Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-06-25

AFTER closing the 'front.' uoor. EAnu yo.
there's grit in him. Sort o bad weather
man. I'm thinkin'."
Oswin's reflection as he slowly prepar-
ed for sleep were of a mixed character.
| He was not quite sure that the visit OF
his late shipmate had been an entire sue
cess. His own personal interest In the
man had in no way diminished. but the
! light of feminine eyes cast upon their
| friendship had brought that difference
which always comes to our male acquaint-
ances when we introduce them to our
women folk.
CHAPTER IN.
1t was not yet 8 o'clock the following
morning when Claud Tyars left the door
, of the quaint. od-fashioned h0sel where
! he was staying. The usually busy streets
| were still comparatively empty. Washed
out housemaids in washed-out cotton
dresses were busting the front doorsteps
Of such old world folks as were content
to continue living on the eastern precincts
! of Tottenham Court road.
| As the young fellow walked briskly
| through some quiet streets in his dress
there was this morning slight sugges-
| ton Of the yachtsman-that IL to say,
| he was clad in blue serge, and his brown
! face suggested the breezes Of the ocean.
Beyond that there was nothing to seize
upon. no clew as to what this powerful
young mans calling or profession, tastes
| or habits. might be. He stopped occa-
sionally to look into the shop windows
with the leisurely interest of a man who
has an appointment and plenty Of time
| upon his hands. Any one taking the trou-
BILE to follow him would have been struck
| with the singularity of his choice in the
matter Of shop windows. He appeared to
take an interest in such establishments rs
| n general dealers warehouse. There was
large grocers shop on the left-hand side
and here he stopped for a considerable
| time. studying with great attention n
brilliant array Of Aforementioned pro-
duce. A tobacconist's was treated with
slight heed, while the wares Of a large
optician appeared to be Of absorbing in
tcrest
The doors Of st. Katherine's Dock had
been open only a few minutes when Ty-
ara passed through the building into the
London Dock. On the quay. under an
iron rooted shed at the head of the dock,
red-beardcd clumsy man was walking
slowly backward and forward with that
| idle patience which soon becomes second
| nature in men accustomed to waiting for
| weather and tides. When he perceived
! Tyars he Iurched forward to meet him.
Tyars acknowledged his jerky saluta-
| ton with a pleasant nod. and they walk
ed away together. This burly son Of the
north was the man with whom Tyars
had exchanged a shake Of the hand one
M in, Low tar xSho
| Winter was seated close by.
They walked the whole length Of the
block. avoiding with an apparent ease
pitfalls in the way-rng- bolts. steam
pipes and hawsers. At the lower end of
| lay strange looking little steamer. Her
chief characteristic was clumsiness
clumsincSs of spar and general top-heav-
| mess. Her bows were originally very
bluff, and being now heavily incased in
an outer armOr of thick timber, the eff
feet was the reverse of pretty. She was
rugged like brig. and her tall, old fash
! ioned funnel, rearing its white form be-
tween the masts, suggested an enlarged
galley chimney.
Although she was the strangest looking
craft in the docks. where many quaint
old ships are slowly rotting to this day.
1t was said among the dock laborers and
custom officers that the vessel had been
built at Trontheim. in Norway, for a
steam whaler: that she had been bought
| by an Englishman, and was now being
leisurely fitted out under the supervision
Of the red-haired Scotchma who lived
on board. Her destination was pro-
found mystery. Some thought that she
was to be whaler. specially fitted for
the north water" others boldly stated
that she was destined to open up COM
merce with China by the northeast pas
sage.
Il Think said Tyars. critically. az he
stood examining the little steamer, that
you have got on splendidly, Peters. She
looks almost ready for sea-"
"Ay," responded the red-faced man,
slowly.
He was no great conversationalist.
With his great head bent forward he
stood beside the tall. straight man, and
in his attitude and demeanor there was
a marked resemblance to a shaggy. good
natured bear.
you have got the new foremost up, /
see. A good bit of wood!"
"Fine!"
He shook his head sadly from side to
side at the mere thought Of that piece of
wood.
And the standing rigging is all up?"
"Ay."
"And the running rigging ready?"
'Ay; them riggers was FOOLS"
Tyars smiled in an amused way and
said nothing.
A boat now put off from the strange
steamer and came toward them. A small
boy standing in the stern Of it propelled
it rapidly with half an oar. Presently It
came alongside some Shiny steps near to
them, and the two men stepped into it
without speaking. There was something
hereditary in the awkward manner in
which the boy jerked his hand up to his
forehead by way of sautation. They all
stood up in the boat. the older men sway.
ing uncomfortably from side to side AT
each frantic effort of the boy with the
half oar.
When they reached the steamer Tyars
clambered up the side 6rst. stepping on
board with the air of man we'll &C.
Quainted with every corner of the ship
He looked around him with an uncon.
scious pride of possession at which a