The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-04

 on watch, echoed instantly from the inky interior of the wheelhouse Up overside rose the whisper of rushing waters; from underfoot came the rhythmic beat of the engines far be low O'NeiI shook off his mood and began to wonder idly how long it would be before Captain Johnny would be ready for his s.nightcap.'
 He always travelled with Johnny Brennan when he could manage it, for the two men were boon companions. O,Neil was wont to live in Johnny'g cabin or on the bridge. and their night Iy lbation to friendship had come to~ be matter of some ceremony. The ships master soon appeared from the shadows-a short, trim man with gray hair.
 Come he cried: tits waiting for us.''
 o'Neil followed into Brennanss lux urious, well lit quarters, where on mahogany sideboard was tray holding i decanter, siphon and glasses, together with bottle of ginger ale. The cap l tain, after he had mixed beverage l for his messenger opened the bottle for himself. They raised their glasses ! silently.
 tssNow that you're past the worst of ft,', remarked O'Nefl, q suppose you'll turn in. You're getting old for a hard run like this, Johnny
 Captain Brennan snorted. ttO1d? I'm a better man than you, yet. Pm a teetotaIer, that's why. discovered long. ago that salt water and whisky don't mix.''
 l O'Neil stretched himself out in one of Brennan's easy chairs. Really The said, ssI don't understand why q ship carries a captain. Now, of what | earthly use to the line are you; for in l stance, except for your beauty, which, no doubt, has it's value with the wo- men2 I'll admit you preside with some l grace at the best table in the dining l salon, but your officers know these lSchanneIs as well as you do. They could make the run from Seattle to Juneau with their eyes shl7t.''
 Indeed they could not, and neither could r.,
 sOh, well, Of course I have no re spect for you as man, having seen you without your uniform. | I The captain grfnned in thorough en- ioyment of this rafllery s.I'n say noth- ing at all of my seamanship,p he said, relapsing into the faintest of brogues, .sbut there's no denying that the mas l ter of ship has many unpleasant Eand disgusting duties to perform. He has to amuse the prominent passengers 1 who can't amuse themselves, for one thing, and that takes tact and patience. ] Why, some people make themselves at home on the, bridge, in the chart room, and even in my living quarters. to say s nothing of consumfng my expensive l wines, liquors and cigars I Meaning me ?,
 | you'll have to make allowances for my well known brusqueness. Maybe did mean you. But I'll say that next to lyou Curtis Gordon is the worst grafter I I ever saw.
 .sYou don't like Gordon, do you?'' O,Nei1 queried with 8 change of tone.
 tI do snoti He went up with me again this spring, and he had his widow with him too.'y
 tsHis widow P
 I kYou know who I mean Mrs. Ge- rard. They say it's her money he's using in his schemes. Perhaps it's be cause of her that don't like him.,
 stAh-h! I sec
 You don't see, or you wouldn't grin like an ape. Pm a married man, I'll have you know, and Pm still on good terms with Mrs. Brennan, thank God. Il money, and that's just what our friend
 Gordon is doing. What money the
 widow didn't put up he's grabbed from the schoolma' ans and servant girls and society matrons in the east What
 las he got to show them for ft?"
 "A radlroad. project, a copper mine, 2 some coal claims's-
 '.Bah. A menagerfe of wild6atsr'
 Ton can't prove that. Whats your reason for dfstrusting him P
 Well, for one thing, he knews too
 much. Why, he knows everything, he does Art, literature, politics, law,
 finance and draw poker have no se-
 crets from him. He's been everywhere -and hack-twice; he speaks dozen different languages. He outargued me on poultry raising. and I know more I about that than any man living. He
 can handle a drill or coach and four; 1. ] he can tell all about the art of ancient {. Babylon, and he beats me playing crib
 bage, which shows that he ain't on the
 level He's the best informed man out side of university, and he drinks tea
 of an afternoon, with his legs crossed and the saucer balanced on his heel
 Now, it takes years of hard work fol ; an honest man to make success al
 one thing, but Gordon never failed al anything ask you if a living author , ity on all the branches of human en deavor and a man who can beat me al } crib doesn't make you suspicious , tsNot at all. I've beaten you myself @I was sick,' said Captain Brennan. s@ "The man is brilliant and well edu , cated and wealthy. It's only natura that he should excite the jealousy of { weaker intellect.,'
 Johnny opened his lips for an explo : sion, then changed his mind and agree'
 sourly.
 ''He's got money, all right, and h } knows how fo spend it. Re and hf