Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-05
IhE MARRIAGE OF
CAPTAINKETTLE@',I
II R2ndDCe Nhe Sea
BY CUTCLIFFE HYNE
Copyright, 1912. The Bobb> Merrir, comp.nx


might be many things, but at my
rate she decided they were men.
CHAPTER vi.
Captain Farnish's appearance at sea
has already been lightly described by
the word "blowsy." Once out of sound
ings, he lived life Of slippered, un.
buttoned, unshaven ease, complicated
with Gas has been limited frequently,
systematic attempts to keep away
symptoms Of malaria. But, once he
had given orders to fly for a pilot, he
bathed, he did mighty surgical deeds
with razor, and his steward was
hugely busy over brushing the mold
from boots and wearing-apparel. t.r.
, There was nothing OF the popular
idea of the mariner. in Captain Far
nish's shore rig. He wore a black
tail-coat and austere trousers; his
waistcoat was cut low Gas If to show
the edges of his economical shirt.
'front.', and displayed a fine, gold stud
and a pious black bow tie; and after
he had taken his false teeth from the
drawer in the chart table where they
Travelled when at sea. and clicked them
in between his lips. he would have
passed comfortably for well-to.do
grocer with strong nonconformist
tendencies. f.
He practised smile or two at him.
self in the looking-glass to make sure
his teeth were working correctly, ship:
ped the square-topped bowler hat
which the steward reverently handed
him. and went out on deck. -
MIR. Kettle, me man
"Sir?'
Good old smell, the Liverpool River
isn't it? Not an ounce of fever In a
mile of it. Er--if you want to slip
ashore before we dock, thatll be all
right" :
II trust you'll allow me to take the
fore-deck as usual, sir" -
If you choose to remain on board,
said Captain Farnish dryly, Il should
say boatswains chair in yentilator
would be the healthiest spot for ,yon
Just remember, me man, that that
blame Dutchman has had a week
ashore at Tampico by this, and If he
hasn't been making the cables hum
I'll swallow my worries. 1t isn't as II
we were in New York, where they al
ways back their own side. You're in
good old England now, Owen, me man.
where, when a case comes on IN the
courts, the stipendiary and the papers
always say the Englishman's wrong
"You think it'll b case Of the po-
lice, sir?' ,rss %.' .-sss.tz..;
I'm pretty sure Of it."
""Ah," said Mr. Kettle, the Mate
thoushtfully.
Eyes. quite see what you're con-
sidering. Your idea is that you've
done nothing to be ashamed Of, and
that when the police come you'll put
up fight that half Liverpool would pay
81 pence a head to come and stare at.
Well, in ordinary circumstances ia be
the last man to try and head you on
you having right on your side, as
we're agreed. But want you to re-
member that you've got somebody else
to consider now. and that's this Miss
Chesterman you've been sparkling so
hard. ri own up at once she's not
my clip, but then I know quite well
I'm the old style of shellbark and
you're the new. You like to sport a
brass-edged uniform whether you're
on shore or sea, and dam we'll you look
in It, me man. That ginger-co!ored
torpedo beard sets you of well, too
makes you look kind Of breezy fel-
low that'd go anywhere to find bit
Of trouble And l don't see why YOU
shouldn't marry. the girl either. She
should have money, by her accent; and
II you've sense, you'll cut the sea, and
find an occupation ashore. II were
you, I'd go into the corn business.
said to be money in It, and it's
certainly genteel, If only you're in 1t In
big enough way"
IF ever I marry, do not leave the
sea. There'll be no question about
that"
you're young, and you've none de.
pending on you. Wait till the Riddles
begin to arrive. and then you'll wish
you'd a nice quiet hen farm and bal
ance in the savings-bank."
Now Mr.. Kettle. the Mate, had him
self thought this matter out very
thoroughly already. Like most Of.
flcers of the mercantile marine, he was
quiet ready to stand up to all that
came from either man or the elements
on the face Of the waters, but he had
an instructive dread and distrust for
English law ashore.
The law according to his view,
was always on the side Of the owner
or the crew, and any officer who was
dragged into court was disbelieved and
insulted, and emerged from the ordeal
with his certificate suspended or in
dorsed, and his future professional
prospects eternally blasted.
OF course, too, if Captain Farnish ap-
peared before stipendiary magistrate
or board Of trade inquiry, that dis
gushing mode Of torture known as a
ross-examination would inevitably
bring to light items of his past his.
tory-connected with avoidance Of me-
laria, for instance-and cause him to
lose his present billet, and inevitably
debar him from ever getting another
There is small demand these days for
elderly shipmasters-none at all II they
are known to have their failings. \
Whether the German complained or
not, the Norman Towers was long
overdue, and underwriters would most
certainly press for an inquiry even II
owners were inclined to hush matters
up. Somebody would have to be sac
rificed.