The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-16
<CspyriShi. Tsao. By Ls1t. Joseph vsace-}
CHAPTER w.


Ing establishment Of a certain Mr.
Huxtable in the town OF Fairhaven, on
the eastern bank OF the Acushnet
river, there cane-or. rather, drifted
with the tide OF casual fancy-to-
ward the close Of a day IN June. Gar
rett Coast
A declining sun threw his shadow
Huxtable glanced Up from the muddle
Of papers On his desk Coast lounged
easily IN the doorway, with one Shout
der against the frame: a man notably
tall and slender and graced. besides.
with simple dignity of manner that
assorted oddly, IN the Huxtabie I'M
Outstanding. with clothing welIworn
and travel-stained. Out Of a face
moderately Drowned. his dark eyes
glimmered with humor whimsical
regarding Huxtable.
The object OF their regard pushed
up his spectacles for better view.
"Wen?" he inquired. not without a
suspicion OF grim resentment, who
was not weathered to laughter at his
own expense
1t happened, however. that Coasts
amusement sprang from another
ca use; his own utter responsibility.
which alone had led him to the chand-
lery. he considered hugely diverting.
Il was just thinking" hs said. snnti-
ing, that now would be a useful time
to buy a boat"
RI nj
prediction for taciturnity, liable.
ever and anon, to be sore beset II not
wholly put to rout by the demon Gu
riosity a familiar likewise legitimate
~ handed down to him by several gen
erations of New England forebearE),
with a mute nod to signify that he had
heard and now awaited without preju-
dice a more explicit declaration
"A boat" Coast added, preferably
of the center-board cat type, with
Woodworking motor auxiliary"
The Huxta BILE mind, which you are
to believe typical of It's caste, like
ship wisely navisated, moved cautious
~ In well-buoyed channels. It chung
to tradition, whether IN the business
Of boat building, which It pursued 20
admiration, or in the lighter diversion
o. humor, to which it's attitude re-
sembled that OF the ancestor worship
ing heather Chinese Premonitory
symptoms OF a reversion to type in
the matter of wit were betrayed by
the corrugation Of the Huxtable
wrinkles.
"To go sailin' in7'
After this utterance, tradition
tapped it's wings and screamed; Hulk
table himself condesoended to
ehuckle: Coast, to a tolerant smile.
Possibly" he conceded. Have
you such boat7"
II might have" Huxtable admitted
cautiously Come along" He rose
and led the way through a back door
into the boat yard
ing doubt, Coast followed. He Was
not wholly satisfied that there was
any wisdom latent in this latest freak
of his errant fancies. For a fortnight
he had given impulse its head. and SO.
docile to It's aimless divagations, had
found contentment of q sort--more
parody than the real thing; dream
less rest won through wholesome
bodily fatigue, waking distraction
bred Of constant change Of scene; thin
Ice over the troubled deeps of heart
embittered. Eastward from New
York he had wandered. mostly afoot,
unknown, unrecognized, Warburton
alone cognizant Of his movements,
and that under strict Injunction Of 81
lence; thus he had come blindly, seek
ing surcease Of his distemper, finding
only the oblivion Of fatigue. And re-
Gently he had become uneasily con-
scious that even that was losing it's
effect, as an opiate will In frame
too long habituated TO its action; now
and again the thought Of Katherine
and Blackstock would crawl In his
mind. vigorous, poisoning the very
sunlight
Here, without presage, he found his
within aiming for salt water. Was he
wise to hunor It? Would he find
healing in the swing of the seas, the
SAVIOR Of spray, the hiss Of waters
broken by plunging bows, the gurgle
astern?
Huxtable led him directly to 1T
tie vessel In q cradle on the ways and
bright with new paint. THE Echo"
he introduced her: five year old,
weather-wise, sound and sweet, fast
and able. Owner left her with me for
sale. Seven hundred and a bargain
Coast strolled round the boat with
an eye critical OF her lines, then
clambered up the skeleton ribs or the
cradle and dropping into her cockpit,
verifying Huxtable's catalogue Of at
fractions. Presently he climbed
down again, impressed that the boat
would probably Justify its recommen-
dalton to the letter.
When can you put her IN the wa
teri"
in fifteen minutes"
do SO, then, please, and have the |
gasoline tanks filled and the batteries |
wired up. I'll want these be- /
sides" He found a pencil and scrap |
Of paper and scrubbed a list of sup |
plies, You've a spare moor |
ing of here" he inquired, and re-
ceived an affirmative. Then put her |
off; I'll sleep aboard her tonight. |
Now I'll take turn up town and buy !
provisions and things" |
He fitted out without thought OF ,
economy: in the list OF his acquisi /
tons he could find no lack; by night !
fall the Echo was furnished Wit b /