The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-29

sailed under a Cap'n Pearson from
there once. James Pearson his mans
was
Gle was my great-uncle. / was
named for him My name lis James
Pearson also"
"What?" Captain Elisha was hugely
delighted, ''Mr. Pearson, shake hands
| 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.
ren," he said And I'm glad you
knew Uncle Sam. AS youngster he
was my idol. He could spin yarns that
were worth listening to-
Il bet youl He'd seen things wuth
yarn1n' about. So you amt sailor
hey2 Livin' in New York;"
The young man nodded. "Yeg," he
said. Then, with a dry smile: ''If :9ou
call occupying hall bedroom and sat
Tag at third rate boarding house ia
Bile living. However, it's my own fault
I've been newspaper man since left
college. But l 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 Stree
lancing" might be. Pearson OWNED
bis perplexity and explained.
'I'vc had feeling" he said, ''that
might write magazine articles and sto.
ries-yes, possibly 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 sea story. So spend
some time around the wharves and
aboard the few sailing ships in port
picking up material"
Captain Elisha patted him on the
back.
'Now, don't you get discouraged" be
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. !
don't knows you'll believe it, but I've
just found out for q fact that some
painters get $4,000 for one picture
for one, mind you! And little mite
Of thing, too, that couldn't have cost
scarcely anything to paint. Maybe
novels sell for just as much. I dent
know"
His companion laughed heartily,
"l'm afraid not, captain" he sa'a-
STEW, at any rate. should be salts
fed with considerably less to begin
with. Are you living here In town.
"Well--wel, / don't know. amt
exactly liyin', and 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 {
! final look about. Then he followed
Ieisurely, becoming aware as hs
reached the open air of loud voices IL
angry dialogue.
( Entrances to the Empress of ths
Oceans cabins were on the main deck
and also on the raised half deck at the
stern, near the wheel, the pinnacle anG
officers corned beef tubs swinging Ii
their frames. From this upper decl
two flights of steps led down to the
main deck below. At the top of one
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 ths
steps were grouped three rough lOokin1
men, foreigners and sailors Withou,
doubt, and partially intoxicated. Tht
three men were an ugly lot, and they
were all yelling and jabbering togethel
in foreign lingo. AS the captain
emerged from the passage to the opeI
deck he heard Pearson reply in tn
Same language.
whats the matter" he asked.
Pearson answered without turning hi
head.
| Drunken sailors" he explained
Part OF the crew here. They've beel
uptown, got full and come back t,
square q grudge they seem to hav
against the steward. I'm telling then
1 they'd better give up ard go ashore, 1
they know when they're well off,"
The three fellows by the ladders foo
we're consulting together. On the whar
were half a dozen Ioungers. collected b,
the prospect Of row.
"Tf / can hold them eff for few
minutes" went on Pearson, wen BIZ
all right. The wharf Waterman bas
gone for the police. Here, drcp it!
What are you up tot"
0ne of the sailors he'd drawn q knife.
nsls other two regehe6 for !heiJ hel4s