Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-15

carried pearls from Ceylon to the Meth
erlands the while she was thought to
bear tea. She had journed with gin.
seng from Frisco out to Hong Kong
and had roamed back to pick up kola
nuts and hemp from Manila. And all
the time he talked Peggie would listen,
looking out of the window at the Row
ing Lou, and thinking how everlasting
ly tiresome it was watching just that
little patch of shipping and river front
all ones life.
Perhaps he talked too much around
the little back rooms behind the chan
dler shops and the eating places. Ben
said so. Anyway, there came night
when Peggie was wakened by shouts
and running feet Then came shots.
and when she looked out Of her win.
dow she saw that they came from the
little dark slip where the Rowing Lou
lay at anchor. Ben was already down
the narrow stairs and on the street,
pulling into coat.
There were no police around. 1t was
the habit and custom of that section to
attend to its own private affairs with
out the aid Of the police as much as
possible. But out Of the night there
came one long yell aid dull splash
az something went overheard from the
Rowing Lou Peggie laid her head on
the windowsill and Mrs. MacGowan,
big and motherly in her white night
gown, fondled her wisely.
THAT was never his cry she said.
Don't you fret, dear,e. He's fine lad,
and Ben'll look ont for him for you"
But Ben stayed over in the slip long,
until the first amber light showed in
the east and the street lamps went out.
When he did come, tho strange captain
was with him, and he was hatless,
with bandage around his head. Peg
gle went down to meet them, pale and
eager-eyed, and Ben slipped up to the
kitchen to brew some coffee. he said,
leaving the two together down in the
dimly lighted sail room.
81 thought 1t was river pirates" he
told her. Two Of them got me in my
berth, and when I shot they hit me
with blackjack. The Portuguese woke
up. and we found two more in the
cabin. It's all right now. They didn't
believe was after new sails" He grin.
ned happily. 1.-TWO went overheard, and
two got away with the marks of the
Portuguese on them
What did they think you had
there asked Peggie. anxiously.
RIFLES and shells, filibustering for
the gulf don't deal in contraband, !
told them-nothing more risky than
pearls" He drew out little leather
sack from his inner pocket and opened
it flat on his palm. Inside lay three
unset pearls, tender and beautiful as
the dawn that was breaking.
i've carried those for three years"
he said.
They've waited for the bride. Like
them, Peggie?"
Peggie nodded, drawing back from
him. There came the Whit Of fresh
coffee from upstairs.
81 knew as soon as looked at you,
why I'd had to put in here for sails.
And I've wanted you, Peg, but there's
the Lou and the sea, and I've thought
and weighed long. wondering could
give them up for shore life. But the
pearls are yours for the say SO"
Then Peggie spoke. simply said
bravely as the captain would have had
her, when her LIES happiness faced
her.
my names jack he prompted
ben knows all about the business
here, and-and Mrs. MACEDONIAN keeps
house for us. I'd love to go to sea.
You don't know whit it is to have 1t
all in you. the love of it, mean, and
the longing, and sending out sails and
sails to go everywhere like wings. and
you just sit on your stool wishing, May
be that's why you were sent in for
I was wishing So
And she liked him more than ever
because his first kiss was on her hair,
on the little curls tina lay close to her
forehead, as her arm stole around his
neck. and Ben called down the stairs
that the coffee was ready.