The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-20
THE EVENING STORY
"OId Ben BoIt.v

L
everybody called him that: and stran-
gers accepted it on the spot as singu-
iarV appropriate, for Capt. Jim Stay-
polts honest kind blue eyes, his
en6 pr3"b H. race and closely curling hair
/ anu ms masterful and vet good-na-
tured mouth made him indeed seem
Ine embodiment of the famous ben
Bolt of the salt sea gale.''
he wasn't old at all. though he
| thought himself aged beyond all the
| dreams of youth because he had lust
passed his birthday. But then he had
always had an abnormal modesty
ABOUT ms own masculine cnarms.
His head, albeit of pepper-and-salt
was filled with practical good sense
tnat had brought him up from fisher
man to supe-inten dent and part own
er or the Grantson Company's big fleet
He had his office in the cubby of
Water-stflted shanty at the end of the
| pier, and its wirdo CIV looked directly
| across at a certain young woman nam
ed Kate, dea ing cut candy, oranges
| ara cheap cigars to the rolling crews
| of the boats
There was a 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 line of reticence
about the girl over which no one ever
stepped. not even Hank Raynor, the
Va1nest and most impudent fellow that
| ever trod schooner'S deck. But her
| pretty bushes and shining eyes gave
| the ctew to her preference, and Ray
nor, who frequently consumed his en-
| tire wait buying a cigar, could not
have beer said to discourage the i'm
preston.
1t is true the boys joked, but the
| majority of them swore as well. for
| the handsome Raynor bore no inmac-
| ulate reputation among them
of q
| CT the Osprey schooner savagely one
night. ''Why is it a woman can never
| see an inch from her nose when she's
daffy on a man?
though" laughed old Capt. Brown,
who was on honorable dry dock after
| fifty years of cod and halibut.
"Marryin'!" sneered the mate of the
dandy Burgess-built smack Lucinda "
"Marryin'. Raynor looks like a mar
| ryin' man, don't he! I amt no mash
er myself. but I tell you that smarty
| is just tryin' to show orr before us
fellows. Marry her! Even if he want
ed to he amt fit to wipe her old
shoes ont"
Nobody dissented. There were
tongues in the fishing port that did
not hesitate to declare that Raynor's
skill as a fisherman was far inferior to
the art with which he could wreck
coasters for a living when the owners
got tired paying insurance and decided
that it was time to collect some in
stead.
"AIl the same. he told me it was
fixed up between 'em," insisted Capt.
Brown That's tellin', I s'pose. but
he didn't say as there was anything
private about it,"
Unnoticed by the men. Capt. Jim
Staybolt had come up in time to
catch the last words. He stopped a
moment in the shadow of column.
When he moved on his face looked
uncertain
"Get ready to take the osprey and
the Lucinda out next tide" he said
evenly ''We'1l have 'em 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
With a fine sense of honor. Capt.
Jim himself had refrained from look
or word that might compromise Kate;
but the memory of a chance touc5
Eack his change, still sent a thrill over
Tin Since that day she had grown
under his eyes to be the one desirable
thing of his life.
He knew enough oe Raynor to de-
spise the man; time and again he had
all but prayed he might get actual
cause for interference. NOW the snat-
tering of his dream Seemeo less his
blunder than a crime.
week afterward Kate's old father
was struck by a falling block and laid
on his bed, helpless for life Her motn-
er fell ill with typhoid. The superln-
tendent saw the bloom fade from the
girPs cheeks. to return only when
Raynor appeared, and that in a ner-
vous flush. He grew hot ana colo al
ternately at the air of careless pro-
prietorship the latter had lately as
nounced that he was going away.
Hank has got a ship" Capt. Jim
heard Kate confide to another girl.
s'It's a schooner running out of South
Ambov for Norfolk. and the owners
have promised him raise in a few
months, and then. if father and moth
er are able to be moved
Capt Jim lost the rest; but sharp
thrust went through him, whether of
anguish or relief he could not nave
told. A month later came news of
shipwreck on the New Jersey coast.
The dispatches said openly that
there were suspicious circumstances
about the wreck, but as the captain, |
Hank Raynor, was announced as
among those drowned. it was impos- |
sible to do much Investigating
On that very day Kate failed to ap- |
pear at the pier.
Dav by day, for a blank, wretched |
week. Capt Jim faced the empty stand |
opposite his window. Then he went |
down to the waterside street where he
knew Kate lived and found there des-
titution, at once pitiful and reassur-
ing.
s.It isn't your love I am asking for,
dear" he said to her gently, as at the
end of a half-hour he found himself
holding her trembling fingers, and
smoothing her hair. "I couldn't expect
that But if you will give me what is
left. the right to take care of you and
yours, God knows it will be precious
trust"