The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-26
-:- OUR DAILY SHORT STORY

SieSpy enough 10 6Tlu.. Forget 1t. Mir. Macpherson" he said. Tt wasn't me-"
 Mir Macpherson ruefufly watched him roll aft. pesp into the pinnacle and de- scend the after companion without con- versation with the cook--for which lat ter fact he was duly thankful. Five struck on the cabin clock, when Billings rolled out through the forward cebin door, with a doubting, deprecat- clearly indicated hts identity. He was not Captain Biliinss-he was Jock. Here" said the mate, intensely, vet softly. for the cooks benefit, "come here"
 Jock came obediently.
 Where ha' ye been sogerin' while I do your worka Answer me?" Jocks face took on a look of distress, then fitful gleams of intelligence fash ed across it. followed by puzzled doubting. questioning expression. He might have awakened right there had not the next remark of the mate been one to arouse no speculation in the slumbering soul.
 Never mind. Jock" he said. Wash off this muck from the deck. You're only a poor. Ignorant sailorman, after all."
 Jock obeyed and Mir. Macpherson lit his pipe and pondered.
 The weather remained fine, the wind a succession of cat's-paws between long intervals of calm, and still the captain did not awake, but remained Jock, stu pid. short of memory, very cheerful. but with lesser girth. freer joints and sew eral pounds of fat turned into solid muscle. 0.
 His dumb, patient suffering under the mates persecution on that Tong drift down the lakes need not be enlarged upon.
 Through 1t all he was the target for a running fire of comment and abuse, of which was Mir. Macpherson's disap- proval Of his mistaken estimate of Scotchmen. He was past caring for consequences now--only intent upon punishing the man who had "slugged"
 him for being Scotch.
 But there was 6 dark Nemesis camped on his trail. Unknown to him, the cook, who slept in the forecastle. had questioned the ox-like animal that tumbled down the ladder for few hours rest in tfe night. and the re- suit was that he ceased all his sur
 prised comment from the galley door, and waited.
 Whatever truth there may have been in the mates surmise that reminiscence
 was what threw Captain Billings into his past, certain it Is that he was wrong in his selection of the antidote. Hard work did not waken him, though 1t did him a world of physical good. While still Jock Billings the little schooner came into port during the night. and as Jock Billings he went to sleep as usual. in the forecastle. and as Captain Billings he wakened in the morning be- fore either the cook or the mate, and came up to find his schooner moored to the old familiar dock. her deck bleachec winter than before, her rig ging taut and tarred. and things g sn- orally more shipshape than he had ever seen them. Housing the cook, he went aft, with many an admir.ng look around and aloft, and wakened his treasure of a mate. And when Mfr. Macpherson ap- peared he greeted him with enthusi- asm and brotheriy love. You've done well, Mir. Macpherson" he said, beamingly. "Pm proud of you that I am. You and I'll get along.
 But. by George. I'm in a bad way n.y.
 self-in fact. ! need just such man
 as you. Walked up in the forecastle.
 Been asleep all the way, haven't IT. Aye. answered the mate, cautious | ly. An it's to the forecastle ye go
 when ye want to lie doom an rest" Funny. must see the doctor and
 have it tended to. I'm getting worse. "
 He looked aIoft. "Scraped and tarred l QOWu, anu GFSEyIuluB bCt ARs <AiiA SOh did 1t all alone. We'll. we'll have some paint aboard next trip" Aye, paint her If ye like, sir, but I'll take my money here, sir, an go.
 There's too. much work maxim a yacht | oot O this hooker. l have to do 1t all."
 Oats lie. cappen." said digusted l voice behind him. He neber done a single ting but boss de job He made | ha dA y11ae ef dem | down, an den you work like rousta- bout wid tackles an ropes, an den you go up an tar down-an' you didn't l know anyt'ing bout 1t, sah." Hold your evil tongue roared the
 mate. Its liar ye are. Let's have
 my money. captn. I'm through" Look at yo' hands. cappen," per- sisted the cook, indignantly. "Jes' look at de tar on yo' hands" The captain looked. and his face darkened
 'Ts this so Mfr Macpherson" he said, that while in my other self--a sailor agadn-you have worked me as such aboard my own schooner
 Pay me off an I'll answer ye." said the mate. doggedly.
 Red in the face, Captain Billings dart ed toward him; but MT. Macpherson eluded his grasp, and being the bet ter runner gained the dock.
 Give me my money" he said. that's all ask"
 We're not on the articles" said the angry captain. You'll get nothing for this trick. You have no legal claim"
 q am on the article" insisted Mfr. |. Macpherson, "at a dollar a day. Four teen dollars ye owe me, Captain Bill lings. Ye can toss 1t to me, an ye can
 direct your Senegambian friend to toss my bag, O clothes on the dock. I'm through wi you"
 Captain Billings went below and in- spected the articles. Then he removed his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and told the cook to throw the mates bag on the dock.
 MT. Macpherson he said calmly, when he reached the deck, T find you arc right, and within the law. You ship ped a man named Jock Billings, and made him work. You're a smart man, besides being a whole seaman. I'll pay you off at three dollars day, and sign you on for the season, but you must come aboard and get it."
 Mir. Macpherson looked at the huge muscles he had developed on the cap tain's arms. and picked up his bag and slowly moved away.