Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-06
! LID Jem Lister Of the Susannah
WIS nossessed Of two devils

avarice-and the only thing
the twain had in common was to get
drink without paying for 1t. When Mr..
Lister paid for drink the demon OF
avarice masquerading as conscience
preached teetotal lecture and when
he showed signs Of profiting by 1t the
demon Of drink would send him hang
Ing round public house doors cadging
for drinks in way which his ship
mates regarded as slur upon the
entire ships company. Many healthy
thirst reared on salt beef and tickled
with strong tobacco had been spoiled
by the sight Of Mr.. Lister standing by
the entrance with propitatory smile.
waiting to be invited in to share 1t,
and on one occasion they had even seen
him Clim, Jem Lister, A. b. holding a
horses head with Interior motives.
1t was pointed out to Mr.. Lister at
last that his conduct was rejecting
discredit upon men who were fully able
to look after themselves in that direc-
ton. without having any additional
burden thrust upon them. Bill Hen
shaw was the spokesman and on the
score of violence (miscalled firmness)
his remarks left little to be desired. On
the score Of profanity Bill might recall
with pride that in the opinion Of his
fellows he had left nothing unsaid.
"You ought to ha' been member o
parliament, BILL" said Harry Lea,
when he had finished.
at wants money" said Henshaw,
shaking his head.
Mr.. Lister laughed senile laugh. but
not lacking in venom.
"Thats what we've got to say" said
Henshaw, turning upon him suddenly.
"If there's anything hate in this
world, it's drinking miser. You know
our opinion. and the best thing you can
do is to turn over new leaf now"
Take us all In to the Goat and Com
passes" urged Lea. Bring out some
O. those sovrins you've been boarding"
Mr. Lister gazed at him with frigid
scorn aud, finding that the conversa-
ton still seemed to center round his
unworthy person. went up on deck and
sat glowering over the Insults which
had been heaped upon him. His futile
wrath when Bill logged his footsteps
ashore next day and revealed his char
acter to bibulous individual whom
he had almost persuaded to be Chris
tian--from his point Of yiew-bordered
upon the maudlin. and he wandered
back to the ship, wild eyed and dry of
throat.
For the next two months 1t was safe
to say that every drink he had he paid
for His eyes got brighter and his
complexion clearer, nor was he as
pleased as one of the other sex might
have been when the self satisfied Hen
shaw pointed out these Improvements
to his companions and claimed entire
responsibility for them. 1t Is probable
that Mr.. Lister under these circum-
stances might in time have lived down
his taste for strong drink, but that at
just that time they shipped new
cook.
He was a big, cadaverous young fell
low who looked too closely after his
own interests to be much Of favorite
with the other men forward. On the
score of thrift, it was soon discovered
that he and Mr.. Lister had much in
common, and the latter, pleased to find
a congenial spirit, was disposed to
make the most Of him and spent, de-
81. Of h; Sn,n
In the galley.
You keep to it," said the graybeard
impressively. Money was made to be
took care of. If you don't spend your
money, you've always got it. I've al
ways been a saving man. What's the
resultY"
The cook, waiting some time in pa
thence to be told, gently inquired what
1t was.
"'Ere am IT, said Mr.. Lister, good
naturally helping him to cut cab
bage, "at the age of sixty-two with a
bank book down below in my chest
with one 'undered an ninety pounds
odd in it,
Zone 'undered and ninety poundsw
repeated the cook, with awe.
ITO say nothing Of other things"
continued Mr.. Lister, with joyful APP
probation Of the effect he was produc-
ing, Altogether I've got little over
four 'undered pounds
The cook gasped and with gentle
firmness. took the cabbage from him
as being unfit work for man Of such
wealth.
Its very NICE" he said slowly. cts
very NICE You'll be able to live on it
in your old age
Mr.. Lister shook his head mournful-
~, and his eyes became humid. :.
There's no old age for me-" he said
sadly, "but you needn't tell them"
And he jerked his thumb toward the
forecastle.
mo, no." said the cook.
"Ive never been one to talk over my
AFFAIRS" said Mr.. Lister in low
voice. "I've never yet took fancy
enough to anybody so to do. No, my
lad; I'm saving up for somebody else"
what are you going to live ON when
you're past work, thenY demanded the
other.
MIR. Lister took him gently by the
sleeve, and his voice sank with the
solemhity Of his subject. "1'm not
going to have no old age" he said re-
signedly.
mot going to liver repeated the
cook, gazing uneasily at knife by his