The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-06
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

Copyright. 1912, by the Asso ciated
Literary Press.
Women" said Captain Cobb, ARE
not wanted here"
But you advertised" timidly. for
cook"
(. Il did" said the captain. but 1
stated, specifically, man cook
But l thought-~maybe----
You thought wrong" said the cap
tain
He shut the door, and tho woman
with sigh sat down on the step.
Presently the captain opened the door.
He had on his hat and carried IA
cane. lie stopped short at the sight
Of the dropping figure in front OF
him.
What's tho natter" he demanded.
We'll, I'm tired-I--~' the little
white face under tho round brown hat
grew suddenly blank. The woman on
the step had tainted.
As he picked her up. the captain
shouted for his next door nelghbor
Sarah Tucker, who came running.
She was a stout. good natured Great
ure, very much out OF breath as she
bent over the tiny bit of fenininity
which the captain had laid on the
sofa in his sitting-room.
why, she don't seem nothing but
q child said Miss Tucker, pttyingiy;
IF 1t wasn't for her gray hair and Il
sfew wrinkles you'd say she wasn't
more'n twenty"
What am l going to do with herr
What am / going to DO with her.
the captain demanded. Il can't have
her here.
Miss Tucker Strengthened up and
looked at him with whitening scorn.
fr7s h ri 81
now, ara you--a starvin' creature like
she isl"
The captain stared. Starving %
Sarah touched one of the thin
hands It's like a birds claw" she
said softly. People don't get hands
like that when they have enough TO
eat
She bent to her task OF relieving
the sick woman, and the captain ran
to the kitchen. He came back with
an assortment of provisions. There
were lobster. two sea biscuits and a
bottle OF milk.
Well. of all the combinations"
said Miss Tucker What she needs
IS something hot. You run right over
TO my house. captain. and you'll find
some beef boilin' on the stove. and
you get her a cup OF broth
The captain ran. When he came
back with the steaming cup i'll his
hands the invalid WAS sitting up.
Her soft, curly gray hair was down
8. nd her head -wss against Ai!-s4 I tiela--
er's broad shoulder You're very
kind" she said rs the captain handed
her tho cup.
NO I'm not" tho captain said has
thy. It's Miss Tucker And II
you're we'll enough you'd better 20
right over and stay with her tonight,
A frightened look came into the
faded blue eyes. II am all right
the pale lips faltered Il can go OH
presently"
Miss Tucker looked at the captain
in seorn. cor course you're coming
over TO stop with me- she said. I'm
going to put you 10 bed, and you shall
have nice long rest. III bet you've
walked all the way from Salem"
Yes" the .wayfarer whispered
'I'm---Tm tired"
Captain Cobb. watching, felt lump
in his throat. He felt himself some
thing OF brute, too.
Could you stay hers Tonight,
Sarah ?" he asked. obviously. Per
haps, she oughtna TO be moved
NO, | can't said Sarah Tucker
shortly. She's goin' home with me"
AS the captain watched the two
women walk SLOWLY across the lawn,
he was seized with a sense OF des-
perate loneliness. The wayfarer had
hft him without a word Of gratitude
Sarah had douneed ont with her
nose in the air.
He cooked a lonely supper. then
went over to inquire about the in
valid He found her sitting on Sarahs
porch. She looked even more frail
than he had remembered. but there
WAS a pink flush in her checks and
she had on one of Sarah's pink wrap
psrs-
The captain asked bluffiy after her
health and made a sort OF awkward
apology.
You see I'd advertised for a man
cook. / wanted some one TO help
me with the boats. renting them to
people. and AL that, and woman
couldn't do It,"
She nodded isn't Miss Tucker
lovely" she said
The captain eyes rested on Sarah's
Her smooth brown hair was parted
over q serene forehead, her eyes were