New-York tribune., 1906-12-02

Mr. Sol Ketchmaid, landlord of the Ship, sat
n his snug bar, rising occasionally from his seat
by the taps minister 20 the wants of the Gus:
toners who shared this pleasant retreat with him.
Forty years at sea before the mast had made
Mr. Ketchmeid authority on affairs maritime;
five years in command Of tho Ship Inn. with the
nearest other licensed house five miles off had
made him autocrat.
From his cushioned Windsor chair he listened
pompously 10 the conversation. Sometimes lie
soined in and took sides, and on these occasions
81 was a foregone conclusion that the side he
espoused would win. No matter how reasonable
the opponents argument how gross MS person
sIities Mr.. ketchmad. in his capacity Of host,
had one Infaiing rejoinder-the orunk.
When Nr. Ketchmaid had pronounced that opinion
the argument at an end. A nervousness about
his Hcense-conspicuous at other times by its alb
sence-woud suddenly possess him, and, opening
the little wicket which admission to the bar.
he would order the offender in scatning terms TO
withdraw.
Twice recently had he found occasion 20 warn
Mr.. Ned Clark. the village shoemaker, the
strength of whose head had been boast IN the
village for many years. On the third occasion the
indignant shoemaker interrupted in the mid
die of impassioned harangue free speech
and bundled into the road BY his hoster After this
nobody safe.
Tonight Mr. Ketchmaid, meeting his eye as
he entered the bar nodded curtl.-. The shoe
maker had stayed away three days a protest
and the landlord was naturally indignant such
contumacy.
Good evening, Mr. Ketchmaid," said the shoe
maker, screwng up his little black 5ves Just give
me a small bottle o lemonade. if You please"
Mr. Carks cronies laughed, and Mr.. Ketch-
maid after glancing "a him make sure that he
was in earnest. served him in silence
There's one thing about lemonade" said The
shoemaker. as he slipped II gingerIy: nobody could
- say you was drunk. not :f you drank bucketsful
OF il"
e. There was awkward silence. broken at last
f- by Mr. Clark sHacking his lips.
81, ANY news since I've been AWAY cbapsc', he in
: CURED: 'or ave you gust been sitting round as
usual listening TO the extraordinary adventures
what happened to M Ketchnaid whilst a-follerinc
g ef the sea-
Truth i stranger than fiction Ned" said Mr.
Peter Smith. the tailor rerrovingIy
me shoemaker assented. But I never tboueb+
3 30 lIII heard some O. the things Mr Ketcbnafd
as been through" j. remarked
shortly. oio'
And the truthfullest Of your warns a,o +,,o ,,o..
"ohderIui Of the lot, 10 my mind" said Mr. CIarl,
"hat DO you mean by the truthfullest?" de-
nanoea the landlord, gripping the arms of his
- chair. "a 'iiS
why, the strangest." gIinred the shoemaker
An, he's been through a lot Mr. tLeTcI,.,s
mas, said the tailor.
-. y Iu'l'iLliest one 10 my mind said the shoe
maker regarding the landlord with sptefuI inter
henry he 6o,+
swains mate 'ad his leg bit off savins NJ 1-,at
maid from the shark, and is shipmate San, Jopas
me Niger cook, was wounded saving i'm from the
South Sea Hislandere" ~
Il never get tired o. hearing that ,-o 8, -, \,
sfahle Mr. Smith iu 'ie
II do' said Mr.. Clark
Mr. Ketchmaid looked UP from his pine and ev.d
him darkly; the shoemaker smiled sereneIv
another fmsh bottle o lemonade. landlord" he
said slowly.
- GO and get your lemonade son,arb.ro o, ..
said the bursting Mr.. Ketchmaid
L prefer TO ave 1t here rejoined the shoe
maker. and you've got 10 serve me. Ketchmaid
a licensed publican is compelled 10 serve naor,o
whether he likes 10 not. else he loses Of ,is
license
Not when they're the worse for Ticker he amt"
ssid the landlord gill ="
Certainly not" said the shoemaker. that's vVb,,
: m sticking 10 lemonade, Ketchmafd"
. The indignant Mr. Ketchmaid removing the u,rs
rom IIe cork discharged the missile at the cell
.ns Inc shoemaker took the glass from him and
looked round with offensive slyness
Here's the 'ealth of Henry yVigeett vba, ,os. o.,
1eg 10 save Mr. Ketchmaid'g life he said ,,n,
eueiy Also the 'ealth of Sam Jones who let
hisseif be speared through the chest for the Same
hopie purpose. Likewise the 'ealth of CAPTAIN
Feters who nursed Mr.. Ketchmaid like is own SON
when he got knocked Up doing the work of five
men AS was drowned: likewise the health a. Dtct
Lee. who helped Mr.. Ketchnaid capt,ra . C,hir,o
Junk full OF pirates and killed the whole savente
ketchmad?'
The landlord. vino busy with the tans
affected not to hear
Killed the whole seventeen of EN- by first toll
Ing EN- yarns I'll they fell asleep and then cbou
ing em with Henry Wiggett's wooden leg" ra
sLIned ne shOema ker.
"Kee-hee." said ( hapless listener explosivelv
'Xee-hee-kee'-
= He checked himself suddenly. and assumed an
aar OF great folsmnity the landlord looked his
way.
You'd better go one Jen gumrners," said the
funiing Mr.. Ketchn4aid. 'Yog're the worse for
6ker.'
I'm not" salG AT. Summers. ntoutIy
"Out you CO." s&is &r Eefchmaid briefly .you
know my rules. keep respectable house and
them as can't drink h. faodsration are best out
ode
You should stick - lemonade. Jem." said Mr.
tisrh You can say what you Ike then"
MI Summers looked round for support and than
seeans no pity In the landlords eye departed won
osnng ih"afdiy how he was TO spend the remainder
sf fbe evening &c company in the bar eazed ar
zach oihfr soberIy and exchanged whispers
'TBasrstsGd. led Clark" said the indignant Mn