The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-24

He and Durkin descended into a cor
Ild5r. TO be sure; and that was the emo
Of the illusion. for they landed In
long room none too sweet in the way
OF ventilation. and illuminated by hail
q dozen incandescents
Some six or eight m en-, Tudely dressed
and even more rude of facial aspect
were sitting around. some smoking, one
or two struggling through newspaper
Durkin nodded Familiarity; the group
responded. took a glance at waiter
Johnson, and returned to their respec-
tive pursuits
This is the kind of quarters you get
on this old tub-and they're on the
bum.' Durkin explained. briefly. Amt
more'n half handed this trip. We IL
settle down around here. Walt. He
indicated a pair of dubious hunks at
the end OF the line. IF it amt right
Buck'u kick US out later. We don I
wanter bother him now. any way.
Carefully he stored away his can
vas grip in the upper Of the two berths-
Mr.. Johnson, with A sigh, did likewise
in the lower. and then, squatting sud
denly on low stool, he looked at
Durkin with an almost dOglike afec-
ton, and said. hoarsely:
Say. Bill. / dunno how to thank
YOU for gettin' me this berth You
been darned good to me"'
Rats
well mean it. Bnl!' the younger
man protested. seriously. Il was down
and out, all right. I'm a stranger
around here, and if it hadn't been for
| you"
| There was very genuine emotion in
the tone-emOtion sufficiently genuine
that it penetrated even Bits obviously
thick skin. His hard eyes softened Cd
dly.
That's all right, kid Didn't ye blow
me TO feed? Gotter do sOmethin
t git square Don't you worry. This
amt no rose garden. We git the WORK
comm back"
The kid stood up and extended his
hand.
Il amt worryin' about the work.
he said. THAT don't scare me none
but I'm darned glad ! met YOU Bill
You're one Of the first friends I've
ever found
The other shook the hand and grin
ned-and then laughed bOisterously.
Glad somebody thinks I'm all right
| Waltz he muttered. 4 guess wei pa
together all RICH, for whiler'
| 4 brief space Of settling their be-
longings, and they sauntered out arm
in arm, 10 the considerable amusement
of the one or two who noticed. walt
and Bill seemed to have entered upor
2 Damon and Pythias contract at shor'
notice,
Rather 70 Mr.. JohnsOn's amaZement
he realized that absent mindedness mac
overtaken him again, as they came OF
deck. The Occident was not only NOV
ing. hut moving under her own steam
The shore lights we're several hundred
yards behind. and tug was dropping
away: and Dur<in, with grin, hgGte'
his pipe and remarked:
This Is where We get the cinch
workin' on the cargo-because tner
amt no cargo this time. Comm baci
-"
We'll. I'm wiIin' TO work" Mr.
Johnson asseverated doggedly. as n
laid a hand on the shoulder Of has ne'
friend.
They were beautifully unmOlested
For very nearly an hour they loltere
q bout in their own precinct. catcnln
only a glimpse OF ThOrne. VINO passe
perfunctory curse and walked on.
sumner came later neither the del
cate fare of the liner nor the faDie
deep sea bin Of fare Of the hcuona
| fo'c'sle. This particular supper cor
sisted OF round steak, fried 10 ada
uaautfne tenderness. with potatoes tha
averaged zoo per cent Of their orgins
weight in absorbed water. There Wer
canned beans too, and as a specla
dispeusation, waterfront pie. And Whe
Il was over Mr. DuTkin, even, sighe
family as trey made for the open al
They were really under way now.
, fbe pitch-bIack night. with the shor
2 ont OF sight, ana a sort Of thrill wer
a through Walter Johnson, despite n
sweater.
say. BIN" he said. when do "
: strike Portland
s Anywhere betW cen ten hours OF te
l DAYS, on this craft" Bill chuckied. ISL
makes as much as FIVE knots on hou
d sometimes, when the westhers Soo'
Get on 10 the old man mp there
Y Young Nj. Johnson looked aloft. Thei
I on the bridge stood the heavy ma
who was unquestionablv captain Of Il
j. "Occident" In the dim light OF tf
d lamps he was manipulating pair
marine glasses and mUttering as
scanned the waste OF empty hlacknes
Then from the bridge came.
= Say. Buck, Go sstern and have
look Al her lit looks 20 me-
> He passed down the glasses 10 II
z mate, who stamped away along II
! deck.
y For a time Messrs. Durkin and JOIN
son watched idly. Then the keen ey'
= of the latter toCk in an almost unnOtic
70 able detail.
Say. There's lights back ther
u Bill" ne remarked.
j. Yeah? what Of it?'
4 dunno. Ouly-'
l. And here Nj. Thorne returned al
they heard MN shout to the captain.
r #X* A "a 80