El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-20
A StOwnway
A short story.


w vessel lying ready to leave the
harbor Of New York gave orders to
heave anchor, and a few moments later
we passed the Narrows with all sails
set to the wind
For 10 years had pilOted the Sea
gull" and I knew her as well as
knew myself The crew were men
whom I had picked out myself. and who
had already made several trips with
me. Still this time there was a strange
face among them 1t was an open,
henest face and 1t won my confidence
from the moment / laid eyes on the
was just about to enter my cabin
when 1 heard a confusion Of voices from
the fOrecastle-
man / had never seen before He was
a slim and pale youth. scarcely more
than a boy, and stood trembling before
How did you get aboard. grOwIed,
Il have half a mind to throw you over
board again
Not a word could he say. Then sudden
" the new sailor, John Archer, came
I'D. saluted me respectfully, ana sa1u.
Il know the boy captain He wanted
to come along to Liverpool but ne mad
no money. You viii lind him smart
and willing boy
swore a little, but what could do2
Sany Hook was far behind already, so
I todd the sailor to put the boy to Work
below
We had a very pleasant voyage and
had no reason to complain OF the two
new members Of my crew John Archer
was a splendid sailor. and young VII
1iams soon became everybody s 1aYOr-
ite- He could do no hard work, OF course
but what he was told to do he did bet
ter than anyone else ever did 1t before
After a few days 1 made him my per
sonal attendant
He seemed to have a feeling Of spe-
cial gratitude towards John Archer
though he was pleasant to everyone OF
US Often I saw him walk up TO MS old
eF friend and treat MIN 10 some OF me
delicacies with which I was doing my
best to spoil him He always hurried
through his own work to give Archer
a hand.
one day the first mate came into my
cabin looking very solemn
Captain he said, Il think it was
John Archer who persuaded young
Williams to run away Last night 1
happened to Overhear a talk they mad
Archer tried to make him promise to
send a telegram home telling them ne
was all right Williams cried ike
sponge, and he turned red in the face.
when he saw me coming OF course i
did not let on that 1 heard anything
Ny interest in the boy grew, and
when he came in 1 asked him a few
How did you get the idea to come
on bOard2 Have you no homer
Yes, captain" he replied, but was
very unhappy at home"
you knew Archer before, didn't
yes. captain" he said and bIushed,
st have known him q long while
Did he persuade You TO run away
NO. he would never do such thing
His voice was firmer than had ever
heard it before
'sHe knew nothing OF my plan he
went on I knew he was going away
with you and 1 made up my mind to
come along. I did not expect all the
kindness everybody has SHOWN me
here"
yves, but she thinks I am dead now,
he almost whispered. and it is better
so"
The tears now ran down his cheeks
and he did not try to hide them
could not explain the strange sympathy
/ felt towards him.
The next day We ran into storm as
bad as any I had ever seen on the At
lantic The ship was like ball before
the fury Of the gale The beams
creaked and several times was AFRAID
the masts would so overheard VIII
liams whom I had told to stay below
came up on deck and through the storm
I heard Archer's voice It was 1ul1 OF
fear and anxiety
Get down below he cried, "this IS
no place for a child like you"
The gale had caused considerable
damage to the ship had just ordered
the sails reefed, when q bank OF dark
clouds arose telling of sim worse
weather to come
Archer rushed forward to carry out
my orders, but Williams was quicker
still He was as quick and agile as
monkey, and thought nothing Of climb
ing 70 the upper yards Archer made
a move as if to hold him back. but 1t
Higher and higher he climbed. like a
squirrel, reached the yard, threw him
self across it, and stretched out his
hand to catch q rope Suddenly some
through
my face, and the yard was empty.
There was q moments dead silence
Then the storm was down upon Us IN aIl
its fury. Archer threw hlmseL over
the boys limp body and looked into
the pale, blOOdless face.
A moan burst from his lips and he
fell into a dead faint onto the notion
less body.
I ordered the men away and the mate
and / carried the two into my CABIN
and sent for the ships doctor The ply
sician. carefully opened the boys jacket I
to examine his heart-the secret was I
out
Williams was a girl and her love Of /
Archer had made ner run away
After a while the fluttering OF her |
heart grew stronger, her bosom moved 4
in a gasp Of breath Then she opened 1
her eyes and seemed to look Tor some Z
one. I understood. and went on deck to !
find Archer who had come to, ana ha0 4
left the cabin When he saw me, ne I
gripped both my hands and SAID IN a \
sObbing.
you know everything now. captain.
She is my wife. Poor little Mary! she
could not live without me ana tndl u
why she ran away. Tell me captain
must she dieE
I led him to the cabin and asked the
doctor to come with me 10r a noilleLll'
After a while I opened the door eau
tiOusly. Archer was kneeling at ms
ygife's side. His face was buried IN neE
pillow, and his one hand was resting
on her curly head
At this moment the doctor came up
to me and said: "She is better, thlnk
she has a fair chance now.
Parcel Post !
L-B By Walt Mason
The postman's brow is sad and stern,
the postman's eyes with anger burn, ne
nravs with doIeful sound; his heart Is