Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-04-03

iniiS hpbiulthtc, loT 1uptulu Jim
Staybolt's honest. kind blue eyes, his
brown face and closely curling hair
and his masterfu yet good natured
mouth made him indeed seem the EN-
bodiment 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
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 Office IN the cubby Of n
water stilted shanty Mt 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 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 fine little line OF reticence
about the girl over which no one ever
stepped. not even Hank Raynor. the
vainest and most impudcnt fellow that
ever trod schooner's deck. But her
pretty bushes and shining eyes gave
the clcw to her preference. and Ray
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
jority OF them swore as well, for the
handsome Raynor bore no immaculate
reputation among them.
"Cuss it, said Dick Pearsall. mate
of the Osprey schooner. savagely one
night why is 1t woman can never
see an inch from her nose when she's
daffy on Il mani?
though" laughed old Captain Brown.
who was on honorable drydock after
fifty years OF cod and halibut
"Marryin'," sneercd the mate OF the
dandy Burgess built smack Lucinda v.
Margin. Raynor looks like mar
ryin' man, don't he? amt no masher
myself but | tell you that smarty Is
Just tryin' TO show off before us fel-
lows. Marry her. Even IL he wanted
to lie amt fit to wipe her old shoes
on"
Nobody dissented There were
tongues in the fishing port that did not
hesitate to declare that Raynor's skill
as q fisherman was far inferior to the
art with which he could wreck coast
ers for a living when the owners got
tired of paying insurance and decided
that ii was time to collect some In.
! stead.
"All the same. he told me 1t was
fixed up between EN-" insisted Cap
tain Brown. That's tellln'. ] s'pose.
but 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 catch
the last words. He stopped moment
In the shadow of a column. When he
moved on his face looked gray and
drawn in the uncertain light.
Get ready TO take the Osprey and
the Lucinda out next tide" he said
evenly. Wen have EN- unloaded In
three hours more and ready for sea
again."
He went back, and the group broke
| up. Pearsall. as he turned. caught a
glimpse of his superior's face and won.
dered vaguely II the boss" were Ill.
With a fine sense OF honor. Captain
Jim himself had refrained from a look
or word that might compromise Kate,
but the memory Of chance touch Of
her fingers once when she passed back
his change stiIl sent thrill over him.
Since that day she had grown under
his eyes TO be the one desirable thing
OF his life.
He knew enough OF Raynor to de-
spise the man. Time and again he
had all but prayed he might get actual
cause for interference. Now the shat
tering Of the dream seemed less his
blunder than a crime.
A week afterward Hates old father
was struck by falling block and laid
on his bed. helpless for life. Her
mother fell III of typhoid. The super
intendent saw the bloom fade from the
girls cheeks, TO return only when
Raynor appeared. and that in a nerv-
Gus flush. He grew hot and cold alter.
nately nj the air Of careless proprietor
ship the latter had lately assumed
Then suddenly the man announced
that he was going away.
Hank has got ship" Captain Jim
heard Kate confide 10 another girl
IT'S u schooner running out Of South
Amboy for Norfolk. and the owners
have promised him a raise In few
months. and then. II father and mother
are able TO be moved
Captain Jim lost the rest. but n sharp
thrust went through him. whether Of
anguish or relief he could moi have