Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-01-10


one more drink. "A toast to the river
wot I'm goin' back to, he announced;
''wot I'm being led back to BY
angel"
Mr.. Dobbs' first pay again suffered
in the mind Of the angel as the toast
was drunk. Outside the Sailors
Friend Captain Roberts sought to lead
the steps of his errant companion to-
ward a secondhand clothes shop OF
which he knew. But his companion
knew OF 1t, too.
II couldn't think o. wearin' dead
mems clothes" he said, stopping
short in his tracks. "Td feel like
ghost. An mebbe them clothes have
germs in 'em, too"
Il know a man that found a ten
pound note in some old clothes, Once,'
the skipper said encouragingly.
But Mr. DObbs shook his head. Il
never was lucky" he complained, ''all
I'd find in EN- 'ud be fever, an death.
An II found anything better you'd
probably claim It, since you're pay
In fer the clothes" Secretly admit
ting the justice Of this, the skipper led
the fastidious Mr.. Dobbs to a cloth
ing establishment Of better grade.
There the recipient OF gentle charity
developed such q nice and discrim-
mating taste for wearing apparel that
Captain Roberts was several times
on the point of throwing over the
whole deal. Mr. Dobbs was a student
of human nature, however, and always
agreed to a compromise at the critical
moment. While his benefactor was
settling the mooted question OF the
bill with the shopkeeper, he retired
behind a curtain to dress.
After a heated argument, during the
course Of which Captain Roberts ex-
pressed unfavorable views of shop
keepers in general, and several times
made use of the word rObber, the &C
count was paid, and the skipper re-
lapsed into moody period of renewed
mental arithmetic. Reused from this
by a sudden and terrible thought, he
rushed to the curtain, where his fool
ishness struck him with merciless
force. For a window was open, and
Mr.. Dobbs, together with clothes, both
old and new, had disappeared.
The captains first thought was to
call for policeman, but soon realiz-
ing that his case against Mr.. DObbs
would scarcely hold in a court Of law,
he shifted his consideration to the ad-
visibility of summOning his crew.
The picture of their inward mirth and
secret rejoicing at his downfall was
too maddening, however, and he set
out, unattended, in pursuit Of a soil
tary revenge.
A half-hour's wandering through the
village streets discouraged him. Care
fully weighing pride and two pounds
ten in the scales. he found the latter
the heavier of the two. and according
ly dispatched a small boy to the Mary
Smith with the news that as many of
the crew as could be spared were to
meet him at once in the barroom OF
the Sailors Friend.
This pleasant rendezvous appealed
to the sailormen of the schooner, and
three of them promptly appeared be-
fore the skipper, wearing broad and
engaging smiles which the latter's
story did nothing whatever toward dis
.pelling. Captain Roberts discontinue
was not lessened by the remarks of
several brother shippers who had ar
rived in time to holr his tale. He as
sumed look of fierce authority.
sgVUn esn1 ~ 7,o -
his men, "and If you don't have that
villain aboard the Mary Smith half
hour before then. I'll fiay.you alive fer
mutiny. Remember, he's a little man
with whiskers, very homely, an he's
wearin' either old gray suit or"-he
choked slightly-"sOme fine new
cIothes-blue with q faint white
check. I'll make it hot fer you II you
don't find him"
The men glanced hopefully toward
the bar. but the skipper was looking
hopelessly out of the window, so they
filed out upon their mission. Captain
Roberts sat for some time in moody
meditation, and then sought the wharf
and the Mary Smith The mate was
waiting for him by the rail.
'Tv card Of It," he said; captain
Rice Of the Henry Allen just came
back from the Sailors Friend. That's
Wot they'll be calliR' you, the first
thing we knoW-the Sailors Friend :"
"we won't talk about ii" said the
skipper sharply.
That's your modesty." returned the
mate, IAN It does you credit. too. But
don't overdo it. God although IT.
our skipper a friend to the poor.
Him as we've thought Of as cruel an
heartless."
stow it," remarked the captain
briefly.
Il wouldn't be able to understand
it." went on the impeFvious mate. "if
/ admit read a book once about man
90 'ad two natures. Sometimes e
was a regular devil, an again . was
gentle as a lamb. It's a shame we've
seen only one side O. you ere. cap