Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-04-02
odd Ben Bolt"
~ M IA SoRTHcLIrr.
copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.
ss M IA SoRTHcLrrF.

gers accepted 1t on the spofv.s singu.
AIRY appropriate, for Captain Jim
I Staypoits honest. kind blue eyes. his
orown race and closely curling hair
ana his masterful yet good nature5
mouth made him indeed seem the en-.
oodiment OF the famous "Ben Bolt Of
the salt sea gale"
lie wasn't old at all. though he
thought himself aged and beyond all
the dreams Of youth because he had
JUST turned thirty-five. But then he
mad always had an abnormal modesty
about his own masculine charms.
Ills head. albeit of pepper and salt.
was filled with practical good sense
that had brought him up from fisher
man to superintendent and part owner
OF the Grandson company's big feet of
Smacks.
He had his office In the cubby of n
water stilted shanty at the end OF the
pier, and its window looked directly
across at certain young woman
named Kate. dealing out candy. or.
anges and cheap cigars to the rolling
crews of the boats. ~.
There was n standing joke among
the boys how the smoking habit took
hold OF everybody after he saw KATE.
1t never got TO her ears. though. for
Notwithstanding the candy and cigars.
there was n fine little line of reticence
about the girl over which no one eyer
stepped. not even Hank Raynor. the
vainest and most impudent fellow that
ever tired Schooner's deck. But her
pretty bushes and shining eyes gayc
the clew to her preference. and Raw
nor. who frequently consumed his en-
tire wait buying cigar. could not
have been said to discourage the i'm
preston.
1t Is true the boys joked. but the ma
Jorlty or them swore as well. for the
handsome Raynor bore no immaculate
reputation among them.
"Cuss itr' said Dick Pearsall. mate
OF the Osprey schooner savagely one
night. why Is It woman can never
see an inch from her nose when she's
daffy on a man?"
Margin takes that out Of 'em.
though" laughed old Captain Brown.
who was on honorable drydock after
fifty years of cod and halibut.
Marryin'! sneered the mate OF the
dandy Burgess built smack Lucinda V.
"Marryin'i Raynor looks like a mar
ryin' man, don't he? 1 amt no masher
myself. but l tell you that smarty Is
Just tryin' to show Off before us fell
lows. Marry herI Even IL he wanted
TO he amt Ut TO wipe her old shoes
onw
Nobody dlssented. There were
tongues In the fishing port that did not
hesitate to declare that Raynor's skill
as a fisherman was far inferior TO the
art with which he could wreck coast
ers Tor living when the owners got
tired OF paying insurance and decided
that IL was time to collect some in.
stead.
"Ali the same. he told me It was
nxed up between EN-" insisted Can
tain Brown. That's tellln', / s'posa.
but he didn't say as there was apy-
thing private about It."
Unnoticed by the men. Captain Jim
Saybolt had come up In time to catch
the last words. He stopped a moment
IN the shadow OF n column. When be
moved Oh his face looked gray and
Drawn In the uncertain light
Get ready To take the Osnrev md |
the Lucinda out next tide" no .oIa
evenly We'll have 'em unloaded In
'nree hours more and ready for sea |
again."
lie went back. and the group broke
up Pearsall. as he turned. caught n
glimpse or his superior's face and won.
dered vaguely IL ''the boss" were III
win hne sense OF honor. Captain
Jim himself had refralned from n Ioot
OF WORD That might compromise Kate
put Tue memory OF chance touch OF
Der fingers once when she passed hack
MS change still sent a thrill over hin,
since mat day she had grown under
us eyes 10 be the one desirable thin.
Of his life.
DE knew enough OF Raynor TO de.
'pise the man. Time aud again he
i"o aii out prayed he might get actual
'ause Tor Interference. Now the shat
ering or the dream seemed less HIS
)iunder than n crime.
A week afterward Hates old father
vas struck by falling block and laid
IN his bed. helpless for life. Her
mother fell Ill of typhoid. The sinner
saw the bloom fade from the
.irrs cheeks. to return only when
saynor appeared. and that In q merry.
us nush. de grew hot and cold alter
ateiy at the air OF careless proprietor
mp the latter had lately assumed
'hen suddenly the man announcod
hat he was going away.
Hank has got Ship" CAPTAIN Tim
eard Kate confde to another girl 7
IT'S q schooner running out of soutb
-mDoy for Norfolk. and the Owners
ave promised him raise In q few
ionths. and then. IL father and mother
re able to be moved"Z
captain Jim lost the rest but a sharn
irust went through him. whether or d
nguish or relief he could NOT have
'id. month later came news Of
iipwreck on the New Jersey coast.
Ane dispatches said openly that there q
ere suspicious circumstances ahout
he wreck, but as the captain. Hank
Ayhor' was announced as among those
'owned IL was impossible to do much
vestigatipg.
On that very day Kate failed to an
ar at the pier.
Day by day for blank. wretched
eek Captain Jim faced the empty
ana opposite his window. Then he
ent down to the waterside street ~
Ia found there restitution, at once d,
ttful and reassuring. In
1T isn't your love i am asking for. Or
ar he said to her gently as at the =
Ia OF bali hour he found himself