The Washington times., 1906-07-01


my time-plenty of 'em; but I can't
truthfully say as 'ow any OF them was
the better for meeting me"
He rose slowly from the packing
case on which he had been sitting and.
stamping down the point of rusty
rail with his heel; resumed his seat.
remarking that he had endured II for
some time under the impression that
ii was only a splinter.
I've surprised more than one in my
time" he continued, slowly. when
met one of these ere artful ones 1
used fust OF all TO pretend to be more
stupid than wot really am"
He stopped and stared fixedly.
More stupid than / looked" he said
He stopped again.
More stupid than wot they thought
looked" he said, speaking with
marked deliberation. And Ia let 'em
go en- and on until 1 thought l had 'ad
about enough. and then turn round on
EN-. Nobody ever got the better o
me except my wife. and that was only
before we was married. Two nights
afterwards she found a fsh-hook In
my trouser pocket. and arter that 1
could ha' left untold gold there-if I'd
ha' had It, II spOilt wot some people
call the honeymoon, but il paid In the
long run.
One o. the worst things a man can
do Is TO take up artfulness all OF a
sudden l never knew it TO answer
Yet. and I can tell you of a case that1l
prove my words true.
It's some years ago now. and the
chan it 'appened to was a young man.
"a shipmate o. mine. named Charlie
Tagg. Very steady young chap he
was. too steady for most of 'em.
That's 'ow 1t was me and I'm got to be
such pals.
He'd been saving UP for years TO get
married. and all the advice we could
give i'm didn't ave any effect. He
saved up nearly every penny OF is
money and gave # to his gal to keep
for i'm. and the time I'm speaking OF
she'd got seventy-twO pounds Of is
and seventcen-and-six Of 'er own 70
set Up housekeeping with.
Then a thing appened that I've
known to 'appen to sailormen afore-
At Sydney e got silly on another gal.
and started walking out with her. and
afore he knew wot he was about he'd
promised to marry 'er too.
Sydney and London being a long
but the thing that troubled i'm was
'ow 10 get that seventy-two pounds
out Of Emma Cook. is London gal,
so an he could marry the other with It.
It worried I'm all the way home. and
by the time we got into the London
river is head was oil IN a maze with
It. Emma Cook 'ad got II all saved
UP in the bank. to take a little shop
20 get il he could not think.
He went straight of TO Poplar.
where she lived, as soon as the ship
was berthed. He walked all the way
so as to ave more time for thinking.
but wot with humping into two old
gentlemen with bad tempers. and be-
ing nearly run over by a cabman with
white 'orse and red whiskers. he got
TO the house without 'aving thought ot
anything.
They were Just finishing their tea as
e got there. and they all seemed so
pleased to see I'm that II made Il
worse than ever for In Mrs. Cook.
who 'ad pretty near finished. gave I'm
her own cup 70 drink out OF. and said
that she 'ad dreamt OF I'm the night
afore last. and old Cook said that he
ave known him
'T should ave passed i'm in the
street" ne ses. II niver see such an
alteration"
They'll be a nice-looking couple"
sas his wife, looking at a young chap.
named George Smith. that 'ad been
sitting next to Emma.
Charlie Tagg flied is mouth with
bread and butter. and wondered 'ow
re was 70 begin. He squeezed En-
mas and just for the sake OF
keeping up appearances. and all the
time e was thinking of the other gal
waiting for him thousands O. miles
away
You've come ONE Just in the nick
o. time" ses old Cook: IF you'd done
it o. purpose you couldn't arranged It
better"
Somebody's birthday?'- eos Charlie.
irving to smile.
Old Cook shook his cad Though
mine is next Wednesday" he ses,
''and thank you for thinking OF It, No:
you're just IN time for the biggest
bargain IN the chandlery line that any
body ever 'ad a chance Of l. you
admit ha' come back we should have
'ad TO ha' done II without you"
Eighty pounds" ses Mrs. Cook.
smiling at Charlie With the money
Emmas got saved and your wages
this trip you'll ave plenty. You must
come round arter tea and ave a look
at It,"
Little place not arf a mile from
ere" ses old Cook. Properly worked
up. the way Emma'll do IL. it'll be a
little fortune. / wish I'd had a chance
like IL in my young time"
lie sat shaking his cad to think wOt
he'd lost. and Charlie Tagg sat star
ing at i'm and wondering wot he was
TO do.
My idea is for Charlie to go for a
few more v'yges arter they're married
While Emma works up the business" "
ses Mrs Cock; shell be ali right with
young Bill and Sarah Ann to 'elp her
and keep 'er company while he's
away"
Wen see as she amt lonely" ses
George Smith, turning 10 Charlie.
Charlie Tagg gave bit of a cough
and said II wanted considering. lie
said II was no good doing things in a
'urry and then r0pentlng of 'em all the
rest Of your life And e said he'd
been given to understand that chand-