The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-12-26

low.
over Sans ample proportions. you
must ha' been leading double life
altogether, Sam"
by the following afternoon Sam was
In such a state of collapse that. when
they put in at the small port of
Withersea to discharge a portion of
their cargo he obtained permission to
stay below in his bunk. Work pro
ceeded without him, and at nine
o'clock in the evening they sailed
again. and 1t was not until they were
couple of miles on their way TO
Dimport that Mr.. Legge rushed aft
with the announcement that he was
missing.
Don't talk nonsense" said the skip.
per, as he came up from below in re-
Spouse to hail from the mate.
TITS fact, sir" said Legge, shak-
ing his head.
whats to be done with the boy?"
demanded the mate, blankly.
Sans a unsteady, unreliable, tricky
old man" exclaimed the skipper, hot
ly; "the idea of going and leaving a
boy on our hands like that I'm sur
prised at him. I'm disappointed in
Sam-deserting,"
What are you going to do, Billy?"
inquired the cook.
81 dunno" said the boy, miserably.
They came in sight of Dlmport. Mr.
Legge. who had considerable respect
for the brain hidden in that small
head, pointed II out to him. ...,..,
Boys worried" said the skipper,
aside. to the mate; cheer up, sonny"
Billy looked up and smiled, and the
cloud which had sat on his brow when
he thought of the cold-blooded deser.
ton of Mr.. Brown gave way to an ex-
| preston of serene content.
At the quay the skipper locked up
the cabin, and then calling on one of
the shore hands to keep an eye on
the forecastle, left IL open for the con-
venience OF the small passenger
Harry, Charlie, and the cook stepped
ashore. The skipper and mate fol.
lowed, and the latter, looking back
from some distance. called his atten.
ton to the desolate little figure sitting
on the hatch.
Father" cried small voice.
"He-he's adopted you now" said
the skipper, huskily.
Or you" said the mate. II never
took much notice Of him."
IT'S you he's after, tell YOU" said
the mate. who do you want, Billy?'
II want my father" cried the youth.
and, TO prevent any mistake, Indicated
the raging skipper with his finger.
Who do you want? beloved the
latter, in frightful voice.
---Want -yoIl- .faLheI- -chirruped
Master Jones.
What's the matter?" inquired Mrs.
Hunt. cycling the crowd in amazement
as II grouped Itself in anticipation.
Nothing" said her husband. off.
handedly.
who's that boy?" cried the limo
cent woman.
ITS poor little mad boy" began
the skipper; he came aboard"
I'm not mad. father" interrupted
Master Jones.
"A poor little mad boy" continued
the skipper, hastily, who came aboard
In London and said poor old SAM
Brown was his father"
"No--you, father cried the boy
shrilly
He calls everybody his father
said the skipper with smile OF
anguish; that's the form his madness
takes He called Jem here his father
=. mo, he didn't" said the mate
bluntly.
And then he thought Charlie was
his father"
No. sir said Mr.. Legge. with re-
spectful iirmness.
~ 500 salh Mrs HINT with N hit
ter smile, "and these men have an
come mp prepared to swear that tho
boy said Sam was his father Haven't
you?"
Yes num- chorused the crew. de
lighted at being understood so easily
There was an uncomfortable silence
l during which eliza annas