Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-14


Vida would be with him. Then every
thing would be explained.
Meanwhile, the man In possession
went on calmly washing up. He turn
ed and rated Vic Morris for his idle
ness.
He was, according to him "a great
husking lout, no better than Con-
stabulary, standing there first on wan
anvil-top of boat, and then on an
other, dom nothing at all. at all for
the privilege of breathing Gods ART"
IF We WAS on wan O. His Majesty's
lighthouses now, we'd learn you differ
ent, that we wud. Why, in Dicks
time-but it's no use wasting good
Solomon on the likes O you. Catch
hold Of dish-clout and dry for your
life!"
And a drying towel came towards
the engineer with damp whoosh that
sent up his cricket-trained hand to
catch it as he had been fielding
point
So, when Vida pushed the door open
and entered with her MARKETING
basket on her arm. she was astonished
to find two men at work with their
backs towards her. They were finish,
ing up the dinner dishes, and Hiber-
MAN voice of astonishing power was
criticising the work of the brevet
scullerymaid with more frankness
than compliment.
IF We cleaned refectors no better
than this. me son." he said, holding
up a salad-bowl on which remained
some oily streaks. its ashore We wud
go by the next boat--an' sthop there!
'Tis asy seen We have been trained in
a school for young ladies. Now there's
my daughter Vida
And the next moment, with cry
of BILLY! Billy" ner arms were about
his neck. the basket having been drop
ped on the, settle with small care for
the fragility of the contents, while,
with the rejected salad-bowl in his
hands, turning it about as in con-
juring trick, Vic Morris watched the
scene open-mouthed.
Afterwards, when Dick Finnan came
In and had taken his supper, the
cover being laid for one (for Vida mad
been all the afternoon at Rose Nuns
by's), Dick lighted his pipe, holding
his head near the open fireplace so
| that the "reek would draw" as he re-
marked. For Vida did not favor the
smell of tobacco in her house.
| Then. being pressed with questions,
Mr.. William Bryan began his remarks
by divulging to the astonished COM
pany now that he had resolved to stnn
smoking.
| "Ye see,' he said, "reliefs are so
uncertain on them island lights that
Lwud rather bedout altogether, of my
own accord, than run the risk av be-
ing put to 1t, whether I will or
whether I will or whether l won't.
Besides It's more manly. 1t fairly puts
a premium on cadging to see other
mems contemporaries bullying all over
the table and to feel yours, fiat and
empty, In your pocket"
This subject having been exhausted
Mr.. Bryan proceeded to give his late
chief the most alarmingly technical
| information about the working of the
Sherry Light, the shortcomings of his
last mate, Tom Arrowsmith. the mis-
fits of the new spare electric plant.
and how one fell night (both regular"
and relief" failing) they had to turn
the lantern by hand-how the syren
would they splitter and cough, and
how they muttered prayers, indiscrim-
lnately to the Virgin, the Saints and
the God of all poor sailors out cast on
stormy seas, that If evil befell. the
weight Of 1t should not come upon
these two toiling watchers, Protestant
and Catholic, but upon the engineers
and storekeepers, the contractors and
supply clerks who had done last
months providing for the Sherry
Light.
"Tom Arrowsmith cursed them"
said Billy Bryan, with gusto, land
when Tom was finished saying his
piece in the style of General Booth
(for he wears that uniform when
ashore), took it up with as much as
I could reminder of Father Dinnis up
on the althar steps in the ovid chapel
at Roscommon. And if there is fair
division O. pains and penalties when
the last indent sheets are filled out
above there's power av Northern
Light an Trinity House men that
will be down with something worse
than the stummck- ache!"
But nothing struck your rock?'
said Vida. anxiously.
mo, the morning came, as it always
will, honey, if only We wait long
enough. And 1t was clane-swept sea
that lay about us. So then we reversed
engines and did some Thanksgiving
got down on our knees to do it, and
Tom Arrowsmith clear forgot to mis-
call the Pope for whole day. and
promised to contribute to the Arn1y's
Self Denial Fund
80" chuckled old Dick, between
puffs, that was the meaning Of you,
giving up smoking. thought there
was something behind that yarn abou
the tobacco running out"
Billy looked ashamed. and at once
attempted to change the subject
He looked across at Vic, and witt
twinkle in his eye he said, Hin
an me nearly began our acquaintance
with a dooeI, but | vanquished hin
and set him to wipe crockery. Though
| must say ne's no great-hand witt
the drying lowell"
Whereupon Die Finnan explained
that Mr.. Morris was the underground
} engineer of the Incubus pits, and thu
best hand at telling when the mel
were near 1.-The stuff" that ever hat
been seen in Kirktown.