Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23

I, the first mate repeating the operation with thu
7 others.
; "Will you sit down, Emery Barnace?" said his
wife angrily.
at would be breach of good manners | could
not lower myself to commit, Martha. When you
and Mr. 'Eavytop are seated shall be appy to
| accommodate myself on an umble STOOL
'It's the eat" whispered the first mate to
the exasperated Mrs. Barnace. Ell be all
right in an hour or two"
But on the contrary the captain seemed to
get worse, until at last Mr.. Heavytop conhded
| TO Mrs Barnacle that her husband was suffering
! from mania.
Jest listen to i'm, ma'am," he said, and from
the deck came the captains voice:
"Mr. Amilton," this being the deckboy afore-
said "Mr. Amilton, should l be a-takn ad-
vantage of your generous nature If ! was to ask
YOU to wash them platters cleaner, and not to
leave broom the stairs for me to fall over,
as I was in danger of seriously urting myself
this morning? Thank you Mr.. 'Amilton, l am
very much obliged to you, sir"
"The mans mad" gasped Mrs. Barnacle, and
Mr.. Heavytop nodded gravey.
''T'm afraid so. ma'am; I'm afraid so, but we
must ope, Mrs. Barnacle, we must ope Tor the
best I don't think | should distress myself If
/ was YOU"
Distress myself, indeed" snorted the lady,
"Tl do no such thing, Mr.. Eavytop, but LII
Barnace."
"'Ow am getting on, Halfred?" said the cap
tain little later when they were seated IN his
cabin.
"Bee-yutiful, cap'nt, couldn't be better; but
don't overdo it, or Mrs. Barnacle II twg.
Three days passed, and still the captain per-
sisted in his weird conduct until on the morning
of the fourth day he did foolish thing. In the
midst of his overwhelming poteness, during the
momentary absence of Mrs. Barnacle, he induged
in a portentous wink but, unfortunately his
better half returned at the very moment he was
giving vent to his humor.
The mouth of the good lady hardened and set
in a straight line. There was ominous glitter
in her eye: she said not a word, but fixed the
captain and his mate with an awful look
"Ive heard from them, Mr., 'Eavytop," she
said suddenly with meaning look at the cap
tain.
''Heard from. them-heard from who, ma a'am?"
asked the first mate in wonder.
'The Asylum Board" snapped Mrs Barnacle.
"The wh-a-a-t?' gasped Mr.. Heavytop, while
the captain groaned, and would have collapsed
but for the restraining hand of his mate.
"The Asylum Board repeated the lady, 81
wrote them yesterday asking them to send and
take charge of my 'usband, who 'ad mania, and
this morning L received a reply sayin' as two
men would be aboard the barge at 10 o'clock
and it's now five minutes to-"
Martina, IL S all mistake, groaheu captain
Barnacle 81 amt blthering idiot; it was a
bit O. fun l was 'avn with you. I'm as sane
as you are, and a sight more than some people
1 know" said he whitening Mr.. Heavytop with
glance
TITS very sad, Mr.. 'Eavytop, amt it. that
Emery should be took so sudden-cut off in the
prime of his facilities, to speak"
Mr.. Heavytop mopped his face and gazed with
awe-stricken eyes first at the captain and then
at Mrs. Barnacle.
"At any rate continued the lady, "the poor
dear II be well looked after now, won't e. Mr.
Eavytop?"
The first mate nodded weakly.
Then the captain swore Justify, and politeness
forgotten.
81 tell ye, ye're making fool of yourself, Mar
tha," he stormed