The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-14
EVENING STORY
The Lobsterman.
BY WILL T. AMES.


tidal river a stubby motorboat an
nounced its identity to the girl in the
canoe. 1t was the lobsterman's boat;
she recognized its rhythmic skip. Using
her paddle just frequently enough to
stem the drift of the canoe, the girl
held her position in the mouth of the
little cove. To reach its mooring in the
cove the motorboat must pass within
a handful of yards.
Presently the lobster boat grew from
a speck to spot and from a spot to
full dimensions. The girl could make
out the sun-beaten face of the lobster
man, and she could see that, as usual.
he did not intend to notice her at all.
He was a sturdy. rugged sort of man,
with plenty of lightish hair, and he
wore long red rubber boots. He stood
at the wheel of the motorboat as If he
were alone in the whole world.
Just as the motorboat was almost
abreast of the canoe the girl attempt
ed to shift her position, toppled, threw
up both hands and tumbled overheard
when the canoe crankily capsized. The
man in the lobster boat gave no sign
of witnessing impending tragedy. He
swept by without casting a glance, APP
parently. at the struggling girl or the
drifting canoe, but gave all his atten-
ton to his boat and the matter of
making a speedy mooring.
''Swine!" spluttered the girl. Then
she swan ashore. She sat on rock
in the sun for an hour before she was
dry enough to go home by the road;
and it was necessary to pay the Per-
kins boy a dollar to recover the canoe,
which he found good way down the
river, beached.
Catherine Mason was at Mallory's
cove, not from choice, but because the
doctor had given her the alternative of
a couple of months in the country or
an early dissertation from her job as
fashion artist, from her one room and
kitchenette apartment in THE Village"
and from all her other earthly cares
and interests as a permanent condition.
And, being as nearly broke as she al
ways was, the extraordinary economy
Of Miss Hedden's Mallory cove menage
had been discovered as a godsend.
Catherine was mending in health
very rapidly. But she was bored to
distraction. On the day of her ar
rival she would have drawn her skirts
aside from contact with lobsterman
who wore red rubber boots and whose
boat smelled somewhat of ancient fish
lobster bait. A week later, because
she had discovered that there was
neither male nor female society at
Mallory cove that was not either ell
derby or so utterly dead level that
there was no handle anywhere to take
hold of, the lobsterman had become
a person of keen interest to Miss
Mason. He was a type He was
son of nature. He was doubtless
perfect child in the simplicity of his
outlook. Miss Mason knew many men
who wore longish hair and windsor
ties and talked isms across candle
lighted tables in smoky restaurants.
But she had never encountered print
tive manhood. 1t should prove an in
teresting study.
Catherine was good looking and on
the under side of thirty. She was
long-legged and svelte and had big
a Il nd n hai nd
was withal a very sophisticated and
impressive looking figure-especially
for Mallory cove The lobsterman
would be flattered by her notice.
But twice before today had Cath
crime put herself and her canoe in the
way Of the lobster boat-and twice
had she been snubbed. And now the
hopeless creature had showed his true
worth by passing a drowning woman
with infinitely less concern than he
would have displayed over a derelict
lobster pot. Catherine should have
been utterly Disguised. Instead she
found herself unaccountably angry.
Angry at such a stupid lump as that!
1t was ridiculous! And yet Catherine
grew angrier and angrier.
Next day she met the 1obsterman
Unexpectedly on the road that led to
the downward trolley. She had just
been thinking about him; and she
had assured herself that. of course, he
must, be completely ignored. Yet
Catherine to her Amusement found
herself standing squarely in his path
and speaking to him.
You are the person who saw me
fall overheard yesterday and made no
effort to save me. 1 wish to tell you
what the world-what real human
beingS-call a man who does a thing
like that. He is called a coward"
Yes, ma'am; know" The lobster
man was not nearly as frustrated as
he should have been. somehow. Was
it possible that Catherine was right in
suspecting a flicker of a smile around
the corners of his mouth? And sure
ly-surely-there was at least a trace
of fun in his wide open blue eyes. 1t
was unbelievable. II know" the lob
sherman said, "and generally it would
be right. But not in this case"
And why not in this case, pray ?
What special exemption do you claim
from the most ordinary obligation OF
| humanity"
None. ma'am. But you weren't in
any danger, and 1 was liable to miss
my mooring. You see," and the ghost
| of smile took on a definite shape, II
was n swimming instructor for sew
| perfect fish I'M the water ever fell out
of a canoe without wetting her hair"
You mean to insinuate@" Cathe-
rine's eyes grew black and stormy
| just in proportion as the guilty blood
/ flooded her checks. The lobsterman
| interrupted.
mot thing. ma'am. state. You
see / was born here and belong here
and I live here. but I haven't always
| stayed here. I've sailored and I've
prospected for gold and I've been in
good many places. And 1 know ex-
actly what 1t means to the poor devil
| of a roughneck who gets picked on
| by some educated, handsome. Guilt
waited woman who doesn't know what
to do with her time and goes study
| ing types. I've seen it happen and
I've seen the results. A shipmate OF
mine went overheard in midocean or
account OF the first officers niece, who
| had to be amused"
And you imaHned I was anxious