Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-06
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me can't live more than two years,
and might go off at any moment"
"Well. you've got money" said the
cook. why don't you knock off work
now and spend the evenin' Of your life
ashore2 Why should you save up for
your relatives7'
.I've got no relatives" said Mr.. Lis
ter. "l'm all alone. l s'pose l shall
leave my money to some nice young
Teller, and I hope It'll do i'm good
With the dazzling thoughts which
flashed through the cooks brain the
cabbage dropped violently into the
saucepan and a shower OF cooling
drops fell on both men.
81 s'pose you take medicineT' he said
ut length.
"a. little rum" said Mr.. Lister faint
". "The doctors tell me that it is the
only thing that keeps me up. o. course
the chaps down there"-he indicated
the forecastle again with a jerk of his
head" accuse me o taking too much
What do We take any notice of 'em
for?" inquired the other Indignantly.
II s'pose it is foolish" admitted Mr..
Lister, but don't like being misun-
derstood / keep my troubles to my
self, as a rule, cook. don't know
what's made me talk to you like this.
'eard the other day you was keeping
company with young woman"
well. won't say as amt replied
the other, busying himself over the
fire
AN the best thing, too, my lad
said the old man warmly at keeps
you stiddy, keeps you out Of public
'ouses; not as they amt good In mod
Grafton 'ope you'll be 'appy."
The cook thanked him and noticed
that Mr.. Lister was fdgeting with a
piece of paper.
"A little something wrote the other
day." said the old man, catching his
eye III let you see 1t will you
promise not to tell soul about it and
not to give me no thanks"
The wondering cook promised. and
the old man, being somewhat emphatic
on the subject. backed his promise
with a homemade affidavit Of singular
power and profanity.
Here 1t Ia, them" said Mr.. Lister.
The cook took the paper, and as he
read the letters danced before him.
He blinked his eyes and started again
slowly. In plain black and white and
nondescript colored finger marks Mr..
Lister, after q general statement as to
his bodily and mental. health, left the
whole of his estate to the cook. The
will was properly dated and witnessed,
and the cooks voice shook with ex-
element and emotion as he offered to
hand it back.
to do this" he said.
Mr.. Lister waved it away again
keep it." he said simply. while
you've got it on you, you'll know it's
safe.'
From this moment a friendship
sprang up between the two men which
puzzled the remainder Of the crew not
little. The attitude of the cook was
as that of son to a father; the being
nancy Of Mr.. Lister beautiful to behold
1t was noticed, too, that he had aban-
doned the reprehensible practice of
hanging round tavern doors in favor
of going inside and drinking the cook IS
health.
For about six months the cook, al
though always in somewhat straitened
circumstances, was well content with
the tacit bargain, and then, bit by bit,
the character of Mr. Lister was reveal
ed to him. 1t was not nice character,
but subtle, and when he made the
startling discovery that will could be
rendered invalid by the simple process
of making another one the next day he
became as man possessed. When he
ascertained that Mr.. Lister when at
home had. free quarters at the house
of married niece, he used to sit about
alone and try and think Of ways and
means Of securing capital sunk In a
concern which seemed to show no
signs Of being wound up.
1--WE got touch Of the art again,
lad" said the elderly invalid, as they
sat alone in the forecastle one night at
Seacole.
'You move about too much" said the
cook. ".Why not turn in and rost r.