The St. Mary banner., 1910-01-29
Simpsons
Stand.
DY JAMES WILLIAM JACKSON.

Stand right up to him, son! Ion
let him scare you!" The mate OF the
river steamer Wave spoke with laugh
ing encouragement. A score OF me-
chanics repairing the river bulkhead
kept him company in watching the
noontime fun.
One of the crew Of the Wave,
young, robust and full of mischief,
stood with a grin on his face and
firm grip on a folded horse-blanket.
Facing him, with an equally deter
mined hold on the blanket, was an
other young fellow with fiery red hair.
The red-haired Simpson had been
engaged only two days before as
teamster on Thorn's stone-wagon. He
was miId-mannered, blue-eyed and in
offensive. AS stranger to the river
front he had been quietlyy enjoying
the noon hour while Peterson, the
fun-loving young deck-hand, wander
ed restlessly about in search of an
inspiration.
SIMPSONS big horses, with brides
off and heads bert we're munching
their oats. On the seat of the wagon
behind lay the new blanket. 1t
caught the boatmans eye.
"Ill take that down and see If Il
will fit my bunk, Reddy," he nonchal-
antly announced.
AS Peterson pulled down the blan-
ket and started toward the Wave,
Simpson interposed his tall figure.
The "wrastling" match which sudden
" developed was hailed with cheers.
The young deck-hand was no match
for the 1.-the Simpson, who for the
sake OF amusement allowed his an
tagonist some advantage, but turned
the tide of battle as he pleased.
The loud laughter and the prospect
Of defeat seemed to have bad ef-
feet on Peterson. Simpson saw that
he was growing angry, and quickly
broke the boatman's hold.
Peterson advanced belligerently,
and Simpson retreated. The next mo-
ment the teamster was in full fight.
Pursued by the sailor, he sprinted
away from the river, the blanket
streaming out behind.
Dodging in and out of the piled
freight, Simpson turned up the steep
street which led directly away from
the Wave. At the head Of the block
he circled huge boiler waiting to
be installed in an adjacent factory,
ammo haoly nn tho rim
The chase continued along the bulk
head, in view of the amused watch
ers. Simpson heard the boatman,
who grew more irritable every min
ute, muttering threats as he ran close
behind. Simpson took his choice be-
tween temporary defeat and making
an enemy. Dropping the blanket
suddenly, he sped on. Peterson tum-
bled headlong over the unexpected
obstacle; and as he picked himself
up. a peremptory whistle blew for
the resumption of work.
you're not much of a fighter,
boy, are you?" the mate teasingly
quizzed, as Simpson passed on the
way " Alo uOI oCO. Ac 1CllOW tudL
runs away" he added, sententiously
and significantly, "lives to fight an
other day. You've got dangerous
gift in those long legs of yours; but
one good, square, up-and-down stand
will be necessary to give you status
along the front here"
He spoke in friendly tone. Simp-
son looked at him without, however,
venturing a defense. He was out of
breath, anyway.
Tied up next to the Wave, which
lay across the foot of the street, was
q barge-load of cobblestones. Simp-
son set to work loading as soon as
he could back up his team. A cou-
pie Of the crew Of the Wave loitered
at the stern of the steamer, within
speaking distance. y i
'15e hasn't much spunk, Tom," one