Evening journal., 1911-04-27
Captain Jack and Captain Ben
BY MARGARET FOSTER
Copyright BY American Press Association.
1911.

Copyright BY American Press Association.
1911.
Margaret Swift was born and
brought up on the New Hampshire
coast among seafaring people.
When Maggie grew old enough to
have a lover there were two csndi-
dates for her favor. Both were assist
ants on fishing smacks. Jack Cady
was a wild youngster who promised
no good, and no good ever came out
of him. Ben Wharton was a steady
young fellow. whose parents never
had any occasion to worry about him.
Maggie at first preferred JacS. but as
soon as she came to an age to see the
difference between the two young
men she found Ben the more accept
able of the two.
Both Jack and Ben went to sea. and
both became masters of vessels when
they were still very young. Both were
much in love with Maggie. and each
strove to accumulate the means where
by he might be enabled to claim her.
though this is rather true of Ben than
Jack, for while the former progressed
steadily the latter did so by fits and
starts. now and again getting into po-
sitions where any money he had saved
was needed to help him out.
Maggie's father was interested in
her marrying a man who could give
her a home and comforts. He believed
she would wed with one or the other
Of these two young captains and used
TO say to them:
"The man that gets my daughter
with my consent must be able to take
care of her"
This at once caused a rivalry be
tween the two men for something more
mercenary than love. Ben in a few
years owned a part of the vessel he
commanded. but Jack, owing TO his
unsteadiness. was in about the same
condition as at his starting. Maggie
really began to love Ben, and Jack
thinking that his rival was favored be
cause he had more means than he. be
came very much disgruntled.
Toward the end of one of Ben's vOy
ages he was approaching the coast o.
New England when what seemed L
be a derelict appeared ahead. Nearing
her, she was found TO be a vessel lum
bering in the waves half full of water
part Of her cargo soaked and ruined
but the rest in good condition. Th'
name on the stern was so blurred tina
It could not be made out, and it wa
supposed that It had needed freshen
ing when the vessel had been aban
doned, and since. the waves beating
upon II, had rendered it still NOR
faint. One man who examined it close
ly said that it had been scraped.
The ship not being greatly damages
and half the cargo in good condition
Captain Ben saw a chance for priz
money for himself and his crew. II
attached a hawser to her with a viev
Of towing her into the nearest port
about 500 miles distant. After a goo,
deal Of trouble, the cable parting sew
eral times. he succeeded in getting he
into Boston.
1t was not long before the prize wa
identified and not much longer befor
II became evident that there had bee
fraud In her abandonment. The waite
was pumped out of her and a hol
was found in her bottom. indicatin
that she had been scuttled. She wa
overinsured and. the two taken tc
gether, Indicated that It was a case o
attempted fraud on the insurance con
panies. When Captain Ben was toll
the. name of the vessel he was thur
derstruck. 1t had been for sewers
years commanded by his rival.
The next news Captain Ben learne'
was that Captain Cady had arrived a
home, reporting that after a frightfu