The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-06
"0ld Ben Bolt"
BY MYRA NORTHcLIFF.

/ Literary Press.
His name wasn't "Old Ben Bolt" but
everybody called him that. and stran-
gers accepted 1t on the spot as singu-
larry appropriate. for Captain Jim
Staybolt's honest. kind blue eyes, his
brown face and closely curling hair
and his masterful yet good natured
mouth made him indeed seem the en-
bodiment Of the famous ''Ben Bolt of
the salt sea gale" :.
He wasn't old ut all though he
thought himself aged and beyond all
the dreams Of youth because he had
just turned thirty-five. But then he
had always had an abnormal modesty
about his own masculine charms.
His head. albeit Of pepper and salt,
was filed with practical good sense
that had brought him up from fisher
man to superintendent and part owner
Of the Grantson company's big feet of
smacks.
He had his ONCE in the cubby Of
water stilted shanty at the end Of the
pier. and It's 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 Q standing Joke among
the boys how the smoking habit took
hold Of everybody after he saw Kate.
II never got to her ears. though. for.
Notwithstanding the candy and cigars.
there was hne little line of reticence
about the gin over which no one eysr
stepped. not even Hank Raynor. the
vainest and most impudent fellow that
ever trod a schooners deck. But her
pretty bushes and shining eyes gave
the clew to her preference. and Ray
nor. who frequently consumed his en-
tire walt buying a cigar. could not
have been said to discourage the i'm
preston.
1t Is true the boys joked. but the ma
jority OF them swore as well, for the
handsome Raynor bore no immaculate
reputation among them.
.cuss itw said Dick Pearsali. mate
Of the Osprey schooner. savagely one
night. .why Is It a woman can never
see an inch from Der nose when she's
daffy on a mani"
Margin takes that out Of EN-
though" laughed old Captain Brown
who was on honorable drydock aftel
fifty years Of cod and halibut
"Marryin'r' sneered the mate OF the
dandy Burgess built smack Lucinda v.
Margin. Raynor looks like a mar
ryin' man, don't he? amt no masheI
myself. hat tell you that smarty Il
Just tryin' TO show OF before US Eel
lows. Marry her. Even IL he wantet
to he aln't at 10 wipe her old shoes
on
Nobody dlssented. There wer,
tongues In the fishing mort that did no
hesitate to declare that Raynor's skill
as fisherman was far inferior to thu
art with which he could wreck coast
ers for living when the owners go
tired Of paying insurance and decides
that II was time TO collect some in
stead.
"All the same. he told me It wa
fixed up between EN-" insisted CAP
tain Brown. That's tellln', s'pose
bur he didn't say as there was any
thing private about It."
Unnoticed by the men. Captain jim
Saybolt had come up In time to cate
. the last words. He stopped momen
In the shadow OF column. When b
moved ON his face looked gray an,
drawn In the uncertain light.
Get ready TO take the Osprey an
|. the Lucinda out next tide" he sal
!. evenly. "we'il have 'em unloaded 4
three hours more and ready for sc
again"
He went back. and the group brok
up. PearsaIl. as he turned. caught
glimpse OF bis superior's face and wor
!. dered vaguely II "the boss were III.
With a fine sense OF honor. Capital
Jim himself had refrained from a loo
7 or word that might compromise Kat,
but the memory Of chance touch &
her fingers once when she passed bac
J. his change still sent thrill over hin
! Since that day she had grown undo
bis eyes TO be the one desirable thin
Of bis life.
, He knew enough Of Raynor to d
spise the man Time and again /
had all but prayed he might get actul
cause for interference. Now the sha
tering Of the dream seemed less b
blunder than q crime.
. A week afterward Kate's old faith,
2 was struck by falling block and lal
J. on his bed. helpless for life. II,
= mother fell NJ Of typhoid. The supe
y intendent saw the bloom fade from Il
\ girls cheeks. 20 return only whe
y Rsynor appeared. and that In . ner
Gus nush. lie grew hot and cold alte
= nately at the air Of careless proprieto
: ship the latter had lately assume
. Then suddenly the man announcs
= that he was going away.
" "fiank has got q ship" Captain il
beard Kate confide 10 another eil
ITS q schooner running out Of Sou
= Amboy for Norfolk. and the owne
:" have promised him q raise IN q fe
:, months. and then. n father and moth
= are able to BE- moved
I" <s.us.s. "a. t..s A.. -~.s k..x /. ~,