The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-01-10

minent risk Of his life owing to his
condition, the captain precipitated
himself on the shoulders of a little
Ilan, who was seaten on the top of a
wooden post, with his chin propped in
his hands, and who was gazing in a
melancholy fashion at the water. The
captain, having saved both himself
and the little man by clasping him at
~fectionally round the neck, broke into
p~rofuse apologies. And, indeed. they
were necessary, for the little man
who was very shabby and had no linen
that was visible, but whose whiskers
had a ~bedraggled air of having once
been fashionable-was almost speech
less with rage and fright, and danced
about on the causeway, shaking his
fist and threatening-in a thin, piping
voice, and with many oaths-his ven
geance upon the captain.
"'Ere-'old ard, guv'nor-'old ard,
exclaimed the captain. This comes
OF gettin' into bad company! I'm sur.
prised at a man of your hage usin' all
them naughty words; w'erever did
yer ltdll GIL, HACoSlldlC. IL "ooh =
my fault, mister; the steps was a
slide-an' these ere stones is all
bumps; an wen a man from a
slide to bumps -sudden-like-I puts it
to you that e amt responsible for is
self. An / 'umbly asks yer pardon"
The little man, appearing somewhat
appeased, sat down on his post again,
and meditatively pulled his whiskers,
glancing round now and then at the
captain. as though apprehensive OF his
indulging in some other gymnastic per
Torrance. The captain, for his part,
being of a peaceful nature, began to
make oyertures of friendliness.
However, as the little man remained
~obstinately silent, despite all the cap
tain's conversational overtures, that
gentleman turned his attention to the
boats, several of which were moored
near at hand, with a man sitting near
by, smoking, and keeping an eye on
them. This man, as a familiar spirit,
the captain accosted.
Nice boats you've got ere" said
the captain, casually.
"Ah," responded the man, looking
the captain up and down, "the boats is
all right"
81 suppose a man might ire a boat.
ehf" was the captains next inquiry.
do you fink they're on this ere
river for the kids to look at-or to per
vide me with amusement in balm OF
'em out?' asked the man, indignantly.
The captain, meekly repudiating the
idea that any such thought was in his
mind, carried his inquiry a little far
Their, by asking If he might lire one
for a hour or So"
Can yer row? ?" asked the man, af-
ter a pause.
Can | what?" shouted the captain.
The man coolly repeated his ques-
ton, and went on placidly smoking.
The captain, when he had recovered
his breath, spoke with an unnatural
calmness.
"P'r'aps, my man, you takes me for
an omnibus conductor" he said. Bring
round one of them boat, an steady 'er
vile l gifts in-will yer?"
The man, seeing that the captain
really meant business, knocked tho
ashes out of his pipe, got into one of
the boats, and slowly pushed it from
where it was moored until it bumped
against the causway. The captain, In
his delight at the prospect of being
once more afioat, suddenly remem-
bered the little man with the faded
whiskers, who had sat all this time.
absolutely unmoved. on his post.
ERE, messmate, let bygones be by
cones, an come an ave a blow" He
clutched the little mar by the arm. In
pull him toward the boat.
ITO IA ropfipuedl