The Detroit times., 1912-12-11

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though III IL mad been any one else
should have been 1T to tear. his throat
out. It's not for myself ] care It's
poor mother I'm thinking about She's
been the best possible wife TO me
IL did look forward TO letting her
have the balance of her days in com
| fort" The old mans unkempt gray
beard dropped dejectedly on his chest
The steward came up to Captain
Kettle with q respectful whisper. I've
made ready for the captain the room
the African ladies had. sir, trusting
that's your wish"
Very good" Kettle put hand on
his guests shoulder, and shook him
gently. Il think you had better turn
in"
Out RI, my dear. gu RI, mother.
Had a mos important business meet
ing { attend. You may put down that
Malacca In the hat-stand Really no
offense this time. Business negotia-
tons entirely n your behalf, oil lady,
though unsuccessful I'm sorry to say.
Future entirely hopeless. Help me to
bed, mother"
Here. let me help" said Miss
Dubbs, with sdspiciously shining eyes.
mo, don't you bother, steward. The
captain and | can manage"
Once more they were in the chart
house. sitting side by side on the set
tee. Miss Dubbs stole out sympa-
thetic hand. and gripped Captain ket-
lies with her very capable fingers.
ITS been very hard for him, poor old
man, but we have to face these mis-
fortunes"
Yes" said Kettle, and drew his
hand away.
IL suppose you'd like to do some
thing for him."
torpedo beard In the heel OF his DIST.
1T would be charity II you did"
NO" said the little sailor. and
stood briskly to his feet. Miss" he
said. it'll be hard for you TO under
stand, but that mans my old sea-
daddy His wife was all the mother
ever knew The pair of them
brought me up, and hare enough
pinch Ii must have been, but when
there wasn't enough TO go round, they
were the ones that went without.
That happened more than once. There
were times when employment was
scarce, and they were nipped, miss,
badly nipped; but there was always
tucker for me, and clothes, and
school-pence, and that's what I'm re-
membering now When first | came
to sea, Mrs. Farnish---I used to call
her mother, yknow. miss-she said,
You'll look after the old man, Owen,
and said | would, and I've Just got
to. You see, miss, she was all the
mother I've ever known, and anyway,
| never went back on my word.
couldn't throw charity to Captain Far
nish, Miss Dubbs. He's got to have
his ship back, with all that's in her
in the way OF cargo, just as she was
given TO me by Sir George And now,
Miss Dubbs, dear, | know what you
think, and you can say it presently.
know in my present state I'm no
man for a splendid lady like you to
marry, and SO | want you please to
consider our engagement at an end
You tNpw me Off, do you, Cap
tain?"
IF you put 1t that way"
y hen look here, young man, III
sue you for breach OF promise II you
-
After all the trouble I've had to get
the man ! wanted. don't lose him
like that"
I'm just a pauper, and don't think
I'll ever be anything more. II win
be work for mine all the days OF iNy
natural"
which is precisely what | looked
forward to when | first permitted you
to pay me attention at the Mason's
Arms. didn't mistake you for a
bank manager In disguise. although
you may have thought So"
The sailor clapped an enthusiastic
arm round the lady's waist. Miss
Dubbs, my dearest, how splendid you
are."
so that's all right" was her MUIR
INJURED retoTt. YOU'RE mine, Captain,
till death us do part, and don't you
forget IT, But IL will be an upset for
Sir Georges plans"
IF you don't mind, we'll not tell
Sir George. He doesn't know Cap
tain Farnish. You see, and | should
hate to have him think | was-well,
you know what mean. Time enough
to transfer to the old man when we
get home aud the ores realized on
and the Norman Towers Is sold.-It's
by James, how dare you poke your
unpleasant head in at my portfolio,
McTodd?"
Three O'Clock in the morning and
the skipper counting his girl. oh.
silver moon and Africs stars, you've
much 10 answer for O.. r. Tennyson
wrote that, and | aye thtIght 1t one
OF his finest poems. Man, but fiirrt-
ing like this Is terrible example to
some OF the ships company. Me. for
instance"
Were engaged" snapped Kettle.
Mr.. McTodd rubbed his chin, and
shut one eye. Are you telling me
that as news"
Its the latest"
"Oh. vara humorous" said McTodd.
"Pulr young things, they've Just dis
covered what this sma' world OF a
ship-board kennel since the day we
FIRST left Las Palmas. Miss, ! kiss my
hand TO We, and after I've been below
to drink your health out OF the chief
engineers whisky bottle which is un-
der his bunk, I'll go to my chest, and
see If | Gamma find suitable wedding
present. But what I came to tell is
this. That blue-eyed saint has swung
off 10 the shore. Do We think that
mans straight, or Just an African n
And when is he going to take delivery
OF those Winchester rifles he's already
I