Ellsworth American., 1920-03-24
mo MANS
PORT"
By GENEvIEvE ULMAR

Mr.. Ralph Warren, employer of Mar
win Bross. Down late mornings,
sleepy till noon. out of the Office half
an hour before quitting time. II
won't do. Watch your stepl"
Bross was attentive, but unheeding.
A month later, when someone asked
Mr.. Warren about the young man, the
response came:
Drifting. He was a pleasant, &C.
commodating young fellow, but he
idled his time away. Not vicious. nor
dlsslpated. Just caught with the glare
of the town and 1t dazzled him. Start
ed wrong somehow In choosing his
business career, and Incidence and
carelessness have done the rest"
Slipping. drifting and then down
and out" These were the three for
midable phases that contended with
well meaning. but happy go-lucky Mar
win Bross and won the contest. He
had come from quiet country town
where he would have been a success
with his easy-going. smiling ways and
familiarity with local business meth
DDS, and the city, instead Of being an
impetus to ambition, became a pleas
ant hunting ground for variety and
enjoyment.
The last phase Of Marvin's reckless
experience became very manifest to
him, as one chilly winter evening.
homeless, out of money and work, he
crept into the hallway of a public
building and crouched behind radi-
ator.
Looks seedy. but he's SOBER" OBJ
served one of two night watchmen a
little later. "Herei" with shake of
Marvin's arm, "where did you come
from?"
ITS not where 1 came from, gen.
tlemen." remarked Marvin pleasantly,
me out Of this warm nest. I've had
bad luck. What do you do In cases
like miner
HE looks Of the right sort. only
down at heel" observed the other Off
Ger. 81 would say No Mans Port. He
looks the kind Old Salty favors."
"An right, take him there" came
the response. See here, my man,
you're grazing vagrancy and the mu-
nicipal court, so go with my partner
and see what Old Salty can do with
you"
And who is Old Salty. If I may
ask?" propounded Marvin.
Every mans friend who deserves
chance. He'll be your free landlord
for a night, anyhow"
Marvin followed the officer. He was
curious, interested as they reached a
store.
Here's another derelict to add to
your fleet, Salty"
The queerest appearing man Marvin
had ever met nodded and regarded
this new recruit with one probing eye.
He looked the retired old mariner
complete. He had also only one arm
and was battered up otherwise like
some son of battle.
You seem to need a meal and a
bed," he observed to Marvin. Dream
over having found a free harbor and
have talk with me In the morning"
and he led Marvin into another room
where a frugal but wholesome table
was spread, and then to one of the
dozen partitioned-off compartments
supplied with clean, comfortable cots.
In the morning he questioned Marvin
in a fatherly way and said:
you talk right, now to get feeling
right. The matter with you is that
you have lost your bearings. Suppose
find them for you-win you try to
do me creditY
IF you mean job" replied Marvin
eagerly, "just try me. I've had my
lesson"
Before the day was over Old Salty
who was one of those philanthropists
who do a good deal for humanity with
out saying much, had secured Mar
vim position as attendant to a young
man, confirmed invalid, going South
for his health. For five months Mar
win applied himself diligently to his
duties. He was well paid and when
the invalid died his parents made Mar
win a grateful present of thousand
dollars. He was a new and welcome
Marvin when he reported to Old Salty,
you've stood the test" remarked
the old mariner. "Now, then, to get
back to the old basis. My lad, you
made a mistake when you left peace
and plenty for the city. You took the
wrong road. A man can never mend q
mistake without going back direct to
the original environment and starting
in all fresh again. jog your memory.
When and how did you come to start
down that wrong road"
Memory did not fail Marvin, and he
WINGED and looked sad. How clearly
did he recall that last talk with pretty
Lucy Davenal back at his home town
he insistent upon venturing business
career in the city, she refusing to even
; think Of wedding a man who would
4, take a wife into a dreaded unknown
away from home and friends. Then
- hoa <,ox.o h;- x,-s1r<,,I d1n,x, 4, -