the Dolphin?"
she asked.
Eyes, num-" replied the mate.
Then tell Mr.. Perky to get ready to
go ashore with me-"
"You are Mrs. Manship?" inquired
the mate.
81 am" replied the lady. "Tell Mr.
Perky to hurry and hurry little
yourself"
The mate called down into the cabin
where the skipper and Mr.. Perky were
eating breakfast, that Mrs. Manship
had come for him.
Save me, captain" cried Mr.. Perky.
81 knew she'd come after me-"
'Pish," said the captain, "I'll send
her off under full sail. What | don't
know about managing women has got
to be learned"
81 can't let Mr. Perky 60" said the
skipper to Mrs. Manship. ''I've obli-
gated myself to deliver him at Portland,
and to Portland he goes"
WELL" remarked Mrs. Manship." Of
course If wanted him to go ashore
I'd take him, but | kind of like the sea.
My first husband was sailor and was
lost. ] haven't heard from him for
Ave years. III go to Portland. too.
Make out your bill for the passage
money"
ST can't" began the skipper.
81 don't care whether you can or
can't" said Mrs. Manship. coolly, I'm
going. Boy" she called to the darkey
in the boat, "hand up my bag and go
home"
Then she called down the cabin
stairs, Come up, Hiram"
The next morning Mr.. Perky asked
the captain to give him Job.
81 haven't any Job to give you" said
the skipper. You're a passenger. and
we're fully manned"
81 want to sit on those cross sticks
and try to discover something" in
sisted Mr.. Perky, pointing to the cross
trees.
What could you discover" asked
the skipper.
ooh. wrecks. rocks or icebergs" said
Mr.. Perky.
With the assent of the skipper Mr..
Perky climbed up to the cross-trees and
sat there. When breakfast was ready
he declined coming down. urging that
a discovery was imminent. He lowered
two tin pals with which he had pro-
vided himself and hauled up some cof-
fee and provisions.
Mrs. Manship seemed surprised at MIR.
Perky's occupation but contented her
self with sitting on the hatch and
watching him.
Then Mr.. Perky hallooed that he had
discovered something. 1t looked like
a man tied to a plank.
by gum" exclaimed the skipper.
looking through his glass, at is man
clinging to a plank"
The schooner was put about and the
castaway rescued. He declared he had
fallen from a ship and by accident
found a drifting plank to cling to. Gu
riosity brought Mrs. Manship from the
hatch and she glanced at the rescued
man, then she screamed.
my fong lost Ezra. I've mourned
you for dead"
my lost husband" she said to the
skipper as she embraced the castaway.
Mr.. Perky now descended from his
perch and Joined them.
That's the man who discovered
you." said the skipper, pointing to Mr..
Perky.
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