The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-11-24

whom Captain COurtenay is going to
marry. | wonder why he did not show
us her photograph that day when Iso-
bel and l visited his cabin and looked
at the pictures of his mother and sis
ter. l should like to see her, but how
can manage it? I simply dare not
tell him l read that scrap of a letter,
even by chance"
The dog apparently found her an ex-
cellent substitute. He licked her ear
c~ontentedly. That tickled her, and
she laughed.
II fear you are a tickle lover, Joey
she said aloud. But you will simply
be compelled to remain constant to me
while we are in this horrid place, and
that may be for the remainder Of our
lives. dear"
Joey tried to lick again to show
that he didn't care. What could any
reasonable dog want more than fine
weather, enough to eat and the pros
pect of an occasional scrimmage?
When Elsie did ultimately climb to
the chart house the fit of ~despondency
had fed. Boyle was there, having
been carried up in a deck chair early
in the day. He was alone
"Huh!' he growled pleasantly
You're lookin' as bright as a new pin,
Miss Maxwell. Now, if l had been
among the pirates I'd have taken you
with me-"
do you mean to say that you are
actually paying me compliments?" said
she.
Am l? Huh-didn't mean it. I'm
an old married man. But pirates, espe-
clally Spanish ones. are supposed to be
very handy with knives an other fell
lows girls
"You see they did not consider me a
prize"
"The rascals! Good job YOU missed
that boat. Christobal has been tellin'
me all about it. They've gone UNDER
"Do you really think so?
Cant see any chance for them, Miss
MAXWELL"
But we are almost as badly situated
here?"
"Huh-not a bit Of it. Lucky chap.
Courtenay. He couldn't lose a ship if
he tried. She'd follow him Gross coun-
try like that pup. Look at me; lost
three, all brand new from the build
ers. So I'm first mate. an first mate
I'll remain till my ticket gives out"
why do you consider Captain Cour-
tenay so ~fortunate?" asked Elsie, flush
ing somewhat at the guile which lay
behind the question.
Huh" snorted Boyle, amazed that
even a slip of a girl should need in
forming on SO obvious a fact. Don't
YOU call it luck to be given command
of a ship like the Kansas at his age
an to get 8 an a gold chronometer
because the skipper Of the Florida was
too full to hold on to the bridge? You
mark my words. he'll be made COM
modore of the fleet after he pulls the
Kansas out of this mess
what happened to the Florida? %
Haven't you heard that yarn? Bless
my soul, she was u crack ship. She
broke her shaft in a gale. an the
skipper was washed overboard-you
always tell lies about deaders. you
know-so A. c.. just waded in an saved
the whole outfit, passengers an all
But he has had reverses too. He
was in the royal navy. 1 have been
told, and he had to give it up because
his people,
"More luck. The royal navy, Huh
all gold braid an buy your own Wit
tails. There's no money in that game"
Money is not everything in the
world. a mans career may be more
to him than the mere monetary aspect
of it,"
"If ever YOU meet my missus you'll
hear the other side of the question,
Miss Maxwell. S'posin' Courtenay was
in the navy an had a wife an family
to keep, could he do it on his pay?
Not he. AS it is, he's sure to marry a
girl with a pile an wind up Il managin'
Wner."
perhaps he is engaged to some such
young lady already:"
"Haven't heard so. You may he sure
there's one waitin' for him somewhere,
| know. There's no dodgin' luck. good
or bad. I thought it was goin' to be
that friend of yours, but she's off the
register. poor lass. There! l didn't
mean that. I'm an idiot, for sure.
You see. l don't talk much, as a rule.
Miss Maxwell. OF l should know better
than to chin-wag like a blazin'-huh,
like 4 babblin' fool"
Elsie turned her face aside when he
mentioned 1sobel. 1t seemed to her
sensitive soul an almost unfair thing
that she should he gossiping about
trivialitieS when the girl who had
commenced this unlucky voyage in
such high spirits was lying beneath
that grim sea behind the smiling head
land. Yet she knew that Boyle meant
no harm by his chatter. He was weak
from his wound and perhaps Il trife
light headed as the result of being
brought from the stuffy salon to the
airy and Sunlit chart room. SO she
crushed Il sorrow that was unavailing
and strovc to put the sailor at his