Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-25

Captain Hallam fired at Dun
 ~ ~ an after the hotel waiter had quilted the room to bring fur ther supply of coffee and broiled bacon.
 "Why, it's simple enough" answered Duncan, with a touch of embarrass- ment in his tone. You see. was up there yesterday gauging coal. knew the barges were anchored in a danger ous position, and so when the storm broke there wasn't anything else to do but get into my clothes and send the tug up there to the rescue"
 h"But it wasn't your business to look after the coal up in the bendf"
 Duncan slowly drank three sips of coffee before answering that eagerly questioning remark. Then he leaned forward and said slowly and with em- phasis:
 T conceive it to be my business and my duty, as we'll as my pleasure, to do all that I can to promote the interest of the man who employs me-"
 But that was a risky thing to do. You took your life in your hands, you know?'
 T suppose I did. but that's small matter. There were twenty other lives In danger. And what is one mans life when there is duty to be done? We've all got to die some time"
 Captain Hallam did not utter the thought that was in him. That thought was:
 "Well, of all the queer men I have ever had to deal with you are certain ly the queerest. Still, think I under stand you, and that's queerer still"
 What do you want, Duncan, for last nights work?"
 Duncan looked at his companion for half a minute before answering. Then he said:
 q want that tug captain of yours discharged.
 "Why?"
 Because he's a coward and an ut terly unfit man. Human life may de- pend upon his courage at any mo- ment, and he has no courage"
 'Is that all you want"
 "Yes. That's all"
 "Why don't you demand an increase in your salary? Anybody else would. But perhaps you don't care for big ger salary. You're a queer sort, you know"
 'oh. yes. I care very much for an increase" answered Duncan.
 Then why didn't you seize upon the opportunity to ask for itT''
 Must tell you franklyy'
 T wish you would It might help me to understand you"
 "well. it Is simple enough. You gave me employment when I was desperate ly in need of 1t. I should be an in- grate if I did not consider your inter- ests in all that do. I'think I ought to have a larger salary than you are now paying me. think earn it. and it has been my purpose to ask for 1t when the proper time should come"
 Then why haven't you been in a hurry to ask for it now? There couldn't be a better time"
 Pardon me, but I cannot agree with you. It so happens that just at this moment I have several very important matters of yours in my charge. You have Intrusted them to me. and they have come 90 exclusively under my control that nobody else. not even you. could conduct them to e successful issue 90 well as I can Under such circumstances. of course. cannot make any personal demand upon you without Indecency. To do 50 would be to take advantage of your necessities Ii would amount to a threat that if you refused my demands I would abandon these en- terprises and leave you to get out of all their difficulties as best you couh Don't yO1 see. Captain HaIlam. that under such circumstances l simply could not make demand upon you for uore salary or for anythinx- else of