Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-03-22
CHAPTER V-0Continued)

The iders in the shipping office at
Tower Hill were treated on the following
morning to a strange sight. According 10
formula, the brokers of tie Martial had
indicated to the shipping authorities their
desire to pay off the crew of the vessel.
Shortly before the hour named a number
of women began to assemble. Some were
dressed respectfully. others were of the
lowest class that London produces; but
all made some attempt at mourning. One
or two wore their Grape weeds with that
incomprehensible feminine pride in such
habiliment which shows itself in all
grades of society, while others were clad
in black-rusty. ill-ftting. evidently bar
rowed. 4 common sorrow, mutual in
terest, served as Introduction among these
ladies, and they talked eagerly together.
Scraps of conversation foated over the
black bonnets. One had lost her husband,
another her son, third only her brother.
Amt he come YETI" they asked one
another at intervals. The survivor-im
that brought 'er 'ome with his own hands.
/ wanter ask him about my man-about
his end"
At last a hanson cab turned the cor
ner of the Minories and pulled up noisily
on the noisy stones. Claud Tyars threw
open the doors and stepped out. He had
come to be paid off; he was the crew of
the Martial.
In a moment he was surrounded by the
women, every one clamoring for news of
her dead sailor. The brokers' clerk, an
observant youth, noticed that during the
half hour that followed Tyars never re-
ferred to his log-book. but answered each
question unerringly from memory. He
gave details. dates and particulars with
out hesitation or doubt 1t was perhaps
owing to a knowledge of the commercial
value of good memory that the young
clerk made note of these details. He
was not observant enough to take account
of the finer shades Of manner, of the in
| finite tact with which the survivor of the
crew treated the women folk of his late
comrades. He did not detect the subtle
| art by which some were sent away re-
! joicing over the dogged, dauntless courage
of their husbands he was only conscious
| of a feeling of admiration for this mar
who, hitherto, had hardly noticed him
! But he failed to discern that the difficult
task was accomplished unconsciously. He
did not realize that Claud Tyars possess
ed a gift which is only second to genius
in worldly value-the gift of unobtrusive
| ly ruling his fellow men.
AS Tyars drove away from the ship
| ping office he saw the street news vend
ers displaying their posters with the
words, "A Wonderful Story of the Sea
| printed in sensa tiOnal type.
Hang t." he muttered, with a vexet
laugh, Il never counted on notoriety o.
this sort"
Presently he bought an evening paper
and read of the exploits Of Captain
Tyars with singular lack of pride.
When Mr. Lowell, the owner of tbs
Martial, offered him the command of the
ship the same afternoon he gravely anC
politely declined it. With the ship-owner
as with Lieut.. Grace, Tyars appeared
quite blind to the necessity of an expla
nation, and none was asked
So ended the incident of the Martial
It's direct bearing upon the life of Claut
| 'I'yars would seem to terminate at the
same moment; but indirectly the expert
ence thus acquired influenced his career
formed to some extent his character, anC
led--as all things great and small leat
us-to the end.