The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-03-13

of that desolate land. Far or near,
there wasn't a spot Of vegetation to
be seen; only purple hills and
patches Of violet rock and long yell
low stretches of yellow sand. Hos
kins was on the bridge, and
needn't tell you Miss Price was
there, too. She was sitting In long
cane chair, dressed In white. and
looking as though she enjoyed the
heat All the time that the old man
could spare from coming the ship
and It was good deal-he put In
| talking to her.
|. George, he said to me that
night after Miss Price had turned In,
it's a sin and shame to see that
girl wasting her life on governessing.
| She ought to get married to some
| good, honest sea-captainU expect he
was thinking of himself), that would
know how to value her and to make
life happy for her. I've half made up
mind to ask her myself
"'I wouldn't be hasty II was you,
sir, said. you Just be bit cautious
| and, let the good, honest sea-captain
have a chance
HE didn't catch what was driv-
ing at. He Just tugged at his beard.
"'You think I'm too cautious? he
! said.
It's a thing I've often noticed
about you,' answered
From your point of view, l
daresay you're right he replied;
but young men are rash It's only
natural. There's the whole voyage
before us, and 1 want to see what
she's like in temper. Always see
what they're like In temper,
George. That's tip I'm giving you
free gratis and for nothing.
80 all the way down the Red Sea
he fiirted with that girl, and, to do
her justice, She wasn't backward.
The afternoon we reached Perrin
island I was on the bridge with the
two of them. We slowed down and
ran up signal
What are we waiting for, Cap
tain?' said Miss Price.
"A new second engineer said
Hoskins.
I'VE watched a small boat come
out from the harbor and put off to-
ward us. AS It got nearer we could
make out the figure of the new engi-
neer Miss Price suddenly recollect-
ed that she'd forgotten her handker-
chief, and would have to go below for
1t. She left Hoskins and me on the
bridge waiting for the new arrival.
HE was an understood, hatchet-
faced man, dressed In dirty suit of
white drill. He came up the gang
way and touched his hat to the old
man.
"'Glad to see you, Mr.. Wilson,
said the skipper. The sooner you're
ready to take your trick of duty. the
better the chief will be pleased
Wilson never said another word,
but turned and went off to his quar-
ters.
THE next time l saw him he had
Just come off his watch. / never saw
such a sight on a steamer in all my
days. He wore dirty blue shirt,
open at the neck to show his chest,
and a pair of blue trousers, turned
up above his knees. He had bare
legs ending In a pair of dirty grey
socks that fell down slackly over an
old pair of tennis shoes. In his
mouth he held a piece of cotton
waste he'd been cleaning the engines
with, and he seemed to be sucking
at the oil with which 1t was soaked.
He hadn't shaved and his face was
like cheap brush.
81 went forward to Hosklns.
"'We've got rum sort Of ash-cat
on board, SIR said. I've seen some
funny sights In my time, but never
one to touch him. and / gave him a
short description.
His mouth and then shut 1t
sharply.
:" Il guess I'll go and talk to him
like parent he said. That sort of
thing can't be allowed-with lady
on board.
when he got to Wilson's cabin he
called him out, and the chap came
on deck chewing away at his oiled
rag. Hoskns very nearly burst.
"'Mr. Wilson,, he said sharply,
what sort of rig-out do you call this
for an officer of a ship2'
Wilson looked down at himself
and then up again. Then he took the
rag out of his mouth.
What's up with it?'
Whats up with it?' yells Hos
kins. oh, nothing-nothing. It's all
right in its right place-in the mid
die of turnip field on pole
IF you find that l don't do my
duty on this ship, sir says Wilson,
you can tell me about 1t. For the
rest, / was specially told that there
was no regulations as to uniforms.
So I'll trouble you not to make rude
remarks about my wardrobe
His - his - what?' yells old
Hoskins to me. 'His-oh, my pre-
cious eyesi-his wardrobe! There's
a wardrobe for lady to see!'
He stoppe' suddenly as Mary
Price came osnd the engine-room