The San Francisco call., 1906-10-07
A Flesh-and-Blood Hero.

The Story of Martin Coe," by Ralph
d. Paine, is a rafting good yarn of a
young filibuster and deserter from the
United States navy. who is regenerated
by the affection of an elderly spinster
and the love of a young girl in a Maine
village. IL is such a weli-told tale that
II Stevenson or Conrad had written it
the critics would kowtow, as they
surely viii to Mr. Paine if he retains
his present power OF narration.
Martin Coe is a man to tie to in all
weathers, with an absolute loyalty to
his pals and to his duty as he sees it
fesh-and-blood young American
sailor. He deserted from the navy
simply because the life was too tame
for him in the piping time of peace
preceding orr spat with Spain He was
simply moving on TO get action. and in
war he would have stood by Old Glory
to the finish
There was something doing" in
carrying arms and ammunition to the
insurgents at Salgada, easily identified
as Cuba, and the opening chapter finds
him commanding stout tug loaded to
the matches with lighting material She
strikes reef, and the disaster is de-
scribed with a yividness that is only
eqHaled by Conrad's treatment of a
similar subject in Youth After a
fearful fight with the elements only
Martin survives. and with his bag of
gold he is picked up and carried to
Portland, Maine, by stout ship. There
his adventures ashore begin and they
turn out to be equally interesting, IL
less thrilling. than his battle with the
briny.
Fearing detection as a deserter. he
visits pawnshop to obtain necessary
clothing in exchange for some of his
foreign coins and there encounters a
delightfully."- quaint old spinster school
marin, who is shrinkingly trying to
borrow money on her family siivefware.
In his blundering. sailorman fashion she
endesyors to help without embarrass-
ing her. and the scene is charmingIy
described. His very uncouthness
fascinates her into telling him what
diplomacy could never have ELECTED
frona her-that she is pecuniarily dis
tressed and came all the way from
North Pennacock TO Portland to raise
funds. AS she tells him about North
Pennacock and its people he decides
that it is the place for him to seek
retirement, and he offers to accompany
her back there She protests, but he
insists--and wins. HIS innocent and
wholly sweet friendship is terribly dis
tressing to her.
What would the village, what
would sister Emily, what would the
Lone Pupil think of this picaroon of
a friend for whom the mistress OF
the Select School for Young Ladies
must stand forth as social sponsor?
She was torn two ways, md while she
stroye to see her duty clear. Martin
sought craftily to clinch his argument
with q proposal even more astounding
than the first:
Don't be in hurry, maam I cer-
tainly do admire the way you sling
the English language. Now, Ina shy
on elegant accomplishments and a
man of my wealth ought to annex
few of 'en If they're in the market.
can read and write, but that about
let's me out II ever I'm going to put
any polish on, it's now or never, while
the Svar-chest is full. I'd like nothing
better than to buy few lines of Sc
lect education from you. Not along
side the Lone Pupil. not in her game
at all. I've got a little more horse
sense than you think. 1t wouldn't do