Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-21
DAILY NOVELETTE,
BETTY'S SHIP COMES IN
BY Sadie NJ. Stull

"NAR1 sign O. yer ship today,
.4N Miss Betty? Rough sailn' fer any
craft, but then it don't allus take q
sunny sky ter bring tn most precious
cargo inter port"
Betty turned to the speaker with a
rare smile. ~ was not looking for my
ship, Cap'n Andy. / was playing the
game you chde me so much about
make believe I was just about to
start on n journey o. dreams-to the
world beyond the harbor-the wonder
land that calls to me with the golden
voice of opportunity"
Cap'n Andy shook his grizzled head.
"Avast, there, little shipmate! Ye must
git sich notions outer yer purity head
Mind, I'm not scoldin', dearie," he
added in a gentler tone. "Onct I felt
tn same es ye do erbout this snug har-
Dor. | wus thet crazy ter see yer
boasted wonderland I run erway ter
! N'York an signed with tn fust ship
thet needed n cabin boy" A reminiscent
CLEAN frightened the speakers faded
blue eyes. 'She wus a clipper, bar
none, an I got my fill o adventure ;
but will We believe me now, Miss Betty.
it ,wusn't or bit like Id pictured itF'
| The kindly old voice ended in chuckle.
"Ev'ry bloomin' air castle went up in
smoke at tn fust port O call, an by
III time tn old ship tackled fer home
'h' last o my store o day dreams he'd
- .." by tn board"
~ had been walking along the
" u,.-swcpt beach. Now they turned
into the lane leading to iIctty's humble
home.
As he opened the creaking gate the
cap'n said: "Iist let tn old anchor
hold ye a while longer, dcarie. Yer
ship is due soon-I feel it in my weather
bones. No, won't lay to fer mess, but
tell yer gran dad ter keep tn forecasle
light burnin'."
Betty watched the sturdy old figure
out of sight ere she entered the wea-
ther beaten cottage. AS she passed
the living room door she called CHEEKY
greeting to her grandfather. Her steps
Jagged as she entered the kitchen.
Then, recalling the cap'n's parting
words. she blthcly SGT about preparing
tho simple evening meal.
The same sad day saw the birth of
II SfllfS VI NuUItli STA val hoiN
fascinating than any fairy tale. Spun
to Tighten child's grief they made
an unexpected and lasting impression.
Some eight years later, Betty, on the
threshold Of beautiful womanhood, an
nounccd she had decided to become a
writer aud would specialize in Cap'n
Andy's sea stories.
With the payment check for her first
story. Betty bought warm sweater for
her ailing grandparcnt and high
liner" cargo for Cap'n Andy's pipe. Her
own young heart cravcd roses. but her
practical eye selected hardy geranium.
Betty's glance turned now to that
beloved plant Meow me ow ow :"
Through the open window shot small
furry object, which like an ebony
streak, disappeared cellarward.
"Why. Tommy Black-what's the
natter
What, indeed? The distant rumble
which preceded the kittens hasty en-
trance. became a roar, with drumming
accompaniment Betty had never heard
with thunder
She approached the window with
bated breath. A sharp cry escaped her.
as she bcheld huge flying monster
clcaving the mist. Even as she looked,
the great man bird dived Sideways
then down-to a shuddcring stop in the
wet sands.
Needless Of wind and rain, Betty
sped from the house.
TO the helmeted and begogglcd pilot
who struggled from the wrecked ma
chine she seemed a vcritable water
sprite. AS he removed his goggles
Betty saw thin stream of crimson
oozing from his temple.
Its nothing" he said with a
crooked smile. Just bumped an up
right when the old girl crashed Now.
if there's a telephone station anywhere
in this neck of sand-I'd like to call
the nearest naval station He still
smiled. but his increasing pallor alarm
ed Betty.
Come to the house and Cap'n Andy
will send your message from the post
Office Her strong young arms guided
him across the uneven sands to the well
come ease of her grandfathcr's sleepy
hollow chair. Then. with cool, deft
fingers she bandagcd the ugly cut. All
the while her heart beat with new
rhythmic JOY that almost frightened
her.
She did not realize what pretty pic
ture she made in her simple g'ngham
dress-hcr sole ornament quaint shell
necklace fashioned by Cap'n Andy. The
young airman's keen eyes also noted
the carefully tended geranium and he
secretly vowed to wear that particular
flower on his next fight. Would it not
prove sacred talisman if accompa-
nicd by the fair donors prayers?
He was interrupted in his romantic
musings by the entrance of Cap'n Andy.
The gravity with which the bluff old
mariner received his instructions was
bclied by the twinkle in his eye.
And as he trudged through the mud
to the postoffice his thoughts kept pace
with his steps. ''Thc little girls ship
hes come in-cs | knowed it would
but" with an audible chucklc-"Ill
be shanghaied if I ever thought it
would come by air.
The next complete novelette, - "An
| EXtrayagant Recipe"