The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-16

ti1e not t0 SHHNe Itldt ElOfnlns.
My preparation took little time. Suct
of my wardrobe MS was worth saving
McWhirter took charge of. | sold the
remainder of my books. and In a sail
or's outiitting shop | purchased boots
| and slickers-the sailors oilskins. With
my last money bought good re-
volver. second hand. and cartridges
was glad later that | had bought the
revolver, and that had taken with
me the surgical Instruments. antiquat
ed as they were. which, in their ma
hogany case, had accompanied my
grandfather through the civil war, and
had done, as he was wont to chuckle
as much damage as a three pounder
McWhirter came to the wharf with me
and looked the Ella over with ewes OF
proprietorship.
pretty snappy looking boat" be
said. IF the niger gets sick give him
some of my seasick remedy And take
care of yourself. boy" He shook
hands. his open face flushed with emo
ton. "Darned shame to see you going
like this. Don't eat too much. and
don't fall in love with any of the won.
en-. Goodby."
He started away. and ! turned to.
ward the ship. but moment later |
heard him calling me. He came back,
rather breathless.
up in my neighborhood." he pant.
ed. "they say Turner is devil What.
ever happens. it's not your mix-in. Bet
ter-better tuck your gun under youl
mattress and forget you've got it.
You've got some disposition Yourself"
The Ella sailed the following day at
10 O'Clock. She carried nineteeen peo.
pie. of whom five were the Turner's and
their guests. The cabin was full of
flowers and steamer baskets.
Thirty-one days later she came into
port again. lifeboat covered with can.
vas trailing at her stern.
From the first the captain disclaim.
ed responsibility for me. was housed
in the forecaStle and ate with the men
There. however. my connection with
the crew and the navigation of the
ship ended.
AS matter of fact | fo"ad myself
sort of deck steward. gl<en the re
sponsibility of looking after the shuttle.
board and other deck games. the
steamer rugs. the cardS-for they piay.
ed bridge stendiy-and anSwera Bile to
George Williams. the cOored butler.
for the various liquors served on deck.
~
ton rather amused me- After an eff.
fort or two to bully ME. one of which
resulted in my holding him over the
rail until he turned gray with fright.
Williams treated me as an equal,
which was gratifying
The weather was gnnd. the food fair
had no reason to repent my bargain
or the sailing qualities of the Ella
there could be no question The crew
selected by Captain Richardson from
the best men Of the Turner line. knew
fhair business. and. barring the 0rior of
formaldehyde in the forecaStlp. which
1rove ME to sleeping on deck fpr a
hight or two. everything was going
smoothly. at least on the surface.
Smoothly, as far as the crew was
concerned. was not So sure about
the after house.
AS | have said. owing to the small
size of the vessel and the fact that
considerable of the space had been
used for baths. there were. besides the
family. only two guests. a Mrs. Johns.
a divorcee. and ii Mr.. Vail. Mrs. rur-
ner and Miss Lee shared the services
of IL maid. Karen Hansen. who. with
IL stewardess. Henrietta Sloane. occu-
pied Il double cabin. Vail had small
room. as had Turner. with bath be-
tween which they used in common
Mrs. Turner's room was a large one.
with its own bath. into which Elsa
Lees room also opened. Mrs. Johns
not drawn to scale. the living quarters
of the family were arranged like the
diagram in a later chapter.
have said that things were not 60
ing smoothly in the after house. | felt
it rather than saw it. The women rose
late-except Miss Lee who was fire.
quently about when washed the deck.
They chatted and laughed together.
read. played bridge when the men were
so inclined. and now and then, when
their attention was drawn to it. looked
at the sea.
The men were violently opposed
types-Turner, tall, heavy shouldered,
morose by habit. with a prominent
nose and rapidly thinning hair. and
with strong. pale blue eyes. congested
from hard drinking; Vail. shorter by
three inches. dark. good looking. with
that dusky flush under the skin which
shows good red blood. and as temper
ate as Turner was dissipated.