The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-17

|
served The women had come out.
had been the guest OF honor on a
steam yacht year or two before after
game. There had been pink lights
! on the table. remembered. and the
place cards ut dinner the first night
out had been caricatures of me in
/ lighting trim. There had been girl
too For the three days OF that week
/ end cruise | had been mad about her.
Before that tirst dinner. when had
known her two hours, | had kissed her
hand and told her loved her.
| Vail and Miss Lee had left the 9th.
ers and come into the chart roou AS
| Charlie Jones and looked be bent
| over and kissed her hand
The sun had gone down. NV pipe
was empty. and from the galley. for
ward. came the odor OF the forecastle
supper. Charlie was coughing, rack,
ing paroxysm that shook his wiry
body. He leaned over and caught my
shoulder as ! was moving away.
/ New paint and new canvas don't
make new ship" he said. choking
back the cough. she's still the old
Ella. the she devil Of the Turner line.
Pink lights below and not a rat In the
hold, They left her before we sailed.
hoy. Every rope was crawling with
EN-"
The odor OF formaldehyde In the
forecastle having abated permission
.or the crew to sleep on deck had been
withdrawn. But the weather as we
turned south had grown iusufferabiy
hot. The reek OF the forecastle sick
! ened me-the odor of fresh paint,
hardly dry. of muSty clothing and
sweaty bodies.
! l asked Singleton, the tirst mate. for
permission to sleep on deck and was
refused. went down. obedlently
enough, to be driven back with nau-
sea. And SO. watching my chance,
I waited until the first mate. on watch.
disappeared into the forward cabin to
/ eat the night lunch always prepa red
| by the cook and left there. Then,
with blanket and pillow, | crawled
! into the starboard lifeboat and settled
myself for the night. The lookout saw
me. but gave no sign.
1t was not Il bad berth. As the ship
I listed the stars seemed To sway above
me. and my last recollection was of
the Great Dipper performing dignified
gyrations in the sky.
hx - A.
I lookouts, young fellow named Burns.
/ He was standing below. rapping on
the side of the boat with his knuckles.
/ l sat up and peered over at him and
| was conscious for the first time that
l., the weather had changed. A fine rain
was falling, My hair and shirt were
wet.
Something doing in the chart room. -
he said cautiously. Thought you might
not want TO miss it,"
He was in his bare feet. as was l..
Together We hurried to the after house.
The Steersman. in eilSkins. was at his
post. but was peering through the
barred window into the chart room,
which was brilliantly lighted. He step
ped aside somewhat to let us look in.
The loud and furious voices which had
guided us had quieted. but the situa-
ton had not relaxed,
Singleton. the first mate. and Turner
were sitting at a table Uttered with
bottles and glasses. and standing over
them, white with fury. was Captain
/ Richardson. In the doorway to the
main cabin, dressed in pajamas and a
bathrobe. Vail was watching the scene
( Il told you last night. Mr.. Turner. ="
the captain said. banging the tab
with his fist. Il won't have you inter
! fering with my officers or with my
ship. That mans on duty, and he's
drunk
.Your ship" Turner sneered thickly.
Its my ship. and IL discharge you
He got to his feet. holding TO the ia
Bile. Mr.. Singleton (hic, from now ON
you're captain - Captain Singleton,
How-how dye like it?"
Mr.. Vail came forward, the only cool
one of the four.
ed. Come to bed. The captains
right"
Turner turned his pale blue eyes on
Vail. and they were as full of danger
as a snakes. You go to -" he
said. Singleton. you're the captain,
dye hear? If Rich-if Richardson gets
funny put him-in irons"'
Singleton stood up. with a sort of
swagger. He was less intoxicated
than Turner. but ugly enough He
faced the captain with a leer.
Sorry. old fellow" he said, but you
heard what Turner said".'
The captain drew deep breath.
Then. without any warning. he lean
ed across the table and shot out his
clinched fist. 1t took the mate on the
point Of the chin. and he folded up in
a heap ON the floor
Turner picked up bottle from the
table and made the same inco-ordinate
/ pass with it at the captain as he had
at me the morning before with his
magazine. The captain did not move.
He was big man. and he folded his
arms with their hairy wrists across his
chest.
MIR. Turner" he said while we are
/ on the sea | am i'm command here.
You know that well enough. You are
drunk tonight. In the morning you
will be sober. and | want you to re-
/ member what | am going to saw Ii