New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
By w. w. Jacobs.

nIte nut ioOk aaS at gs oq hf In frgg% won't Ike in
II want to explain the position of affairs to
zingall what was aboard last night7' '''
- Little Ia dirty looking man what kept staring at
the well snna don't @ knqw about Is being dirty" said
..E1a "Eh' sal said the mate sharply; ,-. ,.,,--
Now keep quite calm, You say you're Benjamin
sad the mates Let &Gn 1 hear anybody
say .!y as amt
age s6G fad tdFy ths s6% Rha
you were George Smith the mate but my friend
captain Aingali. mesner1zed you and made you
think you were me-"
You've. You've been drinking; you've been up to my
Cali the crew up and ask 'em then." said Bradd.
Call 'em up yourself. you lunatio." said the
anybody dares TO play the fool with me I won't
In o5edience to the e SUMMONS ns Of Captain Bradd
the the crew came up and. being requested by him 70
was at present laboring under delusion, stood
silently nudginS each other and eyeing him
Well, said the latter. at length. why don't
BBS9 speak and tell George he's gone off his cad
ut amt nothing to do with US. SIR" said Bill.
But damn It all, man. said the mate, taking
co. course I do. STR" said Bill.
ing him. and turning 70 the frantic ,Bradd; you
Either you've NS See Gf T you sa Listen to % m
gone a nttle bit of. You go down and turn in.
sna ri O9 oveGddk G for me s aay of your
He ordered the crew forward again. and. being
destrous OF leaving some permanent mark OF his
command NM on & the ship had the galley fresh painted
had vainlY condemned when mate. thrown over
obard: The skipper stood by helplessly while it
and turned in being the only way to retain his
m e G af sny 5 At the f Pnfs OF head which
Time instead OF restoring the mate 20 his senses.
skipper after another attempt to convince him
let things drift. resolving to have him put under
They reached Tidescroft in the early afternoon
but before they entered the harbor the mate. as
would be his last command, called the to him
@ when s % and f He Taq9d qPSd them
Of PUBLIC houses and other dangers and reminded
fathers Away5 81 go home to % y9Tr wife and fh
f6 said tsg ssdk BIZ He sar@s
the cap'n's. Don't you see he's the cap'n. now?"
the sRipper1a perfect Othello in his way"was as
awful. He paced the deck necessarily. casting
touched the side of the quay sPrsng on to the bul,
warks and jumped ashore The mate watched
made the vessel snug, went below to strengthen
be srdwMng scene Of his py He on deck
again, and, taking no heed of the whispers of the
Meantime Captain Bradd had reached his house
isbed "sS SPOUSE She pooh7poohed the idea Of the
police and the medical faculty being likely to
cause complications with the owners. and. despite
the remonstrances of her husband. insisted upon
facing mate alone.
Now, you go in the Kitchen she said. looking
from the window. Here he comes. You see how
I'll settle him.
The skipper looked out Of the window and saw
the unhappy victim of Captain Ztngal slowly ap-
preaching. HIS wife drew him away, and, despite
his remOnstranCes, pushed him into the next room
and closed the door
She sat on the sofa calmly sewing, as the mate.
whose hardihoOd rapidly failing him. entered
coming sheepshly in, he took chair.
I've come home he said at last
so I see. Ben said Mrs. Bradd. calmly.
He's told her said the mate to himself.
Children all right?" he inquired, after another
yes" said Mrs. Bradd simply. Little Joe's
boots are almost OFF his feet, though.
All" said the mate. blankly.
I've been waiting for you 10 come. Ben said
Mrs Bradd. after pause. Il want you 10 change
a fve-pound note Uncle Dick gave me-
Cant do it, said the mate. briefly. The alb
sence of Captain Bradd disduieting a bash
full man in such position. and he had looked for
ward to stormy scene which was to bring him
his senses again.
Show me what you've got" said Mrs. Bradd
les ming forward
The mate pulled out an old leather purse and
counted the contents, two pounds and a little sill
There isn't five pounds there" said Mrs. Bradd
but l may as well take last weeks housekeeping
while you've got 1t out
Before the mate could prevent her she had taken
the two pounds and put il in her pocket. He
looked at her placid face in amazement. but she
met his gaze calmly and drummed on the table
with her thimbe.
mo. no. ! want the money myself" said the
mate at last He put his hands to mis- head and
began to prepare for the grand transformation