Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-01-18

The Girls Hand Touched the Sleeve
of My Jacket.
der, and watched until she disappeared.
Forward could perceive little outside
the glow of the lanterns in the radius
of which black, grotesque figures con-
stantly passed and repassed. Occasion
ally a voice sang out some command,
the words scarcely distinguishable.
"Mr. Leayord - / sang out.
AYE, aye, sir"
LET the men knock off work for the
present, and send the second mates
watch down for supper. You will take
the deck, and it will be better to have
another hand aft here at the wheel" "
very WE'LL sir"
/ waited until he clambered heavily
up the ladder and joined me, his huge
figure outlined against the CLEAN of
the pinnacle light.
II was pleased to see the way in
which the crew took hold, Mr.. Lea
yord,'' I said quietly, land that Olson
set them SO good an example"
He crossed over to the rail and came
back wiping his lips on his sleeve.
"Olson is a good man, Mr.. Hollis ;
you made no mistake when you chose
him for second officer, but never saw
a worse bunch of sea scum inany TO-
castle than we've got aboard here, sir."
"They took hold, all right"
"Aye, for the once; they're a bit
dazed yet, an have had no time to talk
1t over among themselves"
"Well hear from them later, you
think?"
Tomorrow, sir. or perhaps to-
night, as soon as they learn for sure
the course we're steering. They are
dead set against Hamburg"
"Why Hamburg, Mr.. Leayord?"
swell, sir, don't just know myself,
for I was the bosun, and the lads never
talked to me very freely. From all I've
heard, however, it's largely caused by
what that fat bloke yer brought aboard
with yer had to say about this dirty
war breakin' out. I don't know the
buffers name, sir: but hear he claims
to be a millionaire, an is willin' ter
spend a lot O. coin, just to be took
back ter New York. Cookie told me
that he and the guy that goes by the
name of Liverpool had quite talk"
Liverpool Red-yes, I've heard Of
him; he's the mems leader forward"
Likely so; but there's others of
the same kidney. If I was you, sir,
I'd have a talk with Olson when he
come on deck again. He'll tell you
more'n I can"
/ stood silent moment, staring out
into the black void.
81 presume, Mr.. Leayord, / can con-
,fidentIy rely on your loyalty in case
trouble develops?"
"You sure can, sir"
Sand Olson?"
"He'll face it like man; and al
though Masters is a bit of fool. I'm
ruessing he can be counted on in a.
pinch"
"Are there any others?"
"That's hard to say, sir, offhand. I
haven't been shipmates with them, or
with any O. this crew long enough yet
to size 'em up; but there are few
men forward who don't chum none
with Liverpools crowd. Olson would
know 'em better than t.
swell, the sooner we learn exactly
how we stand in this matter the better.
I'll relieve you as soon as l have
a bite.to eat"
In spite of its general dinginess of
paint and furnishings, the main cabin
had look of cOZiness and comfort as
Ifentered from the black gloom of the
decks. Bascom and Miss Vera Occu-
pied seats on one side, while Olson,
washed ard brushed into a state of
rare discomfort, sat alone opposite. A
slim, narrow-chested man, his weak
mouth partially concealed by strag-
Cling mustache, and who answered to
the name Of Dade, acted as steward.
but the boy, Moon, was doing most OF
the work, I drew out the single va
cant chair and sat down,
SWELL" / said pleasantly, breaking
the rather awkward silence, II do not
exactly know where we are going, but
we are on our way
''The sea is rising, ! judge" re-
marked Bascom.
sThere is every promise Of a rough
night, but nothing to worry over. Dade,
why did you set the table only for
four? There is another passenger
aboard"
t'He has refused to mess aft, SIR
s.Oh, he has! Well, possibly, may
have something to say as to that. Did
he give any reason?"
Dade endeavored to hide grin, s'Not
exactly. a reason, sir" he answered
softly, sbut / took it from what he said
that he was not overly proud o. the
way he wus marked up, sir"
devoted few minutes to the meal;
but when Dade departed on an errand
forward. decided might just as well