davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

crest Of wave, now slipping down
mountain of green water TO fight
way up the opposite side OF the wa
terry VALLEY.
About the Iightship the waves
seemed to gain in height, and Jenk-
ins came into the pilot house TO help
her with the wheel, which was al
most too much for the girl TO hands
alone.
Phoebe jockeyed with the tug to
gain the lee of the lightship. A
dozen times she slipped past too far
away or upon the wrong side; but
at last, watching her chance, shs
pointed the nose of the tug for the
stern of the ship, bringing her along
side.
Then the tug backed the propeller
until the hawseTs were made fast.
and the physician and the anxious
husband were hoisted aboard.
The tug stood OF until, at last.
the physician came on deck again.
Through the megaphone he called to
the tug and there came another night
with wind and tide A second time
Phoebe won and for a moment the
little tug lay beside the hulk Of the
lightship.
The physician dropped aboard, and
as they slipped past and headed for
the city again the other passenger
came on deck and in pantOmime ex-
pressed his gratitude.
He told me to get your address,"
said the physician. land to tell you
that he would send you a check as
soon as he could get to shore"
Phoebe gave a little cry. 81 had
forgotten all about the money" she
said. 81 only thought of that poor
woman out there dying for want of
assistance. Do you think that she
will get well?"
Now" he answered, SCIENTIFICALLY.
1T was a close call. Had we been
delayed much longer the operation
would have been useless"
1t was three days later that Phoe-
be, coming home, found a letter wait
ing for her, enclosing a check for
$1,000. Her eyes glistened as she
caught sight of the figures.
1T was Mr.. HUMPHREYS, the mill
lionaire," she cried, as she dropped
the slip of paper in her mothers lap.
q suppose that now you Will be
ordering a new tug; the second OF
Phoebe blushed-
Not exactly that" she confessed.
You see we shall need some new
| things here before-before 1 am mar
| ried-''
'Married-to whom?" asked Mrs.
! RyeTsOn-
| This is my second fee" explained
Phoebe. "As we were fighting our
way to the Iightship Bill came in to
help me with the wheel and-and
we worked so well together that
that I told him that he could be cap
tain and I would be his first mate"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

together, but this is awful sudden,
you know. Folks have never seen US
out together, and it would be big
surprise. Don't you think we ought
to prepare them for it?"
"How?'' he asked.
well. I see that there is a circus
coming on the 27th- If we drove
down to the town and attended the
circus together folks would sorter
suspect something and not be so sur
prised at the marriage. We don't
want to kill anybody by sudden
shock"
Go to the circus together" re
heated Jaboz. after swallowing his
Adams apple several times.
Yes 1 see by the pictures that
they are to have girafes, mons,
tigers. elephants and two-humped
cameIs and women are to ride bare
hack and iump through hoops of fire
What's the matter, Jaboz - shall
bring YOU a glass of water?"
ssWidder Glenn, are you asking me
to go to the circus with YOU he
exclaimed
certainly. ! was never close to
tx.-o-buunned camel, and I want to see
what that extra hump is made Of
What's the use of it? When a hump
backed man has got one hump there's
no call for another, is there?"
Never in this world! Never so
long as 7 Hvel Never, if I don't get
married in 100000 years."
What do you mean, JabeZ2" she
asked, as he walked up and down the
floor
4 mean I'll never go to the circus
with you! Wilder, you may peril
your soul if you want to, but don't
think to drag mine with you. l
wouldn't have believed il of you
Mebbe 1 have misunderstood you
'Jabez, I'm going to that circus.
I've just got as much Of a soul as
Won have. and I want to 60 to Heaven
lust as bad. but I'm going to take my
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

pay captain, guess We'll have TO
live on the captains pay"
Stark argued for an hour, but
Phoebe would have none of him. Her
mother sided with her. and when, at
last, Stark left the house, Phoebe
had carried the day, and he was
shaking his head sadly at the thought
of her wild venture
There had been a time when, the
Ryerson towing company had been
possessed of a fleet of harbor and
ocean-going tugs. Then evil had be-
fallen. Ryerson'S partner had decided
to sell out and go west and all of the
profits of the venture Mr.. Ryerson
had put into the purchase of his
partners share of the business.
Things had never gone quite the
same after that Some of the boats
had been sunk, one had gone up in
a boiler explosion and two had been
sold to satisfy fmportunate creditors,
leaving only the Phoebe, which John
Ryerson had captained himself.
The succession of misfortunes had
sent John Ryerson to his grave, and
after the funeral, Stark had under
taken to settle the estate. He had
planned to sell the tug an add to
the meager sum realized, but he had
not counted upon Phoebe
When the towing company had
been a great enterprise, she had jest
ingly applied for a masters certih-
cate and one had been granted. She
had lived aboard the boats as girl,
and when she had grown too digni-
| fed to be a tomboy, she had owned
for a time a small power boat that
had not lasted long after the hard
times came.
She knew every foot of the harbor
and she found her fathers old crew
only too glad to ship under his
| daughter. Within a week after her
| decision, the Phoebe was scouting
about the bay and river for business
| and getting good share.
| After it was found that the Phoebe
| could be depended upon, several of
| her fathers old friends gave her con-
| tracts and business began to pick up.
I'll revive the Ryerson company
yet," she said, exultingly, as she
sat in the little home that she was
fighting so bravely to keep. zone of
these days you'll see me commodore
of the fleet and it will be a fleet as
large as dad owned
you'll be married long before
that" said Mrs. Ryerson, with a
smile, as she patted the smooth
brown hair.
The brown head shook violently
in disapproval of the statement.
Never" announced Phoebe. "I'm
going to stick to the business
well wait and see," said her
mother, but the kindly face was
clouded with anxiety. Sometimes
she was a little afraid for her ven
turesome- daughter.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02
a BACHELOR e.

would lend him her hoe. She smil-
ingly assented, and this encouraged
him TO say:
'Widder, I might drive you down
Just to see what they call the circus
parade"
But I want to see the perform
ance. l expect the sewing machine
man along this afternoon, and he'll
be sure to ask me to 60"
Jabez started off, forgetting the
hoe, but after reaching the gate re-
turned to say:
"Tn buy you ticket and you can
go in alone"
Couldn't think of IL, Jabez. I
want you right there beside me when
I'm looking at that two-humped
camel"
Never. widdeT-never. AS said,
I've got a soul. and"
81 think that's the sewing ma
chine man coming now" said the
widow, as she shaded her eyes with
her hand and looked down the road.
HE was telling me the other day
that he'd go 1C miles to see a good
circus, and when he's home he rings
the bell for church and pitches all
the tunes for the congregation to
sing"
ii Jest step IN WIN you 1ur nun
to see the camel" yielded Jabez.
But l want to see the clown and
hear his Jokes. The sewing machine
man was saying"
''We1l stay through half the per-
Torrance.
Through it all, Jabez, and to the
minstrel show at the end. The sew
ing machine"
''Durn his hide:" shouted Jabex.
as he stepped forward and kissed the
widow. Yes. duTn his hide, and we'll
go to the circus and see every burned
thing. and week later we'll be mar
ried. I've a soul, but
And then he added that he didn's
mind II he did stay for breakfast.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

he said. when Vida had teaTfully ex-
planned. 1--WE can't tell that.a check
IS good. You might not have an. &C
count there"
But I have" she insisted. You
can telephone down and they Will
tell you so. Ask If Miss Vida Fiske
has an account"
But. then, how do we know that
you are Miss Fiske?" he counteTed-
81 know" he added as Vida drew out
her card case. cards and letters
are all right, but don't you see they
might not be your cards or letters. /"
1.-THE idea Of my carrying anyone
else's cards OF letters" she cried.
THE suggestion is absurd
but that don't cash no checks, -
he said, shortly as he moved away.
IF there's anyone here who knows
you you'd better get him TO cash a
check for you"
Vida hEisbtaned at the idaa-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

smile growing wider. Hes a she
and the best skipper on the river"
But dozen captains have al
ready refused this job" expostulat-
ed his listener.
Jenkins nodded. ''AlI the more rea-
son for seeing her" he declared.
She'll take a job anywhere there's
water"
But this IS too risky" the man
said, as he started to turn away
Bill ran after him There's amt
nothing too risky for our little cap
tain" he said, proudly Come
aboard and tell US about it"
His grasp was firm on the others
arm and the old gentleman had no
choice but to accompany him.
Here's a man who thinks he's got
d Job too big for you" said Bill, as
he thrust his captive into the pilot
house.
we are not afraid to tackle a
Sob she said. What is IT you
want?"
You know the IiFhtship?" de-
manded the stranger. Phoebe nodded
My wife is out there he explained.
I'VE live DOWN on the point aud she
and my son were coming up to town
On G launch. Tho power gave out
sad before ne could get help they
were carried out TO sea on the tide
and were thrown against the side OF
tie 1ightship- They were taken on
beard, but my wife's legs are broken
and there are internal injuries. One
leg was ground between the snip
and the launch, and the wireless
operator declares that unless / can
get a surgeon out, there is no hope
of her living"
Have YOU the surgeon?" asked
Phoebe.
He is in the office. I was told
that the boats all came here to coal
and this would be the best place to
look for a tug We have been here
all the morning."
Go and get him. said Phoebe,
quietly. I'VE can make ii"
For a moment the old man looked
into her face, then he lifted his hat
While he was gone to seek the
physician Phoebe called for more
coal and made certain that there was
a supply of water in the tanks. Then
she went back TO the pilot house
and when the two men were on board
the, ropes were cast off, and there
was a cheer as she skilfully swung
the tug about and headed down The
river toward the bay
She knew that there was more
| than a little danger, but woman
| was down there, lying near to death
| She did not need to ask her crew l
| they would stick by her. Every maj
| on board would have cheerfully un
! dertaken a trip to Europe had sh
deemed it necessary.
Outside the bar the waves raj
/ bieb and the Phoebe struggle
! through the angry sea, now on tn
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

heIpIessly- The checks are perfectly
good. They are on the Second nation
al. That is a very good bank, you
know
Cash only" was the patient an
swer. kindly step aside and let the
others get their tickets"
But I want one, too" she ex-
pOstulated 4 am going out to Wood
view TO spend the week end with
Grace Bailey. She will be awfulIy
disappointed if I don't come"
Il can't help that" was the
weary reply, as the agent made an
imperceptible sign to the special DO
liceman on duty at the window.
That gray-coated official came I'D
and with a firm yet gentle pressure
on her arm led her from the window
that the impatient mob in the line
might get their tickets before the
train left.
'Xo9 SIS. We don't take checks. +"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

chances. If seeing a two-humped
camel IS going to
Wilder, I couldn't marry wom-
an who'd go to circus
Nobody wants you to-"
Jabez picked up his hat and left
the house, and the widow didn't fol-
low him To the door and say good
night to him. She had given him
the first dose Of the cure.
He went home and sat down on
the back doorstep of his lonely house,
for he was keeping bachelor hall. and
he thought for an hour. Then he
went in and wound up the clock and
put down the pantry window against
the cats and went to bed.
But not to sleep. The widow had
shocked him. He had left her house
feeling thankful that he had made
such a narrow escape, but now he
began to feel that he couldn't do
without her. He was really in love
with her.
The idea that some wire fence
man would come along and wed her
and run her farm and smile in tri-
umph at him brought the perspira-
tion out on his forehead. Not once
that long night did he close his eyes
in sleep.
When new day came he had made
I'D his mind to do what he had never
done before. He walked down to the
widows. She asked him TO sit down
to ham and eggs and coffee and gems,
but he couldn't eat
"Widder." he said after a time.
I'll hitch up and drive you down
TO StrongsviIle any Cay you say but
on circus day"
But that's the day I want to go. -
I'll drive you down to within a
mile"
But I wan, you to drive me right
10 the circus tent"
Never Never in this world Of
sin. I have got soul TO save. and
Tm going 10 save it. GoOd-by, wild
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

and insinuated that it might be
bad check, though I'm sure it's the
pTettiest book YOU ever saw
POmeToy bent over the desk TO hide
the smile, but it was with a perfect
" sober face that he looked up.
Have you had your check book
Iong?" he asked
4 got it yesterday" said Vida, pro-
ducing the ornate book
There are. many things about
checks that they forgot to tell you
at the bank" he explained. sOberly.
L am running out 10 Masters in my
auto. It will be more pleasant ride
than by train. May I not offer you
a seat? / can go into details then ."
You are very kind" said Vida,
gratefully. THE train must be gone
by now"
In 90 minutes he had given Vida
a lesson. in banking that dispelled the
haze and the girl turned 10 him
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

about in one day.
In coming home from StTongsville
in her buggy the widow noticed cir
Gus posters and dates on the road
side barns. There were none on the
barn belonging to Jabez. He had
told the circus folks that he would
perish before allowing his barn to
be thus desecrated They had offered
him 10 free tickets of admission,
but he had replied that no D circus
tickets were going to drag him down
to the bottOmless pit to burn forever.
As the widows barn was not on
the highway, she had not been
visited.
That evening Jabez Cunningham
| came over, as he had on many previ-
Gus evenings, but he had shaved a
little closer and given his boots an
extra slick The widow observed
| these things and drew a long breath
and made ready for what was to
come.
He didn't hang in the wind long
That wasn't his way. If he wanted a
pair of yarn mittens for winter he
drove down to SnydeT's village store
and found his fit and asked the price
and either took them OF left them.
| He had a few words to say about
bldth HOSS DtluS worse IOOteTS Jhan
white ones, and then launched out
with:
See here, wilder, why don't men
you get marTied2'
why, 1 hadn't thought of such a
thing" she pTevaricated, as was en-
| tiTely proper under the circum-
| stances
"Then think of it now. We have
| known each other two years. guess
we've liked each other for most of
! that time. You know what sort of a
man I am, and l know there's no
! foOliShneSS about you. | don't see
why we wouldn't make a purity good
| team"
"Yes. I think we might get along
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

Where is Mr.. POuTpTOy's Officer" she
asked. The policeman indicated the
elevators leading 10 the executive Of
fees and thi1her Vida went
The president Of the road had been
her fathers guest the previous even
ing. and as for Tom PomeTOy-Vida
hoped that he would not be there.
But II was the son and not the
father who sat at the roll top desk
when she was hidden 10 enter by the
admitting office boy
II want TO purchase a ticket" she
said. frigidly, but your clerk down
stairs refuses to let me have one"
That's funny" he unused Are
YOU sure that the station IS on our
road2 ?"
"Of course" she said in surprise.
'Ewoodview Is on your road"
II can't understand the trouble
What did he say?" asked Pomeroy.
He said they didn't take checks
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02
. @
.

footman followed with her suit case,
but she dismissed him with a wave
Just place IT there" she COM
manded. 81 will attend to the ticket
myself
The footman was too we'll trained
to express surprise, and with a finger
to his cap he slipped out Of the wait
ing room
There was q long line before the
ticket window when Vida at last
found herself before the opening In
response TO her demand a ticket was
showed through the grating and
curt request for the money accom-
panied it
only S1S5I" smiled via. I'm
sure that's very reasonable If you
will let me have a pen I will write
you a check for it,
"Cash only" was the terse COM
ment, as the ticket was withdrawn.
Put have No eAS~~~~' aAA ssid-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

L<<-<ELL me the worst" said
Phoebe, bravely. CT know
it's bad or you would not
look so serious, Mr..
Stark"
The little lawyer fidgeted In his
chair. He hated above all other
things to be the bearer of bad news.
Don't be afraid" ran on Phoebe,
% put him at his ease. els it ten
thousand?"
LESS than that" said Stark, slow
t1y.
"only five?" she asked, with IN
attempt at a laugh; -four them"
she added, as the lawyer remained
silent.
There Is nothing left" said
Stark, sadly. After the settlements
are made there will be between $500
and $500. OF course, the tug will
bring something, but at a forced sale
little can be realized"
:"Sell my namesake!" cried Phoebe,
''sell the last of the Ryerson fleet?
Why, should as soon think OF SELL
ing mother"
Mrs. Ryerson smiled family at the
sally, but the lawyers face grew
more serious. He despaired of max
/ ing this volatile young lady realize
the gravity OF her position.
81 would remind you," he began,
clearing his throat nervously; 81
would remind you that a tugboat is
a rather xpensive-ah-luxur for
a young woman with so limited a
capital
Luxury" echoed Phoebe. Dear
Mr.. Stark, it's .coing to be a neces-
! sity. The Phoebe must keep us go
ing"
'T have thought that over very
carefully" said the lawyer, relieved
| to find the conversation returning to
saner plane. ST have gone into
the matter with the utmost care. Per-
haps had there been a son 1t might
have been different, but since you
will have to hire a capt ain 1 am
afraid 1t will eat up all the profits,
and you will have to take time to
manage the boat after fashion with
absolutely no return"
81 shall be my own captain" said
phoebe, with dancing eyes. Ell am
not afraid to work, and I'd rather
be out on the water in tho pilot
house of the Phoebe than selling rib
bon or teaching a lot of unruly chill
ldren."
Mr.. Stark made a gesture of de-
lspair-
No sooner did they reach a SEN
Eible conclusion than Phoebe was off
on a new and even more insane tack
He half regretted that he had had
anything to do with the matter, but
Phoebe's voice drowned his protests.
'T have a masters certificate" she
reminded. 'I know the boats as
well as anyone, and since you admit
that the tug can mako enough to
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

~ ST when Jabez Cunningham,
bachelor and 40 years old, dis
n covered that he had a sneak
ing affection for the widow
Glenn he could not himself have told.
I 1t might have been the day he
was roofing bull-thistles out of the
pasture-the day he was driving her
lmuley COW out of his cornfield and
wishing the animal had horns to
knock of or-the day that he had
the collie after eating green apples
and the doctor came and looked SOL
temn and said 1t was a critical case.
The day came, however, when
lJabez felt the feeling and realized
that 1t wasn't goose-fesh stealing
over him and was rather glad.
( Folks said that Jabez was an hon.
est man and a good man. They said
more good things of him. but they
also said that If he had been born
in Arabia he would have been a re-
lligious fanatic and that he was the
most obstinate man IN four states.
He could have sold his farm once
sfor a third more than its worth, but
the would-be purchaser happened to
mention his disbelief that the whale
Swallowed Jonah, and away the bar
gain went
He drove load of hay IA miles to
get 50 extra a ton for IL, and then
drove it back home because the livery
stable man doubted that angels play
ed on harps.
He contributed $40 towards buy
sng a bell for the Baptist church:
and then refused to pay because
Deacon Brady observed that Bob IN
lgersolI might after all have thought
he was right
The countryside was full of anec-
Gdotes of what he had done, and any
man had but to say that he thought
the morrow would Bring rain or be
n fair day to discover what an OBJ
istinate man he was.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

band, and she felt herself capable of
managing another.
Jabez waited and she waited. He
was waiting until he had turned
things over and over in his mind and
was sure he was making no mistake,
and she was waiting his movements
and hoping that things would be
right for her when the day arrived.
It might have been the hand of
Providence or simply circumstances
that brought two important things
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

OF what money you need
go r asked Ezra Fiske.
81 have my checkbook,
was the proud response, as
Vida pressed kiss upon the wink
Eseh cheek and ran out of her father 5
office.
Fiske smiled as the door closed:
The cheekbook was an acquislt1oh OF
yesterday; a dainty affair in git ana
russia leather II had been designed
TO encourage economy, but VIDA was
writing checks for everyone for the
sake of indulging in her neW-IoC1o
pastime.
Had he known that sho had run
short of money and that only the
checkbook was in the costly purse
the smile would have faded.
Meanwhile the carriage was speed
ing toward the railroad station and
presently Vida stepped esAL INA
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

consolation.
The coming of night found him
wilted and miserable man. He had
hung to his opinions, but he bad lost
the woman he loved. One-half the
night he sat on the back steps and
listened TO the tree toads and crick-
cts and the other half in dreaming
that he was a twO-humped camel
wandering over the face of the earth.
When morning came he went down
to the widows and asked her If she
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

The widow Glenn knew his fail
ings, and yet she liked him. Indeed,
she made the discovery that she
would marry him If he asked her to,
but not until he had been cured Of
his ways.
1t was for him to ask and for her
to cure. She had managed one hus-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02
PILOT

She had steamed up to the coal
pocket one afternoon to refill the
bunkers. Outside the bar the sea
was heavy and, few boats had tried
to make the harbor.
Beside some lighterage work there
had been little to do, and Phoebe was
feeling blue. If such weather kept
up for few days longer, the Phoebe
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02
"A
n

For herself, Phoebe knew no fear.
She held the wheel and sent the Phoe-
be on her course as surely and as
safely as though she were veteran.
More than once an adroit vancouver
got the boat out OF tight place and
the crew were wont to brag that the
Phoebe could lead all the other boats
through the toughest channel and
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

Bill Jenkins. the Phoebe's mate, was
experimenting the job, and to him
the fussy little man pTopounded the
question as to whether he wanted a
Job.
ASK the skipper" said Jenkins,
nonchalantly, with a nod of his head
toward the pilot house, where Phoe-
be sat looking out over the troubled