The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-02-12
CHAPTER u.
The Man.

l see EN- pretty often during the
next week. They used to loaf down to
the landing of a morning, smoking
cigars, and with their hands in their
pockets. Crazy or not, there was a
something about 'em that kind of got
me; / own up / begun to like 'em, in
spite of their tophamper being out Of
gear. AS a general run l don't banker
for the average city boarder. He runs
too much to yachting clothes and
patronizing. Neither the clothes nor
the airs set well; kind of look like
they was secondhand and made over
for him by the folks at home. When
one OF that kind is out sailing with
me and begins to lord it and show off
afore the girls the Dora Bassett Is
pretty apt to ship some spray over the
bow. A couple of gallons Of salt
water sliced off a wave top and poured
down the neck of n of them fellers
is the best reducer l know Of; shrinks
his importance like twas a flannel
shirt.
But Nate Scudder's private patients
want that kind. Not that they want
dressed. Land sakes! / don't s'pose
they wore the same vests two days
running. But they looked like they
was used to their clothes, not as If
they'd Just been introduced and didn't
feel to home in 'em. And they didn't
~patronize lone to speak of; called me
Skipper" and "Sol" just as sociable
as could be. And as for the girls, they
eve looked twice at any of the hotel
ones. Them two skittish females that
| took yer to Trumet used to get in
their way and beg pardon and giggle,
hosting Irritation signals, so to speak,
but Van Brunt and Hartley wouldn't
even come up into the wind; just kept
on their course like they was carrying
the mail. Twas these two females
that first named 'em "The Heavenly
Twins" twas shortened later to "The
Heavenlies."
Every time / took the Heavenlies IN
a cruise the more. certain I vas that
they were loons-harmless and good
natured, of course, but looms Just the
same. Most generally they carried
q book along with EN- and read it out
loud to each other. They'd read a
spell and then stop and break out
with: by Jove! that's SO. He's right,
Isn't he?" You'd think that book vas
a human almost, the way they went on
about 1t. I've heard a minister do the
same way over the Scriptures; but
this want the Bible; the name Of it
was "The Natural Life" I borrowed 1
once to look at, but twas all foolish
less to me; telling about money being
a cuss, and such rot. I've been cussed
considerable sence ! first went to sea,
but not by m%oney-no, sir!
But Van Brunt would read three or
four fathom OF rubbish out of 1.-THE
Natural" and then heave to and say:
"Odd we didn't think of that afore,
Martin. It doesn't count for much.
does It? Well, we're through with 1t
now, thank God! Look at that sun
set. Have a smoke. %skipper?"
And then he'd pass yer a cigar that
had cost as much as ten cusses a box.
II I'm any Judge of tobacco.
One night, just as we were coming
into port, Van says to me:
"Sol," he says. I'VE may want you
and the boat tomorrow. My man'l
let you know in the morning. Mean
while Just dodge the nautical bunch at
the hotel, will you?"
was a good deal shook ny. I'd al.
most forgot that keeper.
Mani" says I, "Oh, yes. yes! ! see,
u he here now?"
me; eoming tonight believe. ~