Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-05-14

want entered with the word that the Wis
itor insisted upon seeing Mr.. Constable's
friend"
There was a passage of bells from the
bridge to the engine room, and the Mad
anne came to life. Constable climbed to
the bridge. The stranger below on the
pier was in a furious state of mind, and
was trying to force his way aboard 1t
was plain that Breen was badly wanted
and equally plain to Constable that he
was running into the danger of entang-
ling himself in the meshes of the law :;
but he was stoutly disinclined to give I'D
an admirable companion for the voyage
The progress of clearing went on quick
ly. The Madame's Prov was turned out
into the harbor, and the signal given to
free the aft cable.
At this point the insistent stranger
raised his voice and struggled with the
dockman to prevent him from slipping the
rope. Constable stepped to the railing of
the bridge and invoked the assistance of
two men on the pier head
Take that fellow IN fand,'' he ordered
He seems to be laboring under delu-
sion. That's good, men,.
The stranger was overpowered. and the
cable cast off. Harsh fragments of speech
were carried upward, but no sentences
that cohered sufficiently for Constable's
intelligence, until the very last, when, as
the ship swung Free he heard plainly:
IN get you both. if l have to follow
you around the world ~
Il don't know but what you will" the
man on the bridge muttered to himself.
You seem moved by a rather emphatic
disposition
That night in his oil SKINS Consta BILE
paced the hurricane deck His mind was
serene, and he was inclined to regard the
affair Of the morning as a far-off thing
which didn't signify. What had placed
Breen in the fugitive lists he did not
care to know. He was just enough not
to forget that there are regrettable trans
actions in every mans pasta black bun
die of perversities which some men desip
nate their chamber of horrors" and 9th
ers call their pet frailties." Constable
felt that he was called upon to Judge no
man. He liked Breen. and did not want
his liking altered. save for the better
He could not imagine Breen doing a
cowardly thing and anything else did not
greatly matter.
The spray swept in gusts over the
Madame's dipping PROV. The bare masts,
tipped with liz hts. swung with a giant
sweep from port to starboard and back
to port again, lingering the black heavens
for the blown-out stars. Constable
couldn't be half-miserable out there on
the tossing floor of the Atlantic
Mr.. Fagh, the new third officer, secur-
ed at the last moment to take the place
of Mr.. HIATT, who was i'll. was on the
bridge now. Occasionally in the glow of
Pughs cigar Constable could see the face
of the seaman. 1t seemed small, color
less and rubbed out-not the face of
man who could bring ship up to port
through a raving gale. 1t was nearly
midnight when Constable went below
Breen was still reading.
How does it happen. Peter. tina,
man of your, substance happens to be out
here in a sumptuous yacht with only one
guest and that an accidental one?" Breen
questioned.
Il have few friends. and little aptness
for entertaining" Constable said Il
wouldn't know what to do with a ship
load of guests. l took out a party once
The members of this party played poker
| would rush down to the cabin door.
calling. Come on deck quickly. my freuds
An old socker of a whale is snoring off
| our port bow" An right. Peter. some
body would say bring it right in It's
your deal. Dickie' One man got all the
money finally. and then there were tes.y
tempers."
"Men-men." said Breen; but women
go down to sea in other mems boats"
Il don't know any women up there"
| Constable declared. by up there
| refer in general to the States and Can
| ada. ! shouldn't know what TO do with
women here. They'd be sick. ir.evv'd
| talk about things they didn't kuoS about.
| put on rakish caps, look frowsy when
the wind was on. and when they had
| sprung all their changes of raiEent.
! they'd want to so home"
Peter, You are on the wrong talk.
| There are rich mems sons who can 20
| to sea without poker or bridge; and femi-
ness, and who look adorable in rakish
yachting caps and blowing hair. Some
| time you'll find one.
| Breen halted. The other WAS staring
| hard into the prism OF glass Oh the
| buffet-staring and smiling.
Il believe you are jockeying me into
delivering platitudes, Peter Brccn I'm
| ished.
Il have an uncle in Martinique, Breen
| "a fine old chap whom you'll he glad to
know. This uncle has partner in the
fruit and sugar business. They are keen,
kindly men, both-partners in the higher