The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-15
By NARY ROBERTS RLNEHART
Copyright, 1913, BY the ifeClurs Publications. Inc.
Copyrrght, 1914, BY Mary Roberts Rtnehart.

| long behind counter. Leslie I'm
darned if think you belong in the
medical profession, either The British
army'd suit YOU"
''The-w whatT'
"You know - Kipling idea riding
| horseback. head of n coumn-undress
uniform-coloners wife making eyes al
you-leading last hopes and all that"
THE British army with Kipling
trimmings being out OF the question,
the original issue is still before us.
I'll have to work, Mac. and work like
the devil, if Pm to feed myself"
There being no answer to this. Nc
! Whirter contented himself with eying
me-
! I'm thinking" said. "of going to
Europe, The sea is calling me, Mac"
so was the grave a month ago. but
it didn't get yon. Don't be an ass
boy. How are you going to sea-"
Before the mast" This apparently
conveying no meaning to McWhirter.
| supplemented las common sailor"
He was indignant at first. offering
me his room and a part of his small
salary until | got my strength. Then
he became dubious. and, finally. so
well did paint my picture OF long,
idle days on the ocean. of sweet. cool
nights under the stars. with breezes
that purred through the sails. rocking
the ship to siumber-tinally he waXed
enthusiastic and was even for giving
up the pharmacy at once and sailing
with me-
He had been fitting out the store
room Of Il sailing yacht with drugs. he
informed me. and doing it under the
persona! direction of the owners wife.
I've made hit with her." he con-
fided. "Since she's learned I'm grad
uate NJ ID. she's letting me. do the
whole thing I've made up some 10,
tionS to prevent sunburn and that sea
sck prescription Of old Lariner's. and
she thinks I'm the whole cheese. I'll
suggest you rs ships doctor"
How many men in the crew."
Eight. | think. or ten. It's small
boat and carries a small crew"
Then they don't want ships doc,
tor. II go I'll go as a sailor said
firmly. "And | want your word Mac
not a word about me. except that | am
honest"
"You'll have to wash decks proba,
bly,"
II am filled with wild longing to
wash decks" | asserted. smiling at his
disturbed face. Il should probably
also have to polish brass. There's a
great deal of brass on the boat
How do you know that?"
When | told him he was much ex.
cited, and. although it was dark and
the Ella consisted of three lights. he
insisted on the opera glasses and was
persuaded he saw her. Finally he put
down the glasses and came over to me-
Perhaps you are right. Leslie" he
said sobcrly. "You don't want charity
any more than they want ships doc.
tor. Wherever you go and whatever
you do whether you're swabbing decks
in your bare feet or polishing brass
;allngs with an old sock. you're q
man."
Soon after that he took his departure
and the following day he telephoned
to say that if the sea was still calling
me he could get a note to the captain
recommending me. l asked him to get
the note.
Good old Mac. The sea was calling
me. true enough but only dire necessity
was driving me to ship before the mast
necessity and perhaps what. for
want of better name. we call destiny
for what is fate but inevitable law. In
evita BILE consequence.
The stirring of my blood, generations
removed from seafaring ancestor; my
illness, not q cause. but result; Nc
Whirter. filling prescriptions behind
the glass screen of pharmacy. and fit
ting out. In porcelain Jars. the medicine
closet of the Ella; Turner and his wife
Schwartz, the mulatto Tom, Singleton
and Elsa Lee; all thrown together. 9
hodgepodge of characters, motives
passions and hereditary tendencies
through an inevitable law working to
gether toward that terrible night oil
Aug. II, when hell seemed loose on q