The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-06-11

scale drGlCtng.
Joey. l was tellin' Miss Maxwell what
a lucky fellow you are. Besides, If
you went I'd be in command, an you
know what would happen then. If all
else failed, the bloomin' tub would
turn turtle in the pool"
To emphasize his remarks Boyle
blew a big smoke ring and shot sew
eral smaller rings through it.
Elsie felt Christobaps critical eye on
her. She was shading the outlines of
the map and trusted that her head was
bent sufficiently to hide the telltale
color which leaped to her face. But
Courtenay wished to hear more of this.
II hope you do not credit everything
my chief officer says about me-" he
said, glancing over her shoulder at the
drawing, NOR about himself" he add.
ed, as she was too busy to look up. '"ro
my knowledge he has refused the COM
mand of two ships since we both join
ed the Kansas
"Home ordersr' cried Boyle, who
was certainly beyond himself. Proba-
bly, he missed his regular vocal exer-
else owing to lack of a crew. ''My
missus says to me: You just stick to
Captain Courtenay, young feller-me-
lad. He's one Of the get-rich-quick
sort. Praps you'll learn from him how
to dodge board of trade inquiries.
You stand on what l told you, Miss
Maxwell. You remember-commodo
Huh"
Courtenay glanced at the chronome.
ter.
Il must be off," he announced ''Tolle.
mache may need some help with his
bombs, and those Chileans require
looking after"
Christobal, too, quilted the chart
room to visit his patients. He had said
very little while he sat there, and Elsie
did not know whether to laugh or cry
at the tragic comedy of her environ.
ment. She was only certain Of one
thing-she would like to box Boyle's
ears She was completely at loss to
account for his persistent efforts to
drag in references to their prior con-
versation. She dared not catechise
him. That would be piling up more
difficulties for the future. But what
possessed him to blurt out such en-
barrassing details in the presence OF
the two men whom she most wished to
remain in ignorance Of them?
| She peeped at Boyle sideways. His
eyes were closed, the cigar was be-
/ tween his teeth, and he had broad
| grin on his face. She could not guess
that the once taciturn chief officer OF
the Kansas was saying to himself:
my godfather, how Pills glared
There will be trouble on this shiI
about woman before long or I'm y
Dutchman. An didn't the skipper rise
! at the fly too! Huh!'
| A little later as Elsie passed alons
the promenade deck she saw Courte
nay, Tollemache and Walker deep ir
consultation. They were arranging 9
| percussion fuse of Illuminating mer
curry. While she was watching then
Walker dropped broken furnace bal
on top Of q small package placed or
an iron block. Instantly there was 6
shart report, and Joey, who was al
interested observer, jumped severa
feet The men laughed, and she heard
Courtenay say: ~a
THAT is the right proportion Of full
inmate. Now. Tollemache, I'll helI
you to fix them. We do not know thu
moment those reptiles may choose t.
attack"
So the captain did not leave the Ala
culof menace altogether out of count
Something rose in her throat, some
wave Of emotion which threatened he
splendid serenity. She ran rather thar
walked to her cabin, flung herself or