Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

@Se$9 work. 1T sure is tough luck,
wen a fellows got to welsh
on the neatest little hooker in Barnegat vii
lage. On'y what's he going to do when he's
broke, and the bullies broke, and a
bloomln' beachcomber stands knocking at
the door, willing and anxious to cut him
out with his GIRL and it's blowing too hard
to run away to sea, anyway? Gee. but It's
mighty lonesome ben poor and honest!"
Johnson S logic mixed, like his mental
outlook; but man has right to be pess-
mistic at times, and Long Johnson, Surfman -
No l of Ships Bottom Life Saving Station
on Barnegat beach land for the time being
acting substitute keeper of the crew IN -
the absence of Big lem Casco, the Captain ~
of record), had just realized that he was the I'M
victim of entirely and original COM E2H
binaton of trouble, to wit, love and the
lack of lucre.
Ordinarily inpecunosity would not have e.
disturbed the surfmans philosophical calm: 49,
to be broke was Johnsons chronic condition ~
But the present situation threatened him SSsx
with disaster as final as that which had be- #Ef
fallen the tramp steamship Brazilian, with s4sS
coffee out of Rio when she slammed out OF ssTa
the storm the preceding night to break her -
back on the submerged rocks of Grldlron
Reef off the station and make giant brew
of forty-two thousand sacks of Best Do ~
nestle Mixed-unless the wrecking tugs
hurried up to take hand in the salvage
But just now Johnson had very particular reasc
for needing money,-a very pretty reason, by nan
Miss Molly Elliot, who, besides dancing eyes and tai
talzing dnples possessed birthday Just three day
off he realized with groan-whch the prodlgal low
had promised to celebrate in part by aunt to Atlant
City. And Miss Molly not in the habit OF meetir
with disappointment with Harry Morton rul
ming close second for her favor. Young Morton W;
the "beachcomber' of Johnson S sohloquy and partn
in prosperous wreckng company over IN Rarneg;
village the bay, while the long surtrnan had on
his scanty Government pay-and that three Weel
away, and hypothecated!
Overnight when Johnson confded his dilemma to h
mates the big men, eagerly grasping the opportunity
enlighten the victim in the difficult and devious paths
with tn n
added to his knowedge-and his hatred-ot his rival.
an this here sparkn you got to give EN- presents
birthdays watches with blue faces an bow pins
Yankee Evans explained to the neophyte with cheer
disregard Of the ethics of convention; sides payl
'demnty every week taking EN- to theayters an on
ings an such Takes rich wrecker like Harry Nlortc
to rush the girls" Evans added with a grin.
Il heard Morton skipped out f'r York in a hurr,
long of some trouble his wreckn' companys got in,
old Bright said But mebby twas on'y to bu
birthday presents, supplemented Little Welsh the Gun
frer of the crew. helping the good work along An,
how, that won't help Johnny out. Wat with payda
three weeks off an Harry Morton still in the running
Well it looks to me like our Johnnys due to hit II
rocks He'll have comp'ny in them coasters in tn
bowler Ear 'er bow'
ONG IOHNSON'S brother surfmen were still sno
u ing in their hunks in the little white painted Iii
barracks; but worry over his brooding troubles ha
routed him from his bed in the gray dawn and he ha
betaken himself to withdrawing the Scared strakes
the big white motorboat battered by the terrible air
Old Ocean had given the life crew in the take-off woI
from the wrecked Brazilian the night before.
Welshs forecast of elemental disaster required to tt
disconsolate life with CLEAN of comfort in II
morning solitude of the boathouse. "Mebby if 81
blows up hard it'll let out that Atlantic trip,
soliloquized shameessy. "There wouldn't none
take me to sea, less got to go.'
He dug down into the pocket Of his tarry breech
and brought up huge silver watch which he Studio
n,oodily with the vague thought Of hypothecating
the theory that every little helped. Showing it bac
into his pocket with sigh, he looked long and year,
irolx c1-aJc Tho