Evening star., 1904-01-23
PARTON THRUST PRECIOUS PACKAGES HOLES.

he had evidently started, but sat down
somewhat suddenly on stanchion. Parton
wanted to inquire about his ailment, but
there was something in the old mans face
that kept him from doing so. 1t was easy
to see that he was already ashamed of hav-
ing called him from the cabin. He seemed
to be embarrassed by the thought that he
had shown unmanly weakness, and wished
to atone for it in some way-to wish to be
more than unusually jolly and light hearted
as penance for the moment or two of al
most tragic apprehension which had shown
on his face.
Eyes. SIR" said the captain from his seat
upon the Stanchion. II wasn't in no par
ticlar hurry for you to come up, but 1
trought that you might want to see how
the patent log works.
In substantiation of this he held out what
he had In his hand. 1t was a brass con-
trivance which looked like a small model
of the propeller Of ship. with, above it, a
small brass cylinder with hand like that
OF a watch and a series of figures in a
circle on a dial inclosed under glass on if
Parton could scarcely believe that the anx-
1ety of the captain for him to come on deck
had been due wholly to a desire to have
him observe the workings of the patent
Jog; put made no comment for fear that he
might worry the old man by so doing
The captain, however did not seem to he
especially anxious to test the speed of the
Lydia at once, but sat for some time On
the stanchlon- 1t occurred once or twice
~ al 'oii tiidt tIllS was as mucn because
OF physical weakness as anything else. and
ne watched him closely The color had
slowly come back to his cheeks, and his
hands. which had been somewhat trem-
ulous. were steady again.
Suddenly the captain lurched forward TO-
ward hln1-they were at the after raiI-and
Parton put out his arms barely in time to
prevent him from falling to the deck This
part to take Parton's solicitude iii. He
grasped the young mans arms at first, and
then went close to the rail and gripped it
with both hands. Again and again he
passed his hands across his upper face. al
ways letting the fingers linger in a hard
pressure just above the right eye
by John Quincy Adams!' he said, with
a strange wandering look in his eyes by
John Quincy Adams-that's the funniest
feelin.'
What is it. captain?" asked Parton, anx-
iously.
''Oh, guess it amt much" said the cap
tam. Seems like kind of concentrated
an glorfied essence o some o. tn worst
phases of seasickness You know how
dizzy you was when you was seaslck? Well.
multiply that by ten an carry one an
you've got about what ! was then. But it
don't last long. Still. I'm glad them dr.
monds of yours Is hid. Did you git 'em put
away all right?"
Yes" said Parton. still regarding him
anxiously. Shall 1 tell you where they
are. captain?"
Not if I was a-dyin' for the need o.
news said the captain. They're hid.
That's all | want to know. l want 'em to
be Jest as we'll hid from me as from any
body else.
He had gradually recovered from his at
tack of dizziness. and sat down on a coil
o. rope.
II didn't RELY git you back here to show
you my patent log" he said. II reckon YOU
! know that I got you back here to have
! you tell me what you've just told me; and
| tell YOU that 1t takes weight off my mind
| to hear YOU say it. Now f you've got EN-
| hid. you're feclin' pretty conf table YOUR.
| self, amt you?'
Very" said Parton.
The captain erinned weakly.
That's good" said he. I'm allus glad
| to have tn folks on my ship feel COM
| f'table."
Parton was about to say something in
| reply when he was again alarmed by a
! quick change in the expression of the
captains face Again the old mans hand
movement. up to his forehead, where he
| gently rubbed the skin on the right side
1t was fully minute before he smoke
again. The strange look of Indefinite
mental worry which accompa the
rubbing of his forehead was. II seemed
| to Parton. even more acute than 1t had
been on either of the other occasions.
Parton did not for moment suspect
the nature of the very serious trouble OF
which the gesture was prophetic; but he
was full OF sympathy for the honest man
who showed distress by means of it. The
memory of the captains outbreak when
he had once before expressed sympathy
for him prevented him. however. from
saying anything about 1t. He thought
that the captain looked at him gratefully
for a moment in recognition of this for
bearance. but of that he was not certain
The captain turned toward him for a
moment with forced smile on his lips
and then let his eyes slowly wander out
J over the foaming wake OF the ship. which