Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-20
THE CAPTAIN OF THE KANSAS
By LOUIS TRACY,
Authos Of THE Wings Of the Morning." Etc


ton Of the ship. Are you listening, Boyle?
According to the chart. the ship is high
and .:1, dry =, four miles inland"
of skipper I once sailed with. bound
from Rotterdam to Hull in ballast. There
was Scotch mist best part of the trip,
an the old man loaded with schnapps to
keep out the damp. First time he got
swede turnip. It's all up with u.s. boys
he said. My missus is forty fathoms be-
low. We've just sailed over York You
see. he'd made mistake OLA few
degrees"
Boyle" said Courtenay.. severely.
what has come to you? Are you actual
ly making a joker
y think I must have bin tongue-tied
before, captain !
Before what?,
stuck his tobacco cutter into my jaw.
can talk like prize parrot now-can't 1.
Miss Maxwell?'
Elsie was laughing. but she remembered
the subject on which Boyle had displayed
his new-found power Of speech, and hu-
please don't tell any more funny little
stories" she cried, 'or shall be putting
dots In the wrong places"
And causing US to waste time scan
dalously. Are you ready. Miss Maxwell?
Let me pin this compass caro- on the
inch as mile, and I'll do the rest by
guesswork."
Courtenay took his binoculars and went
on to the bridge. He called out the ap-
parent distance Of each landmark he
could distinguish, described 1t and gave
found she had prepared clear and fair
ly accurate chart of the bay and it's head
lands, while the position of the distant
range of mountains was marked with
tolerable pecision. But Courtenay was
far from being satisfied
IF I had base line, or even a fresh
set Of points taken higher up the inlet. I
could improve on my part of the sur
vey." he said. yours Is admirable, Miss
Maxwell. OF course. Iiknow you are an
artist. but mapping is thing apart. That
Perhaps you may be able to secure
fresh data when the Kansas puts to sea
again." said Christobal.
IF am coming the wheel I must
leave the chart making entirely to my as
But I do mean to peep little further
into our estuary. Before the ship sails
may !, ! have another spare hour to devote
I'm what way?" asked Elsie.
by utilizing the canoe. A mile or so
higher up the channel I should be clear
Of the blum which hides Otter creek
Imagine 1t will be possible then to see the
full extent Of the bay. I must get you
to sound Suarez as to the lie of the land
II hope you will do nothing of the Sort"
protested Elsie, earnestly.
why? Do you think the canoe un-
safer"
mo. no; not that But those waiting
Indians. They might see yon.'
'Oh, the Indians again! l shall run no
irony Of fate if. the Kansas slipped her
cable and left the skipper behind
Huh! No fear! She'd follow you Ike
Joey. I was tellin Miss Maxwell wat a
lucky fellow you were. Besides, If you
went. I'd be in command and you know
what would happen then. By CAD, if all
else failed, the bloomin' tub would turn
turtle in the pool
To emphasize his remarks, Boyle blew
a big smoke ring, and shot several
smaller rings through it.
Elsie felt Christobals critical eye on
map. and trusted that her head was bent
sufficiently to hide the tell-tale color
which leapt to her face. But Courtenay
wished to hear more of this.
Il hope you do not credit everything
my chief officer says about me- he said
glancing over her shoulder at the draw
Ing. Nor about himself" he added. as
she was too busy to look up. To my
he has refused the command
Of two ships since we both Joined the
Kansas"
Home orders!" cried Boyle, who was
beyond himself Probably h,
missed his regular vocal exercise owing
to lack of crew. MY missus says to
me. You just stick to Capt. Courtenay
young feller-me-lad. He's one Of the get
rich-quick sort. P'raps you'll learn from
him how to dodge board of trade in
quirfes.' You stand on what I told you.
Miss Maxwell. You remember? Commo-
aere! Huh!''
Something must be done to stem the
long-pent flood of Mr.. Boyle's gossip.
Elsie turned on him desperately.
How do you expect me to listen to
you and work at the same time?" she
said.
Sorry" he answered composing him
self to sleep.
Courtenay glanced at the chronometer
II must be off, he announced "Tollc-
mache may need some help with his
after
Christobal too. quilted the chartroom
to visit his patients. He had said very
little while he sat there, and Elsie did n9i
know whether to laugh or cry at til
tragic comedy of her environment. ST.
was only certain Of one thing-she wou,a
ike to box Boyle's ears. Size was com
pletely at loss to account for his pei
sistent efforts to drag in references to
their prior conversation. She darnd not
him. That would be piIing uu
more difficulties for the future. But what
poss sssed him to blurt out such embas-
RAISING details in the presence Of the tw.
men whom she most wished to remain in
ignorance of them?
(To be Continued Tomorrow