The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-26
The Watchdog of the Sea-
BY FOxCROFT DAVIS

bright morning, the pilot boat being
spinning down on her return voyage.
Mcleod was the "next chance" man
and was taken aboard. He was warm
ly greeted by Captain Forteseue.
The day was so clear that the ship
could have found her own way in and
out of reefs and shoals and islands,
and there was time for an agreeable
conversation with Captain Fortescuc
"How about Miss JemimaW asked
Captain Fortescue.
f'Haven t seen her yet. - replied Me.
Leod, with blush, for pilots can blush
"I expect 10 see her when I leave
the ship.
About two hours afterward the white
bungalow and the flagstaff were sighted.
The little pilot boat, keeping her watch
dog guard, caught sight of the cruiser
and instantly made dash for her. In
the clear light of noon they could see
figure in nm oilskIn, with n cap tied
under the chin with n red silk hand
kerchief, scramble into the boat after
the crew, and rs the yawl shot past the
rope ladder Jemima sprang up and
came over the side as handy rs you
please. Sho advanced toward Captain
Fortcscue, extending her right hand
and holding out paper IN her left,
Captain Fortescuc greeted her cor
daily. There was no hint Of skirts
IN sight, and the man at the wheel,
who was not Stubbs, had no suspicion
Of the extraordinary nature Of what
was happening. Captain Fortescuc in
vitcd Jim WaTing into the chart room,
where his boy had some hot coffee
ready, and also asked Mcleod in to
have cup before leaving the ship,
As n matter of fact. Captain Fortescue
wanted to see the meeting between the
two.
"sWhen did YOU get that hcense?''
asked Mcleod, in a stern Scotch voice,
of Iemima.
ina coolly. s'My lawyer made ii SO
hot for the pilot board that they were
glad enough to give it to me to get
rid Of him. I m going to a lawyer now
for everything, / passed an Al exam
ination and have got my license Just
as straight as yours, Dick Mcleod
There are Just two women pilots in the
east, and ] make the third. The other
two are pilots wives:
soon, Jemima,' said Mcleod, in tone
Of authority, shaking hands with her
then with Captain Fortescuc, before he
tumbled down the rope ladder.
"Won t you take your bonnet off
Miss Jemima7' asked Captain Fortes
cue. politely, of the pink-cheeked pilot
''No, / thank you,' said the pilot
81 think it is better not to let the
people in the ship suspect anything
The captain thought so, too,
In spite of the license and Of his pre-
vious experience, Captain Fortescue
found it convenient to remain on the
bridge while they traversed the lane in
the earthquake region. In the short
stretches where the course was plain he
attempted to engage the pilot in some
light conversation. but .Jemima sternly
maintained a polite taciturn,ty. The
captain, however, managed 20 get an
answer ont of her to one question.
''What are you going 10 do about
your license when YOU get marrled?'
"Don't intend to give up the Ii
cense,' replied the pilot,
"But Mcleod says he will make
you"
A smile shone upon the pilots face
bringing cut n dimple in her cheek.
"Dick talks that way sh" said
and then ordered the wheel down a
point.
The pilot this lime accepted ha- cour,
tesy right to the, bridge and walked
up and down with steady, If nor
masculine. tread, her brown stockingcd
ankles showing at the edge of tie oil.
skin. When the white bungalow AMI
the flagstaff came in sight the pilot boat
steamed out to take Jemima off. Gap.
tain Fortescue parted from her with u
cordial handshake aud with request to
send him an invitation to tie wedding
The pilot smiled an enigmatic smile and
promised to let him know.
"But I won't give up my license, -
was her final remark.
II was a week after that when Dick
Mcleod got down to the little white
bungalow. Jemima, dressed in a blue
shirt and white shirt waist and with
a locket around her neck and a ribbon
in her hair, was sitting at the WINDOW
reading fashion magazine. Warng,
pere, was fortunately absent,
Glow do you do, Dick2' she snid,