El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-06
The Skipper and the Widow

his captains hail and looked I'D
hastily.
Jim" said Capt Grubbles quaver-
ingly. I'm in trouble. I've come for
help
If it's money" said the mate firmly.
IN have nothing to do with it, You
borrowed is pence off ME two years
since, an haven't got it back yet"
You've used my tobacco cons, ant
ever since, though, said Capt. Grub
bles shortly 1T ism mOney-it's a
woman The mate whistled softly.
That wilder i told YOU of, jim
said Capt Erubbles dolekully; Mrs.
shop up town She's got red hair and
jim nodded.
Not arm" he said wen. wOts
Il am. IfeeI all broken up in my in
side shes going 20 marry me, Jim
whether L want TO or not. She said so
IN oJner words II like this, Jim,I
Il proposed TO her last voyage. She's
got a Dill o money IN her own right.
and the shop But 1 never thought
shed SIGN a temper It's awful j seed
her a-giving it TO her next door neigh
Dor an it fair chOked me off So
said 1 wasn't going to marry "a female
volcano, and she said I'd have TO CT
she'd sue me for breach Of promise. an
here i am won't marry her. Oh,
Lord-she's comm down, Jim. Can't
We sail YETI"
There's a lot o. cargo not aboard.
, Look here, pay me that is pence, an
il see you through I'm bit of am
/ ingenious Brighter. an this is a thing
I that requires cunning. WOt do you
say2
The skipper searched in the pockets
of his trousers, and sOlemnly fished out
one and threepence halfpenny.
III owe you the other twOpence
ha penny, JIM he quavered dOlefully.
Ihen MS eyes lighted on figure adj
YancIng in the distanc-- Good cav
ems, he cried, - ere she sOmes- WOt
do YOU intend to do
"GOuu see said the mate, with an
air of profound meditation. Leave
yourself in my hands entirely. Fust
thing go below. down the fOrepeak. an
SJOp there till / gives YOU the word"
Capt Grubble skinned along the deck.
covering. uu0er lne shelter OF the bull
WarkS, as a Strldeut voice came float
ins down wind He scUttled down the
hatch and crouched these, his heart
beating fitfUly.
The widow halted puffingIy as she
surveyed the narrow plank that con-
necJed the Fiery Hand with the shore
Get proper thing across she said
peremptoriIy. I'm comm aboard.
want to see Capt. Grubbles-my young
man"
"CaD'n's dead" said the mate, turn
ing away 10 hide O tear
Dead screamed Mrs Click Dead.
he can't be. Hes gOin' 20 marry me-"
The mate then went into a lengthy
while trying TO rescue one of the crew
who had fallen overheard Gaining con-
fdence in his ability to tell q good lie
ne finished off with a description of
how Grubbles's wife in London would
feel when told the news Of her hus-
bands death.
so he was married. was he2" Anger
showed in every line of Mrs Click
lace suddenly an idea struck her She
would go TO london and tell his wild
oFy Of his perfidy. Yes she would tell
the whole world
She told the mate to prepare for her
coming. as she intended 10 board the
ship and go to London with him.
II tell her what brute he is
was she gasped, and went back 10
Slu4Seport town at a stumbling run.
But wOtu we dOT' asked Cant.
Grubbles. dIsgustedly. when his subOr-
dlnate outlined his past work If she's
comm, she's comm. You don't know
her as do. She's determined woman
MIS- Cllck presented herself aboard
IN due form and installed herself in
GruDblesS cabin with determination.
The Fiery Hand put to sea with the
wedding, until the next day came and
brought the venturesOme widow on
deck rampant arrogant intent on
finding fault
''Wot's down here2' she asked. ap-
preaching the fOrepeab The mate head
ed her off desperately
Dynamite he said sOlemuly; 40
tons Of it. If anything hot gets near it,
such as your nose or temper. ma'am.
ltu go off bang. Better stop aft all
the voyage"
Funny thing dynamite smells like
tobaccer, said Mrs. Click.
Dynamite smells like that when It's
nearly exploding, he said I told you
your temper was too fiery Mrs. Click
glared uncomfortable things at the
mate. and expressed her opinion Of the
cheeky youngsters in 25 adjectiyes
without taking breath But she de-
parted from the vicinity of the fore
peak At night, as soon as she had re-
tired. the mate ran to the fOrepeak.
called two men TO the deck, and babe
Capt Grubbles ascend
Now we've got to be busy" he said
Ihere SlOughcombe round that point
and Wen be abreast it by midnight"
An old tar barrel filled full of wood
was placed between the two masJs and
plenttully drenched with paraffin The
old boat carried by the Fiery Hand was
then swung overheard and carefully
provisiOned- BY II o'clock all was in
readiness. and Capt Grubbles awaited
the suspicious moment with some ner-
FousnesS- II was chance ne was rum
ming. and if Mrs Click displayed her,I
usual determination it might even now
fail But when midnight arrived. and
showed abeam. the decided time was
come He struck a match and applied
II to the tub of cOmbustibies. Instantly
a flame darted into the air. and al the I
identical moment Tim beat loudly on
the top of the cabin with a seabOOL
Fire" he yelled in a voice that made I
the flames flicker Fire.
A red nosed white face p6ered out Of /
the cabin door.
The ships afire" cried Jim. "Au
hands to the boats"
Mrs. Click fled with a yell But she /
reappeared. attired marvelOusly.
Help me with my baggage she In
sisted, and two of the men dragged a I
chest - big as a house from the cabin /
NOW, where's the bOat2"
They took her to it. and she held I
back scared at the diminuuve apcpar- /
ance Of the craft.
go on first" she said taking the Z
mate by the shoulder. But Jim struck I
an attitude. Women and children /
fust.' he declared It's the Tor at sea.
In you gets" And they bundled the D
protesting woman into the dingy. After I
her went the great box, which three I
quarters filled the boat, and then the I
tackles were allowed TO run out.
The boat sank with a pIOp and there I
came q shrek of dismay from Mrs. I
Click as the Fiery Hand sIpped away /
from her in the darkness, sTil blaming /
brightly.
Steer for the town" said Jim. !
THE tides runnin' in. Good
bye, Wen stick to the ship like British /
tars.' Mrs. Click looked upwards. She /
thought she saw a figure by the main Z
mast waving dingy handkerchief in 3
mock farewell. Then she felt about un--l
til she found oars and culled slowly to-
ward SlOughcOmbe.
HITTfucr "a brreI-af of ma for oy-ar that ]