The herald., 1912-12-05
Bv LETITlA EDWARDS

At this Captain butcher OF the
Swallow looked grave. He was
Young man scarcely thirty, lived when
at home at New Bedford and knew
all about the Susan Crane and her
captain.
"Has she been abandoned a long
while?" he asked.
81 think" replied the mate, that she
has"
"Then she must have drifted. Is she
worth savingT'
"Yes. sir: the vessel would be all
right If pumped out"
We'll" said the captain, evidently
with reluctance. II suppose We'll have
to take her in"
The Susan Crane was taken In tow,
and the Swallow continued on her
course to New Bedford. But the next
day the mercury began TO fall rapidly.
do you think, SIR" said the mate,
that we will be able to hold our tow
through q storm"
81 fear not"
IF we part company with her she'll
be a danger to navigation"
Perhaps we had better sink her"
said the captain, drawing a sigh or
relief. "Go aboard Of her and let the
air out Of her"
4 boat with a couple OF axes In her
bottom was sent to the Susan Crane,
holes were chopped in her upper deck,
and the men had scarcely regained
the Swallow before the derelict sank.
Captain butcher stood leaning over
| the taffrail looking at her till he saw
her 90 down, then turned his atten-
ton to his own ship. Having wealth
cred a three days storm, he was near
Ing port when he called his crew to-
gether on deck and said to them:
ut Is evident that we overhauled a
case Of rascality in the derelict, and
when we make port We'll find that
whoever directed her has got there
before US and told a story Of ship
wreck. wish each and all Of you TO
promise me to keep the matter In your
knowledge lockers till 1 give you the
word to speak. II you tell you'll make
nothing, for since we didn't bring bel
in there's no salvage for us. II you
keep mum those who scuttled her
might pay you something to keeI
quiet. OF course we can't permit the
insurance companies to be swindled
In any event"
Anything you orders, sir, goes
said an old salt who took 1t upon him
self to reply for his mates as well al
himself, and the men returned to the
forecastle.
When the Swallow was locked Cap
tain butcher went uptown and stopped
at a dwelling house and rang the bell
The door was opened by young WON
an twenty-five or twenty-three years
old. At seeing butcher her face lit VI
with pleasure. They went inside to
gether and butcher asked:
HAS the Susan Crane got inT
mo. She was wrecked, but the crew
were all saved"
HAS the insurance been collected :?
"Not yet. I believe there's some trou
BILE In proving the loss Of the ship"
"Tell Ben 1 wish to see him at once.
"Why soT asked the girl, turning
pale.
Keep what tell you a secret Hi
ship was not lost. l overhauled he
and was towing her in when q storm
came up and I was obliged to sinl
her."
"Why should keep this a secret"
He hesitated, then said: Margaret
] would wrong you by refusing you
reply. You may not have made a mis-
take In refusing me, but you erred Fl
accepting Ben" And he told her Of hi
discovery of the fact that Ben Haw
kins, captain Of the Susan Crane, was
criminal.
! The shock stunned her. butcher lef
her to recover from 1t and sought tn
: man who had supplanted him.
, ION Msrgarets account" he said
81 have arranged this matter so tina
you can get out Of 1t without bein
prosecuted. Withdraw your claim 70
insurance and make each one Of m
crew a present and they will not tror
BILE themselves to inform against yor
AS for me. you know you have nothin
to fear"
Hawkins acted on butchers advic,
making no claim and paying each men
Der Of the crew 500. presumably fc
their attempt to save his ship. MAJ
garet Earle dismissed her betrothe
and married butcher. Hawkins LEI
New Bedford and was never seen ther
again.
Signs Of Matrimony.
Are those two In front of US hu
band and wife?"
81 don't think So"
"What makes you think they al
notr'
| Because when they met he raise
his hat to her and then took BIZ
bundles to carry for her."-Baltimol
American.
Alligator Leather.
Polishing with stone gives alligatc