Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-04-12
G Ghe
1T ~
94!eewwaw,.
BY ~
LOUIS TRACY
TRACY
Author Of the pillar Of Light"
THE Wings Of the Nom
ing" and The Captain Of the
Kansas"

Copyright, lJUS oy koWaro Siooe
girl at that instant meant great deal
| to him
Yes; that's It," he was thinking. Il
must wheedle Dickey into the bank to-
morrow. A word from i'm an they'll
all grovel. blast em?
The door opened.
Captain Coke to see you. sir" said
a servant.
Send I'm In. Bring i'm In ere"
The memorandum book disappeared
verity's hearty greeting WAS that OF q
man who had not care In he world
Glad 10 see you. Jimmie. my boy
Sit yourself down. Ave cigar an
/ glass O port didn't expect you quite
80 Snnn. but you're just as welcome
now as later"
Captain Coke placed bis hat on top
Of Il niaiacca cane and balanced both
/ against the back of chair.
I'LL take smoke. but no wine.
thankee. Mr.. Verify" said he. IL KEN
along now los ! want to he aboard
aforp It's dark We're moored In an
awk ward place"
Poor ovid Andromeda. Just 'er
usual luck. eh. JimmieY
We'll. she ain't wOt you might call
one of fortunes fav'rits. but she's
afioat, an that's more'n you can say
for a good many daisy cutters I've
known"
Verify chuckled.
Some ships are worth less afoat
than ashore. an she's one Of EN-" be
grinned. you want match. Ere
you arel"
Coke puffed away in silence. There
was an awkward pause. For once IN
his career Verify regretted his cultivat,
ed trick Of covering up a significant
phrase by quickly adding some com
ment on q totally different subject
But the sailor smoked on, stolidly
needless of a sudden lapse In the con-
versation. and the shipowner was com
pelled to start afresh. He was far to''
ihrewd to 60 straight back to the topic
burked by his own error.
"lt's stuffy In ere with the two of
rs smokin'. Let's stroll into the gar
len." he said.
Coke was agreeable.
Its the on'y bit Of green stuff you
seem to be fond of. Mr.. Verify" he
went on. You keep US crooI short OF
vegetables"
David's little eyes twinkled. Here
was another opening. 1t would not be
his fault II 1t led again up cul-de-sac.
He threw wide the window. and they
crossed the lawn.
vegetables" he cried. wish ]
could stock you from my place. an
I'd stun You with 'en. can grow 'em
ere for next to nothin'. but they cost
q heap of money In furrin ports. an
your crimson wave catcher doesn't
earn money. She eats It,"
Even that's one bettern her skip
per, 90 doesn't do neether." comment
ed Coke gloomily. 1.-The Andromeda
was a good ship In 'er day. but that
day is gone. You ought to ave sold
'er to the Dutchmep Eve years ago.
Mr.. Verify. Times were better then
an now you'd ave a nne steel ship
instead of a box of scrap IRON"
They were passing the rhododen-
drons, and verity's quick eyes noted
that a summer house beneath the
shade Of two venerable elms was un'
occupied.
"Drop anchor in ere. Coke" said
Verify. Its cool an breezy. an we
can ave a quiet confab without bein
bothered. Now. reelly sent for you
today to tell you I mean to better the
supplies this trip. Yes. 'onest ln5un
I'm goin' to bung In an extry 'undred
tomorrow In the way Of stores. Fun
ny. isn't itr'
Funny! It's miracleF
Though not altogether gratifed b!
this whole hearted agreement with his
own views. Verify was too anxious to
keep his hearer on the present tnck to
resent any implied slur on bis earlier
efforts as caterer.
ITS nothing to wot I'd do II could
afford It," he added graciously. but
wot chance as an iron ship built