The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-04-21
JOCELYN OF
THE BLUE
ARROW LINE
By RAY LEWIS



$50 our little girl is determined to
come home" said Captain Mcdonald
slowly, tossing back to his wife the
letter she had given him. what shall
we do about 1t, Molly?"
There's nothing to be DONE" re,
turned his wife. didn't you see that
she was going to start at once? You'll
have to meet her tomorrow If we dock
in time."
Twenty-Five years ago, attractive
Molly Steward had braved her parents
opposition and married Bruce McDon-
aid, a powerful young Scotchman, with
more skill at managing perverse mule
drivers than culture or education. But
Molly had not been unhappy.
Then had arrived little girl so pref
ty even in her first baby days that Mol
~. searching her brain for the dainti-
est name she knew, named her Jocelyn.
And the child grew up to fit the name
slim, graceful, with softly curling
sun-kissed hair and eyes like blue vel
vet pans1es.
Vaguely at first, then quite definite
~. the parents grew to realize that the
crudeness of the girls surroundings
were not calculated to develop her
mind and character as they wished.
And there was the question of educa-
ton. After many hours of anxious
| meditation Molly sat down and wrote
| to her widowed sister-and enclosed a
| snapshot Of JOcelyn.
| AS a result, Jocelyn went to live with
her aunt in distant city. where she
went to school. learned how to speak
the kings English correctly and how to
dress. There had been money enough
for it all without any asking of char
ity from the aunt. for Captain Melon
aid, in spite of diminishing traffic on
the canal. had made good with his Blue
Arrow line barges.
| AS the years passed the girls visits
to her father and mother had become
less frequent. and they, considering the
girls welfare. had been satisfied. Now.
sudden and unexpected, had come her
letter saying that she was "tired of be-
ing away so long from her own home
and that she was coming before they
could tell her not to-"
Jack Stafford threw his portfolio
down on the bank of the canal, re-
moved his straw hat and mopped his
brow. Tramping the tOwpath on hot
August afternoon, even in the interests
of free lance story on the passing
of the Old Erie" wasn't altogether de-
lightful.
"A nice. slow motor boat that would
Off" he grumbled. "Then l could
sketch as l Travelled and yet go slow
enough mot to miss anything"
AS If in answer to his wish boat
poked her nose around the bend of the
canal-but not the motor boat of his
desire. Instead appeared the head
barge Of tow.
"Jupiter!" cried Jack suddenly. "An
idea for fair"
And when the barges drew abreast
he stepped forward. picked out the man
who seemed to be in charge and begged
of him board and lodging for n few
days. compensation to be given accord
ingly.
The man hearkened, then called his
wife. "Molly, this young man wants to
take a trip with us; can we put him
up?"
On the lips of his wife formed a
refusal. Then she checked it. "Why
If there is room on one of the other
barges. Our daughter has just come
1 home and our hunks are full, but you're
welcome to take your meals with u.s.
So Stafford found himself installed
and started on the plodding journey to
Buffalo. The tow had been held ur
awhile at one Of the locks as a previ
GUS string of barges was put through
Jack had climbed out to sketch the
dock.
AS he swung back to the forward
barge, the occupant of low rocking
chair in the cabin doorway looked VI
quickly. Taken off his guard, Jack
stared. unbelieving. Then he bowed
and said, I'm going with the tow for a
way Are we fellow travelers"
Jocelyn smiled. "I'm the captains
daughter" she returned simply. $50
guess we are"
Followed long, lazy days of leisurely
travel, and the young people soon be
came Oblivious to all but each other.
Long ago Jacks article on the old ca
nal had lost much Of its importance
Why worry about outside occupations
when fathers considerable business
would some day be his-a business
which in the meanwhile gave him q
comfortable berth and months vaca
ton? And yet-if 1t wasn't for his de-
rendence on his father wouldn't he per
haps allow himself to think Of this
glorious girl more seriously? AS 1t was
well, dad was an excellent parent
and all that. but he did have exag
gerated ideas about the Importance OF
family and all that sort of thing. II
his son ever suggested such a cOntin'
gency as marriage with a barge cap.
tain's daughter dad would 60 up in the
air and Jacks prospects along with
him.