The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-15
5.HAHPTOH

When his time came to go home in the Burdock he was an alter~ man. The quiet, alI-observant scrutiny had gone and the officers who greeted him as he came up the accommodation ladder saw 1t at once. Arthur Price in command a oreezy good-looking Captain in blue serge and gold braid
 'How is Minnie?" asked the old man as he set down his glass.
 She's all right" was the reply efI wanted to tell you about that. We go into dry dock when we get back from this trip and Minnie and I'll get married before I take her out again. Quick work, isn't n?"
 The old Captain nodded; the young Captain smiled.
 "You1l be bringing Minnie out for the trip suppose?" asked the elder.
 That's my idea," agreed Arthur.
 You're lucky chap," said the old man slowly. He hesitated. You've got your ship in hand, eh, Arthur"
 five got her down to fine point" said Arthur emphatically. "You needn't bother about me, fath- er l know my job, and don't any teaching. I wish you'd get to understand that You know Davis has bought the Stormberg?" T didn't know,' said the old man with sigh. 1 dont matter to me- anyhow. I'd be reaching tor the engine telegraph with my right hand as like as not No, Arthur, I've done I'll bother young officers more"
 The run home was an easy one but it confirmed old Captain Price in his resolution to have done with the sea. Two or three times he fell about decks; small roll the commonplace movement of 8 wen-driven steamship in a seaway shook him from his balance and that missing arm which al- ways seemed to be there, let him down. He would reach for stanchion with 1t to steady him; self, and none of his falls served to cure him of the persistent delusion that he not a cripple. He tried to pick things up with it and let glasses and the like fall every day. The officers and en- gineers, men who had sailed with him at his ablest, saw his weakness quickly ahd, with the ready tact that comes to efficient seafarers never showed by increased deference any sign that Arthur who went aside to make things easy for him, to cut his food for him at table, and forth From Swansea he went home by train: Minnie and her kindly old father met him and made much In had h11i1f m his fortune, scraping tonnage together bit by bit, from the time when, captain, he had ealved crazy derelict and had her turned to him by the underwriters in Qulttance of his claims. Now he owned little fleet of good steam ed owner. He did not press the stormberg on Captain Price. The two old men understood each other.
 'T don't want her," Captain Price told him. There's a time for nursin' tender engines and a time for scrappin' them. I'm for the scrap heap, David. I'm not the man was. don't put faith in myself more It's Arthur's turn now"
 David Davis nodded. "Yes, then. We'll, well, now! It's pity, too, John. But you know whats best to be sure don't want you to go without a ship while I've got bottom afloat but I don't want you to put the Stermberg to roost on the rocks of Lundy neither So you wouldn't put faith in yourself no more?'
 'No" said Captain Price frowning refective1y u wouldn't and that's the truth" He was seated in plush-covered arm chair in Davis's parlor and he leaned forward "It's this arm of mine It isn't there but can't get rid of the feeling oi it. I'm always reachin' for things with it. I'd doubt"
 '"That's funny" said Davis, in sympathy "Wel then, you stop visiting with I've mind tc be alone in the house when your Arthur's gone of with my Minnie He'll push the Burdock back an fore for and we'll sit ashore like gentlemen. He makes good figure of skipper, don't he, John?'
 Old Captain Price sighed. Aye, he looks wei on % the bridge he said H., T IT. hope t. hell watch the
 The wedding day Thursday. The cere anony was to take place in the chapel of which Da vfd Davis was member; the subsequent festivities arranged for at hotel. It was to be notable affair, an epoch-maker in the local ship ping world, and when all there would be time for the newly-wedded to go aboard th Burdock and take her out the tide. Old Cap tain Price, decorous in stiff black, drove to tn church with his in a twohorse brougham Neither spoke a word till they were close to tn chapel door. Then the old burst out sud denly.
 "For Gods sake Arthur boy do the right thin by your ship"
 Arthur Price was a little moved "I will, father, be said. Here's my hand on it." There pause. "Why don't you take my hand, father? he asked
 "Eh?" The old man started 'T thought I'd tool it, Arthur: I'll be going soft next Here's the oth hand for you.''
 The reception at the hotel and the breakfas there were notable affairs Everybody who count ed for anything with the hosts there and al ter little preliminary formalty and awkward ness, the function grew to animation The shiI ping folk of Cardiff know champagne less beverage than as symbol and there was plent Of it. Serious men became frivolous; David Davi made speech in Welsh; Minnie glowed and blos somed; Arthur was everybody's friend. The ol Captain seated at the bottom of the table wit an iron-clad matron on one side and a bored r porter on the other, watched him with groan. Th man who was to take the Burdock out of dock wa drinking. Even one glass at such a time woul have broached the old mans code; it a crim against shipmastership. But Arthur, with hi bride beside him. her brown eyes alight, her shou der against his shoulder, had gone much furthe than the one glass. The exhilaration of the da dazzled him; waiter with bottle to refill hi glass was ever at his shoulder. His voice rattle on untiringly; already the old how th muscles of the jaw were slack and the eyes move loosely. The young Captain had a toast to T spond to; he swaved as he stood up to speak an his tongue stumbled his consonants. The T porter on Captain Prices left offered him char pagne at the moment.
 'ETake 1t away" run1bled the old ~SwiI yourself.'
 The pressman nodded. ~It is pretty shocki1 stuff" he agreed. I'm going to nap the co