The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-11
Our Daily $bcri Story

Ing towards me and I stepped back
 into doorway so they'd pass me, TOT
 Y wasn't safe for me to have met Bates
 the way I was feeling. They were
 went into jewellers store near where
 l was standing. By and by they came
 out, Bess looking as happy as a iark
 and then thought came over me that
 turned my blood to Ice. I went into
 the shop and made out wanted to buy
 some Jewelry.
 '''what did that fellow buyr I ask
 ed, trying to seem careless; the young
 man and the girl who just went outf
 The shopman smirked.
 ""rhe old story he said: a wedding
 ring. and she had time finding one
 to fit her finger. Pretty gal, wasn't sheT
 T went out in hurry. leaving the man staring ofter me. My last sail , was blown of the yards and l was shipwrecked. It was drag out life with no good in 1t or kill myself. and. as I said, Bob. I've often thought or | it." well" I said, "did he marry herr | not that I cared a bloomin' bit for a man starving for a drink of water isn't interested in love stories, but I thought as long as he was talking ne wouldn't jump overheard.
 
 night I left Newcastle. and as I have no relatives and have never seen a Newcastle paper I've never heard, but of course he did. What did he want a wedding ring for, elser' "The woman isn't launched that I'd kill myself for or even lose a meal on account of" I said. grossly. "Tve been knocking about the world quite a bit and have seen all sorfs." said Mir. Pablo. but I've never seen eyes like she bad and never spoke to a woman since unless I was obliged to. hated to come to Europe on the Iris, only I had promised the skipper" He was looking over the port quar- ter where the blue sky came down into the blue sea.
 Bates is a sailor-man," continued Pablo. and I've hoped I'd meet him
 some day. The Lord be good to him if I do. What's that just above the horizon"
 Why" I screeched, tits a sail and bearing our way; man. we're saved. and I began to sing, ur expect croak, for my throat was dry as powder. Pablo said nothing, but kept looking over the sea as if he didn't care a bit of spun yarn If the sail saw us or mo- but I yelped. though the vessel was miles away and jerked my arms in the air frantically. The bark bore stead fly down on us and presently hailed Then she lowered boat and took us aboard. for we were too weak to row. A big broad -shou1dered man stood at
 the gangway and as Pablo set his eyes on him he uttered an awful curse whipped out his knife and made a | lunge at him. I gripped him by the shirt and held him back. My Godp' exclaimed the man, If it Iisn't Tom Holmes or his ghost. Why where've you been this fifteen years?' Its damned small matter to you where I've been," growled Pablo with | me hanging on to his shirt tail. Maybe not" replied the man. cool | ly; but there's a woman in Newcastle ! who's been waiting fifteen years for a ! man named Tom Holmes. and I think | it's a bloody big matter to her." Who's waiting for me?' croaked Pablo.
 why, Bess Devon is.''
 What are you talking about?" ask ed Pablo; didn't I see you buy the wedding ring for her"
 'Tf you had had little patience and l not flown off the handle so quick" re- ! torted Bates. you'd have found out | that Bess was helping me to run of
 with girl I loved, It was a dead
 secret and she dared, not even tell 1t
 to you. I saw you glaring at us when | we passed you in Newcastle that even- ing and when you were missing l | guessed at the whole business. We'll, Bess is waiting for you. and I don't | know how you feel about it." MT. Holmes, as I ought to call him,
 ran to Bates and flung his arms around
 him and I believe he cried, but I was | taking down tot of grog then and
 might have been mistaken. At any rate the bark was bound for Liverpool and I never saw a man SO anxious to
 get to port as Mir. Holmes, late Mir. Pablo.