Mower County transcript., 1908-09-02
CHAPTER v.

The Sister Mary Goes to Sea.
With his mothers sobbed blessing
and his fathers strained words Of part
Ing ringing in his ears, Jerry Cham
bers boarded the old ship Sister
Mary = few minutes after seven o'clock
the next morning. In his pockets was
$z6 in money and in q small satchel
were clothing and other things not ex-
ceeding total value Of $25. Capt. Bulger
was gruhly issuing orders up forward.
but his face lost it's sternuess when
he saw Jerry.
ION time, see," said he. IT reckon
you've made good enough start"
Where are we bound for, captain?"
promptly asked Jerry, who had been
in stew of wonder as to the vessels
destination.
I'll tell you all about it as soon as
get time," said the captain. With this
on his lips he started across the deck.
Jerry took his satchel into the dingy
old cabin, returning almost Immediate
ly to the deok, where all hands wero
busy in final preparation for the de-
parture. He further worked his way
into the officers good graces by volun-
teering his assistance, but the gr1z-
led old salt suggested that he would
be more serviceable out of the way Of
the men, who knew what to do and
how to do it. He went up forward,
away from the other men, and, light
ing his pipe, fell to picturing the pos
sibilities of his remarkable adventure.
The longer his eyes looked in the d.
rection of his old home the more
strongly did he realize the sacrifice
he was making to earn an enduring
right to his personality.
Il did my level best to make peace
with father" he mused, "but," and
the spirit of resentment again fared
up, "he wouldn't let me. He was the
unreasonable one" Although he felt
that his action was justified, he went
to sea with a new love for Wallace
Chambers.
AS the old vessel glided away from
her pier a spirit akin to remorse and
dependency seized him, and he went
his beloved New York fade from his
view. Sitting at the captains table,
he started to read q novel, but the
book had no charm for him. He was
alone until the boat was well away
from the Hook, when Capt. Bulger
joined him.
whats your name?" asked the cap
tain, drawing up chair and reaching
for bottle of whisky.
Gerard Chambers-they call me
Jerry for Short
''Well, Jerry, I've got time to talk
about this trip now" He filled a tum-
bier almost full of liquor and cooked
his feet upon the table.
IT am all ears" said Jerry, leaning
forward.
''Well, sir, the Mary amt bound for
no port straight across and them guns
below amt meant for no trainin'
SCHOOL,"
Jerry was picture of startled in
terest. His eyes were wide open and
his lower lip was down. The captain
wore something of a guilty smile.
'The guns are not for training
school?" Jerry exclaimed.
mo, stree! Them guns are meant
for somethin' more'n mere school kids.
I don't reckon they'll ever be intro
duced to blank cartridges" The old
sailor looked thoughtfully at the floor
for a minute and then added: Il
reckon you know all the world amt as
peaceable as the U. S. A., don't you ~
Il suppose there are strifes some.
where" said Jerry, his mind whirling.
"Well, to come right down to the
fine pint" went on the captain in q
business-like tone, "this boat n mes
engaged in a little movement that
amt just O the sort to appeal favsbly
to the U. s. gov'ment. The guns are
. goin' to the enemies of a govment
that's friendly with her. Understand
4 49, sl3E