Charlevoix county herald., 1908-07-18
SCARLET SILAS

pceIeu through the WINDOW or
the shanty into the fog that
lay sullenly on the water,
heavy, uncompromising fog born of
the smoke of Chicago's chimneys and
the driving white mists of Lake Mich
igan.
What gets me is why any man
takes to lake sailorin' in the fust
place, and why he keeps at 1t after
he makes one trip and learns wot
dogs life 1t is. Now, there was my
self. l tried it. but skipped at the
fust port we made and plugged my
way back to Chi on a freight. II
was tough travelin', but it beat deck
hustlin' on lumber boat all to
pieces. Bridge-tendin' S as close as
ever ! want to get to sailn' again.
1t amt that lake sailors is so stuck
on their jobs that keeps them at it.
There's Joe wilkins, Bandy Joe, as
we call him, sit right on that seat
where you're settin' now, six months
ago, and told me how he'd saved up
few hundred dollars and him and his
pal Sam Bur ows, was goin to start
into business for themselves and
never would set foot on ship again.
But | notice Bandy's back cookin' on
the Jim Hill and Sans dom a fore
mast stunt on the schooner Mary
land.
Mebbe they might have kept their
word, though, If they hadn't struck a
snag before they got started on the
new deal. This yer Bandy was al
ways a close, savin' sort of guy,
which is most unusual thing with
sailormen. Sam often made up his
mind to save, too, but never made it
up enough to begin. But when his
uncle died and left him 5000, Bandy
heard of it and looked him up right
fway.
See hero, Sam" ses he, you've
bin fool long enough. Wot's the use
of bein' rawhided and jawed by low
down ornery mates and captains ali
your life? I've got $500 scraped to-
gether. and if you add your pile to
mine we can buy out old Daddy Minis
lunchroom on the docks. He's made
enough money to live bully for the
rest Of his days and wants to sell
out. It's a sure winner for most all
the river boys feed there, and old
MIN told me l could have the joint
for $1,000 cash down"
The idea looked good to Sam and
they headed for the Mariners Rest to
have quiet drink and talk it over.
Nearly everyone there had heard of
Sans luck, and they kept comm up,
one after the other, to congratulate
him. If Bandy hadn't bin along, Sam
might have loosened up and treated
-<all hands. But Bandy kept whis.
perrin in his ear and joggin his ell
bow all the time, warnin' him to be
careful.
There was stranger in the bar
white bearded old chap with a pleas
ant, smilin face. He'd bin watchin'
the gang gettin' after Sam, and when
they got tired seem that there was
nothin' doin' he came over and sit
down at their table.
"'Scuse me, gents" he ses, "but IL
you'll honor me by havin' a drink,
shall feel myself under obligation to
you"
Bandy was never known to refuse
anything he could get for nothing,
and Sam was only too willin, so they
didn't shy at putting the old fellow
under a obligation, as he called it,
He was VERY smooth speakin' chap,
and before they was settin' there long
they put him under a couple more
obligations without maxim any kick
about 1t. Then Sam, who was a
good-hearted guy and thought it was
about time he did something, was
going to call the waiter, when Bandy
jogs his elbow and makes a face at