The Washington times., 1907-08-11

NAAen the DQE ElLll- I'D 10 AlAEUlf DL0-
tested the skipper
i've no doubt" said his wife. ~Oh.
Joe, Joel Joei'
There was an uncomfortable silence.
during which the crew. standing for
the most part on ore leg IN sympathy
with their CHIEFS embarrassment,
nudged each other 10 say something
10 clear the character OF a man whom
all esteemed.
You unFratcful little devil burst
out Mr.. Legee. at length: "arter the
kind way the skipper treated you. too. %
Did he treat him Ixindly?' IN
quired the captains wife. IN converse
tionel tones.
Like fa-IiKe a uncle. mum"
said che thcughiless Mr.. Legge. Gave
i'm a passage on the ship and fairly
sDoilt i'm. we was all surprised al
The fuss e made Of i'm. wasn't we.
Harry?"
He turned 10 his friend. but on Mr.
Green's face there was an expression
of such utter scorn and contempt that
his own fen. He glanced at the skip
per. and was almost frightened at bis
appearance.
Tile situation was ended by Mrs.
Funt entering the house and closing
tEe door with an ominous bang. The
men skunk off, headed BY Mr.. LeEge.
and the mate. after a few murmUfed
words Of encouragement 70 the skip
per. also deaarted. Captain Hunt
looked .irst at The small cause Of MS
trouble who had drawn on 70 some
distance. and then at the house. Then.
with a determined gesture. he turned
the handle Of the door and walked in
His wife. who was sitting In an arm
chair, with her eyes on the floor. re-
uaiHed rnotlonless-
Look here, Polly he began
Don't talk 10 me-" was the reply
II wonder you can look me in the
face"
The skipper ground his teeth. aad
stTove 70 maintain an air OF judicial
calm
"If youU only be reasonable" he
remarked, severely.
i thought there was something Sc
cret going on, said Mrs. Hunt. I've
often looked al YOU when you've been
sitting IN that chair. with a worried
lCok on your face, and wondered what
u was But never thought II was 50
bad as this. III DO you the credit 10
say that never thought Of such a
thing as this. . What did you say
~ What2T
I said damn" said The skipper,
eXulosively.
yes. I've no doubt" said his wife.
ferceIy. You think you're going to
carry II of with a high hand and
bluster. but you won't buster me-. my
man. I'm not one Of your meek and
mild women who'll put Up with any
thing. I'm not one Of your
i tell YOU" said the skipper, that
the boy calls everybody his father
dare say he's claimed another by this
time"
Even as he spoke the handle turned,
and the door opening a few inches dis
closed the anxious face OF Master
Jones Mrs Hunt. catching the skip
per's eve. pointed 70 II In an ecstacy
of silent wrath. There was a breath
less pause, broken at last BY the boy.
Mother he said. softly
Mrs. Hunt stlffened IN her chair and
her arms fell by her side as she gaZed
IN speechless amRzement. Master
Jones. opening the door little wider,
gently insinuatinE his small figure into
the room The skipper gave one glance
az his wife and then, turning hastily
away, put his hand over his mouth,
and. with protruding eyes, gazed out
OF the window.
Mother. can come in7" said ths
boy.
.'Oh. PoIlyl" sighed the skipper. Mrs.
Hunt strove 70 regain the utterance OF
which astonishment had deprived her.
a =
fooI,'
yes. Tve no doubt" said the skip
Per, theatrically. "Oh, Pollyl PoIlyi
POlly!"
He put his hand over his mouth
again and laughed silently, until hia
wife. coming behind him. took him By
the shoulders and shook him violently.
This said the skipper. choking;
that is what you've been worried
about. This Is the secret whats
He broke or suddenly as his wife
thrust him by main force into
chair. and standing over him
with a fiery face dared him 70 say
another word. Then she turned 70 the
what do you mean by calling me
mother - she demanded Tn not
your mother.
yes. YOU are" said Master Jones.
Mrs. Hunt eyed him in bewnder-
ment. and then. reused 70 sense OF
her position By a renewed gurglfng
from the Shippers chair, set 10 work
to try and thump that misguided man
into a more serious frame Of mind.
Failing in this she sat down, and,
after a futile struggle. began 10 laugh
herself and that so heartily that Mas
ter Jones. smiling sympthetically,
closed the door. and came boldly into
the room.
The statement. generally believed,
that Captain Hunt and his wife
adopted him, Is Incorrect, the skipper
accounting for his continued presence
IN the house by the simple explanation
that he had adopted them An ex-
planatiOn which Mr.. Samuel Brown.
for one. finds quite easy OF acceptance