The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-11-25
CHAPTER X
What Ralph Found

| n the announcement OF Captain
/ Perez engagement caused no sur
/ prise. that OF Captain Eri'S Ger
,ainly did surprise and congratula
ton on the part OF those let into
the secret. for II was decided "a
say nothing TO outsiders az yet
Ralph came over that evening
and they told him about II. and he
vas as pleased AS the rest. Az fol
the Captain. he was only too will
ing to shake hands with any and
everybody.
The storm had wrecked every
wire and stalled every train. and
ofham was Isolated for two days
Then communication was esiAb
lished once more. and the Boston
dailiea received the news OF the
loss ~ the life.HaYers and the crew
OF the schooner. And they made
the most 81 Il. sensational items
were scarce just then. and the edl
tors welcomed this one.
Special reporters arrived In the
village and interviewed everyone
they could lay hands on. Abner
Mayo felt that for once he was re-
ceiying the attention he deserved
The life-saying station and the
house BY the shore were besiered
by photographers and newspaper
men. Captain Fri Indignantly re
fused TO pose for his photograph. 20
he was snapped" as he went out
Ia the barn. and had the pleasure
OF seeing "A likeness OF himself
somewhat out OF focus. and with
one leg stiffiy elevated, in the Sun.
day Blanket.
The reporters waylaid him at the
postoffice. or at his fish shanty
and begged for interviews. They
got them, brief and poiniedly per.
sonal. aud. tho these were not
printed. columns describing him as
"A bluff. highearted hero" were.
II ever a man was mad and dis.
gusted. that man was the Captain.
In the first place. as he said, what
he had done was nothing more
than any other man 'longshore
would have done. and. secondly. Il
was nobody's business.
Tho Captain went fishing every
day. and when at home refused TO
see anybody not known personally
But the agitation went on. for the
papers fed the flames. and In hos
ton they were raising a purse 10
buy gold watches and medals for
him and for Captain Davis.
Shortly after four o'clock one
afternoon Of the week following
that OF the wreck. Captain Fri ven
tured TO walk up 10 the village.
keeping a weather eye out .or re-.
porters and smoking his pipe. lie
made several stops. one OF them
being at the schoolhouse.
As the Captain was strolliag
along. someone touched him from
behind, and he turned TO face Ralph
Hazeltine. The electrician had
been pretty regular caller al the
house OF late. but Captain Fri had
seen but little OF him. for reasons
unnecessary to state.
Hello. Captain" said Ralph.
Taking constitutional You
want TO look out for Warner: hear
he's after you for another rescue
special -
Hell need somebody TO rescue
him II he comes pesterin round
me" was the reply.
Ralph laughed. and neither apCl.e
again until they came TO the gro
Gerry store. where Hazeltinc
stopped. saying that he must do an
errand for Mr.. Langley They said
goodnight. and tho Captain turned
away, but came quickly back and
said
MIR. Hazeltine. II It amt 100
much trouble, would YOU mind
steppin' mp to the schoolhouse
when you've done your errand?
I've left somethin' there and II
like TO have YOU cit It. WIN your"
Certainly" was the reply, and II
was not until the Captain had gono
that Ralph remembered he did not
know what he was to get.
When he reached the school
there was no one there but Elsie,
who was sitting at the desk. She
sprang up AS he entered. Both
syere somewhat confused.
Pardon me, Miss Preston" he
said. Captain Fri sent me here.
lie said he left something and
wished me TO call for IT,"
why, I'm sure | don't know
what II can be-" replied Elsie.
But I'll see II anything OF his is
here
None Of the Captains possessions
coming to light, Elsie suggested
that he help her with some urob-
Ions that she was preparing fer
the next day.
In fact. as he sat beside her,
pretending to figure, but really
watching har lafnfv nrnfflo his