Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-08-24

Wuue, Out L cdl ldIe Tue Uf1le I'LL I Ill
out of my system"
His guides eyes snapped.
81 understand" he said, laughing.
i've never been at sea ON a long voy-
age in my life, but l can understand
just how you feel. It's in my blood, l
guess. l come of a salt water line.
My people were from Belfast, Me-, and
every man of them went to sea-"
Belfast, heyf They turned out
some A No. 1 sailors In Belfast. 1
sailed under a Cap'n Pearson from
there once. James Pearson his name
was"
HE was my great-uncle. I was
named for him. Ny name Is James
Pearson also"
"WhatY" Captain Elisha was hugely
delighted. "Mr. Pearson, shake hands.
l want to tell you that your Uncle
Jim was a seaman of the kind you
dream about, but seldom meet. I was
his second mate three wages. My
names Elisha Warren"
Mr.. Pearson shook hands and laugh
ed good humoredly.
"Glad to meet you, Captain War
rem" he said. And I'm glad you
knew Uncle Sam. AS a youngster he
was my idol. He could spin yarns that
were worth listening to-"
"I bet youi He'd seen things wuth
yarnin' about. So you amt a sailor,
hey? Livin' in New York;"
The young man nodded. YES" he
said. Then, with a dry smile: "If you
call occupying a hall bedroom and eat
ing at a third rate boarding house ia
BILE living. However, it's my W fault.
I've been a newspaper man since 1 left
college. But I threw up my job six
months ago. Since then I've been free
lancing."
"Have, hey?" The captain was too
polite to ask further questions, but he
had not the slightest idea what free
lancing'' might be. Pearson OWNED
his perplexity and explained.
"Tve had a feeling he said, that l
might write magazine articles ana sto-
r1es-yes, possibly a novel or two. It's
a serious disease, but the only way to
find out whether it's chronic or not Is
to experiment. That's what I'm doing
now. The thing I'm at work on may
turn out to be a sea story. So l spend
some time around the wharves and
aboard the few sailing ships In port
picking up material"
Captain Elisha patted him on the
back.
NNnW 6nn'f won oaf 6icnnI1ro und ~ hn
said. II used to have an idea that
novel writin' and picture paintin' was
poverty jobs for men with healthy ap-
petites, but I've changed my mind. 1
don't knows you'll believe 1t, but I've
just found out for a fact that some
painters get $4,000 for one picture
for one, mind you! And a little mite
Of a thing, too, that couldn't have cost
scarcely anything to paint. Maybe
novels sell for just as much. 1 don't
know"
His companion laughed heartily.
I'm afraid not, captain" he said
few, at any rate. l should be salts
fed with considerably less to begin
with. Are you living here in town.
"Well-wen, l don't know. l amt
exactly Twin, and l amt exactly board
In. But, say, amt that the doctor
calm your"
1t was the steward, and there was an
anxious ring In his voice. Pearson ex-
cused himself and hurried out of the
cabin. Captain Elisha fingered for a
final look about. Then he followed
leisurely, becoming aware as he
reached the open air of loud voices in
angry dialogue.
Entrances to the Empress of the
Oceans cabins were on the main deck,
and also on the raised half deck at the
stern, near the wheel, the pinnacle and
officers corned beef tubs swinging in
their frames. From this upper deck
two flights of steps led down to the
main deck below. At the top of n
Of these flights stood young Pearson,
cool and alert. Behind him half crouch
ed the japanese steward, evidently very
much frightened. At the foot of the
steps were grouped three rough looking
men, foreigners and sailors without
doubt, and partially intoxicated. The
three men were an ugly lot, and they
were all yelling and jabbering together
In a foreign lingo. AS the captain
emerged from the passage to the open
deck he heard Pearson reply in the
same language.
whats the matter ?" he asked.
Pearson answered without turning his
head.
Drunken Sailors" he explained.
part of the crew here. They've been
uptown, got full and come back to
square a grudge they to have
against the steward. I'm telling them
they'd better give up and go ashore, If
they know when they're well off"
The three fellows by the ladders foot
were consulting together. On the wharf
were half a dozen loungers, collected by
the prospect of a row.
IF 1 can hold them off for a few
minutes" went on Pearson, "wen be