Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-07-31
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Mr.. pERKf'S DISCOVERY
BY j. c. PLUMMER.


1t was after nightfall that boat
deposited Captain Higbie on his
schooner, the Dolphin, loaded and
ready to sail for Portland. Coming
from the darkness into the lighted
cabin, caused the captain to blink
owlishly at his mate and stranger.
"This is Mr.. Perky" said the mate,
hes going with us to Portland as q
passenger"
cay, ay," responded the skipper,
shaking affectionately the hand of Mr..
Perky, take the port stateroom, my
lad"
"You see, captain" said Mr.. Perky
confidentially, I'm leaving Baltimore
kind O. sudden because I'm afraid l
might be taken back"
Captain Higbie became interested.
police matter?" he asked.
"No, it isn't" replied Mr.. Perky,
with decision, ''I've been boarding with
the widow Manship and she's made up
her mind that I am to marry her.
Now,I don't want to marry her nor
any other woman and I won't"
IF you keep under hatches," re-
marked the mate, you'll be all safe"
The Dolphin was two days getting
down to Hampton roads and then a
boat put off from ashore and hailed
her.
4 tall, bony woman scaled the lad
der easily and walked to the quarter
deck
rs this hyar schooner the Dolphin"
she asked.
YES, num-" replied the mate.
Then tell Mr.. Perky to get ready
to so ashore with me-"
You are Mrs. Manship?" inquired
the mate.
81 am" replied the lady. "Tell Mr..
Perky to hurry and hurry a little
yourself"
The mate called down into the
cabin, where the skipper and Mr..
Perky were eating breakfast, that
Mrs. Manship had come for him.
Il can't let Mr.. Perky Co." said the
skipper to Mrs. Manship. "I've obii-
gated myself to deliver him at Port
land, and to Portland he goes"
WELL" remarked Mrs. Manship," of
course if l wanted him to go ashore
! I'd take him, but I kind Of like the
sea. My first husband was a sailor
and was lost. I haven't heard from
him for five years. I'll go to Portland,
too. Make out your bill for the gas
sage money"
Then she called down the cabin
stairs, Come up, Hiram"
Mr.. Perky emerged slowly and was
at once embraced by Mrs. Manship.
Poor, shy boy" she said, 'he's SO
shy, captain, and the poor fellow
can't keep his buttons on. His clothes
would drop off him if it wasn't for
me-"
The next morning Mr.. Perky asked
the captain to give him job.
Il haven't any job to give you, D
said the skipper. You're passen-
: ger and we're fully manned"
81 want to sit on those cross sticks
and try to discover something" in
sisted Mr.. Perky, pointing to the
cross-trees.
what would you discover" asked
the skipper.
ooh, wrecks, rocks or icebergs,
said Mr.. Perky.
With the assent Of the skipper Mr..
Perky climbed up to the cross-trees
and sat there.
Mrs. Manship seemed surprised at
Mr.. Perky's occupation, but contented
herself with sitting on the hatch and
watching him.
Then Mr.. Perky hallooed that he
had discovered something. It looked
like a man tied to a plank.
"By gum" exclaimed the skipper,
looking through his glass. 1T is a
man clinging to a plank"
The schooner was put about and
the castaway rescued Curiosity
brought Mrs. Manship from the hatch
and she glanced at the rescued man,
then she screamed.
my long lost Ezra. I've mourned
you for dead" as she embraced the
castaway.
Mr.. Perky now descended from his
perch and joined them.
That's the man who discovered
you," said the skipper, pointing to
Mr.. Perky.
Mr.. Manship promptly disengaged
himself from his wife's embrace and
knocked Mr.. Perky down. II
"That'll teach you to discover
things" he growled.
tits all right" said Mr.. Perky,
arising and wiping the blood from his
his nose "I know how YOU feel"