Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-12

holG si1llCd stilSl lOohCd dl NiihSCls ehN
Sam and Peter looked at i'm. too, won
dering whether he was going to berth
his ship at Dunkirk alongside O theirs.
"Ah, wish 'ad met you fortnight
ago." SEES Ginger. very sad. Il gave up
my ship, the Highflier, then, and I'm
waiting for one my owners are 'aving
built for me at Newcastle. They said
the Highfiler wasn't big enough for
me. She was nice little ship, though.
/ believe I've got 'er picture some
where about me!''
He felt in is pocket and pulled out
little, crunpled up photograph of
ship he'd been fireman aboard of some
years afore and showed 1t to 'er.
That's me standing on the bridge"
he ses, pointing out a little dot with
the stem of is pipe.
ITS your fgger," ses Mrs. Finch,
strainlng her eyes II should know 1t
anywhere"
you've got wonderful eyes, ma'am,"
ses old Sam, choking with is pipe.
anybody can see that" SEES Ginger.
They're the largest and the bluest I've
ever seem,
Mrs. Finch told i'm not to talk non
sense but both Sam and Peter Russell
could see 'ow pleased she was.
Truth is truth" ses Ginger. I'm a
plain man. ard | speak my mind
Blue is my fav'rit' color" SEES old
Sam In tender voice. True blue
Peter Russell began to feel out of it.
II thought brown was" he ses.
"Ho" SEES Sam, turning on i'm; "and
whyi"
I'D my reasons" ses Peter, nodding
and shutting is mouth very firm.
II thought brown was is fav'rit'
color, too" SEES Ginger. II don't know
why. It's no use asking me; because If
you did l couldn't tell you"
Browns very nice color" ses Mrs.
Finch, wondering wot was the matter
with old Sam.
Blue" SEES Ginger; "big blue eyes
they're the ones for me. Other people
may ave their blacks and their
browns" he ses, looking at Sam and
Peter Russell, "but give me blue"
They went on like that all the even
Ing, and every time the shop bell went
and the widow 'ad to go out to serve q
customer they said In Whispers wot
they thought of each other; and once
when she came back rather sudden
Ginger lad to explain to FER that he was
showing Peter Russet scratch on his
! knuckle.
Ginger Dick was the fust there next
night. and took 'er a little chimney tea
pot he lad picked up dirt cheap be-
cause 1t was cracked right acrost the
middle; but, as he explained that he lad
dropped 1t in hurrylng to see 'er, she
was Just as pleased. She stuck 1t up
on the mantelpiece, and the things she
said about Ginger's kindness and gen
crosby made Peter Russet spend good
money that he wanted for 'imself on a
painted fiowerpot next morning.
With three men all counting 'er at the
same time Mrs. Finch had 'er hands
full, but she took to 1t wonderful con-
sidering. She was so nice and kind to
'en all that even arter weeks ard
| work none of 'em was really certain
which she liked best.
They took to going In at odd times o.
the day for tobacco and such like.
They used to go alone, but they all
met and did the polite to each other
there of an evening, and then quarrel
ed all the way 'ome.
Then all Of a sudden, without any
warning, Ginger Dick and Peter Russell
left off going there. The first evening
Sam sat expecting them every minute
and was SO surprised that he couldn't
take any advantage Of it, but on the
second, beginning by squeezing Mrs.
Finch's and at haf' past Z, he 'ad
got best part of his arm round FER
waist by quarter to 10. He didn't
do more that night because she told
him to be'ave 'imself and threatened
to scream If he didn't leave off.
He was arr way home afore e
thought of the reason for Ginger Dick
and Peter Russet giving up, and then
he went along smiling to imself to
such an extent that people thought .
was mad. He went off to sleep with
the smile still on is lips, and when
Peter and Ginger came in soon arter
closing time and he woke up and asked
them where they'd been he was still
smiling.
81 didn't ave the pleasure o. seeing
you at Mrs. Finch's tonight" he ses.
NO. ses Ginger, very short. I'VE
got tired of It,"
$50 unhealthy sitting in that stufy
little room every evening" ses Peter.
Old Sam put his 'ead under the bed
clothes and laughed till the bed shook,
and every now and then he'd put his
cad out and look at Peter and Ginger
and laugh ag'in till he choked.
81 see low it is" he ses, sitting rp
and wiping his eyes on the sheet.
"Well, we can't all VIM
"Wot dye mean?" ses Ginger, very
disagreeable.
"she wouldn't ave you" ses Sam.
"that's wot 1 mean. And I don't
wonder at it. 1 wouldn't ave you If l
was gall
you're dreaming" ses Peter Russell,
sneering at i'm.
.That fowerpot O. yoursll come in
handy ses Sam, thinking 'ow he 'ad
put lis arm round the widows waist,
"and thank you kindly for the tea
MT Ginpar"