New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-08

The mate moved back hastily. '"Thatn do"
said he hercely; ghost ghost. don't you hit
me like that again"
Alright, George" said the other. as he medita-
lively felt the stiff gray whskers which framed his
red fece. What's the news?'
The news said George who was slow OF habits
and speech lis that you found last Tuesday
week off St Katherines Stairs. you was sat on &
Friday week at the Town o Ramsgate public house,
and buried on Monday afternoon at Lcwestoft"
Buried" gasped the other. sat on? You've
been drinking. George"
An a pretty penny your funeral cost 7 can tell
YOU" continued the mate. There's maidstone
| being made now-'Lived lamented and died respect
ed, think n IS with Not lost but gone before
at the bottom"
Lived respected and died lamented YOU mean"
growled the old man. well. nice mudde YOU
have made of It between YOU. Things always go
wrong when Tim here 10 look after them"
You amt dead. them" said the mate taking no
notice of this unreasonable remark "Whereve YOU
been all this long time?"
NO than you're master o this ere Ship
replied Mr. Harbolt grimly. live been a bit
queer in the stomach. an I took little drink 10
correct IT, Foolish like I took the wrong drink.
and it must have got into my head"
That's the worse Of not being used 10 it,"
said the mate without moving a muscle
The skipper eyed him soemnly. but the mate
stood firm.
"Arter that" continued the skipper still watching
him suspiciousy, Il remember no more distinctly
until this morning when found myself sitting on
| step down Poplar way and shiverin' with the
morning newspaper and crowd around me-"
Morning newspaper" repeated the mystihed
mate What that for?'
"Decency. I wrapped up in it, replied the
skipper. Where I came from how / got there
don't know more than Adam. I spOse I must
have been i'll; seem 10 remember taking something
! out of a bottle pretty often. Some old gentleman
in the crowd took me into a shop and bought mo
these co'es an here I m. My co'es and
[. thirty pounds o freight money had in my pocket
/, is all gone"
Wei. I'm hearty glad 20 you back" said the
mate. ITS quite a homecoming for you, too
| Your missis is down aft"
| My misss? What the DEVILS she aboard for?'
growied the skipper, successfully controlling his
natural qualification at the news.
She's been with us these last two trips" replied
the mate She's had business TO settle in London
and she's been going through lockers TO clear
up. like
My lockers groaned the skipper. Good
| heavens there's things In them lockers wouldn't
have her see for the world. women are so fussy
an so fond o making something out O. nothing
| There's pore female touched bit in the ,,pner
story. what's been writing love letters TO me.
| George"
Three pore females" said the precise mate: the
missis has got all the letters tied up with blue rib
bon Very far gone they was. too. poor creeters'
George" said the skipper in a broken voice Pm
| a ruined man. III never hear the end o. this
guess I'll an sleep forard this voyage and lie
7 low BE keerful you don't let on I'm aboard an
after she's home III take the ship again. and let
! the thing leak out gradual. Come TO life bit by
! bit SO 10 speak. II wouldn't do to scare her
George. an I'm the mean time I'll try an think o.
some explanation 20 tell her. You might be think
ing too"
| IN do what I can said the mate
/ crack me up 10 the old girl all you can; tell her
used TO write 10 all sorts o people when got a
crop Of drink in me; say how thoughtful l always
was OF her. You might tell her about that gold
locket bought for her an got robbed Of"
! Gold locket?' said the mate I'm tones Of great
/ surprise. What gold locket? Fust I've heard
! OF it
Any gold locket." said the skipper irritably.
| anything you can think of; you needn't be per
nAieT' After that you drop little hints about
people being buried in mistake for Others so as 20
prepare her a bit-I don't want To scare her.
Leave It 10 me- said the mate
I III go an turn In now. I'm dead tired" said
ule SKIPPER 4 spose Joe and the boys asleep
George nodded. and meditatively watched the
other as he pushed back the fore-scutte and drew,
II after him as he descended. Then a thong hi
| Struck The mate. and he hastily forward and
| threw his weight on the scuttle lust In time N
Illustrate the efforts Of Joe and the boy who were
coming on deck 10 tell him a new ghost story Tn.
| confusion below frightful the sltpner.s cr,,
OF IT'S only me. joe not possessing The soothtrg
effect which he intended. They calfned down a.
length. after their visitor had convinced then, ,b,
he really was flesh and blood and fists and a..
/ boys attention being directed to a small rue A.,
the corner OF the focse. the skipper took hts bunk
and was soon fast asleep
He slept soGndly that the noise OF the Vase,
getting under way failed rouse him and sh. a,as
well out In the open river when he aSoke and after
cautiously pTeIudinx his head through tho scut,lo.