New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06

had heard from the area window, told me
next dav. You will be threshed again, II
lin Starrett is the man he used TO be-.
Nv head had cleared, and | stepped out
Of nv room and into the forward cabin,
ready and even anxious to prove myself
what | used TO be- But before | reached
the after door she had come through it and
faced me. We stood and stared at each
other for a moment Aside from the tears
in her ewes and the anxiety in her face, she
looked the same TO me.
"Iiml" she said at last, in a chOked voice.
lin, after all these years we meet here. !
lust learned that YOU were on this ship. l
didn't know followed my boy by steamer.
You did not know, Jim, either, am sure.
Oh. lin! You would have protected my
Johnny had YOU known His father is dead,
and Will Pritchard's wife gets it ALL
had her in my arms as she spoke. And
kissed her before | answered. 81 have pro-
tected him, Fannie; though did not know,
and almost missed. Come back.
led her through the door, meeting her
son coming out; but | turned him back,
and we entered the after cabin. Pritchard
was seated at his table, still chuckling.
Bill" | said sternly, while his face So
bercd. Il Just heard Fannie predict that
would thresh you again. Now, threshing
won't do you any good; though I'm willing
to administer it if need be. But | think
when I'm through talking YOU won't make
it needful. I'll do better than thresh YOU,
Bill I'll break you.
"What do YOU mean?' he demanded.
Remember, you are in my cabin-an IN
tcrloper.'
Not while the owner Of this ship permits
me 10 remain | said, with a smile. MIR.
Brand, | added, turning to the wondering
young man, have your permission TO re-
main?'
Something in my face encouraged him.
Certainly" he answered.
bill Pritchard, said didn't you say
something awhile back about giving me
plenty of rope-to hang myself with?'
He did not answer.
81 used the rope, Bill; but not to hang my
self: to hang you. You should have held
onto a little OF that rope: you should have
attended TO the navigation of your ship.
But YOU left it - me. Bill you've loSt!'
HIS mouth opened slightly, while a be-
IL wildcred look, which was partly a look
of enlightenment, came TO his face. Still
he did not speak.
"NIr. Brand here" | continued, "was to
inherit certain property if it could not be
proved that he drank until after his twenty
first birthday
"And he did drink he snarled. cts
down in the log, witnessed by Mr.. Breach
and one Of the crew. What are you driving
at?"
~Look at your calendar on the bulkhead,
Bill. What day of the month is it?"
He looked; but did not answer, though
his mouth opened wider.
"Your calendar says the twentv-tirst of
December; but if YOU will 90 ashore YOU
will find that it is the twentv-Second. The
boy did take drink, when half dead like
the rest of us. But ne took it one hour after
his birthday by solar time, and thirteen
hours after it by sea time Bill, we crossed
the one hundred and eightieth meridian,
and the date line too about twelve hours
before you served grog. We were in the
eastern hemisphere, and skipped a day.
This boy never had twenty-first birthday.
He jumped from the eighth of the month
to the tenth. All this boy needs is to go on
to the westward until he gets home
"You lie!' yelled Prtchard, jumping to
his feet. "You lie!"
Then he got it once more in the presence
of Fannie Folsom. 1t only required the
taking away from him of the pistol as
preliminary. When it was over, and he
could give me his attention, | said:
Grill the loo cIptac and tho I,oh,,l-