The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
SIX SAILORS
By JANE LUDLUM LEE.

Il hope you fellows know that am hir-
ing this launch by the hour; SO for each
hour. and as she has already been here
for thirty minutes we have wasted s..
Come along"
We're coming, Jack, coming. You are
a regular old Shylock 20 ask a man up
here as your guest on a little blowout and
then throw the cost of it in his teeth
The rest Of us have been ready for some
time. but Leigh can't tear himself away
from the ladies, and you would make this
a stag"
Very well, then let Leigh stay with the
girls, for I'm not going to have them
aboard. They would all be seasick or
giggliHg. Here comes Leigh now"
Just at that moment three big fellows
appeared in the doorway Of the house
carrying another being who seemed to be
all legs and arms. which were flying IN
all directions, AT the top Of their voices,
and each man on a different key, they
were shouting ''How can bear to leave
thee?" Carrying their burden down to
the landing. they deposited Leigh and all
Joined hands and started an Indian war
dance around him. while passers-by slowed
up TO see six strapping fellows, clad only
in their bathing suits, doing a Wild dance
around their victim. Jack broke the spell
by yelling.
That parade won't wait, boys. FOR any
one except Roosevelt, and he does not
happen TO be one of our party, so all
aboard and some one sit on Leigh until
we are well under way"
Leigh's tenor voice squawked "Good-by
ladies'" but he was Immediately Jumped
on by about six hundred pounds Of hu-
manity and he quieted down
Now, skipper for oyster Bay in the
best time you can make It." said Jack
The AphrodIte puffed and kicked for a
moment, then started out and soon Belle
view was only a speck In the distance. It
was a rainy, misty morning, but the boys
did not mind. Jack and Alice had a dear
old house at Belleview and had filed It
over Sunday with their best friends Jack
had hired this launch to take tie boys for
a sail and Alice had agreed to stay at
home and give the girls a dove luncheon.
Leigh" said Jack, If you don't watch
out the next dance you DO viii be to the
tune of the wedding march Better go
easy"
Jack, old man. Your hand on it. You.
being "a married man. must know the
symptoms, and I don't mind saving that
ever since last summer at tie lake I've had
an uneasy feeling in my heart. but UP at
your house I'm just making myself use
ful amusing the ladies'"
Bryan Macgregor, the hassO Of the par
ty, saw fit to interrupt the boys here. and.
taking his old meerschaum pipe out of his
mouth, drawled:
i say. fellows. you two better quit. It's
too early IN the morning to get tWitting
on facts, and it's a mean thing TO do at
any time Of day. Jack, you give an imi-
tati0n Of a gentleman and don't talk
back. and Leigh, for love Of Mike, shut
up that howl. Granting that your Bon
ME lies over the ocean, l do not blame
her for staying there If she ever heard
that voice of yours"
Finally the six men seated themselves
in comfortable positions, and snatches Of
songs, bits Of stories, much laughter. and
general good fellowship prevailed. Leigh
again had the floor in the midst of a
story about six sailors who were ship
mo food he reiterated; no food-iust
the same as we are fellows-no food
Jack took the hint, and soon baskets
came forth heavily ladened with delicious
food that the girls had packed for them.
They sat down and began to eat Ike the
proverbial hungry sailors, and Leigh was
commenting on women in the Capacity Of
cooks when a queer, gurgling sound was
heard. Then another-the Aparodite was
evidently in trouble.
Maybe she's hnng~-.. skipper. Give her
some gasoline or a bit Of OIL"
The Aphrodte. as If in answer to the
suggestion, began splitting oil over the
floor Of the boat.
Evidently not hungry-in fact full TO
oyerfiowing." commented Leigh.
The Aphrodlte suddenly stopped. and all
efforts on the part Of the skipper and the
six men were futile. They drifted and
drifted until it became a serious problem.
What was to be done and who was 10
90 it? By this time the launch had drifted
into cove about a mile from land. and
after much discussion Leigh volunteered
TO swim TO the land and get help. The
others, knowing be was a famous swim
mer, agreed 20 the plan, and without
much delay he was overheard and with
long, steady strokes was covering the
distance When he finally reached the
shore he rested awhile, and then started
10 walk towards a handsome residence at
the top Of the cliff.
Suddenly from the bushes near him
came clear soprano voice Leigh stop
ped and listened and looked. Not far
from where he stood there was a little
rustic summer house, and leaning against
the side of. it was young girl dressed
all in white, He crept d little nearer 20
make quite sure that he was not dream
ing-so near that as the girl stopped
singing. she breathed a heavy sigh. and
Leigh. could hear it. He longed for Al
sight OF her face. and wondered if II were
half as sweet as the voice he had heard.
and he made brave to creep a little
nearer. The rustic Of the bushes made
her turn, and seeing him she cried:
''Leigh-Nr Richards! Is it really
you?"
1T Is really Leigh Richards. Miss Ap-
pleton, and / apologize for startling you
so. but I was climbing up the cliff and
heard your voice, Sc stopped to listen.
am on an errand OF mercy and perhaps
you can help me out"
An ~errand Of mercy-in a bathing