The Little River news., 1920-02-14
Bread Cast Upon the Waters
Captain of the Good Ship Mary Smith Maneuvers to Hold His Post, as We'll as That of Mates Who Were About to Be Discharged by
 Victimzed Owner
Copyright by the Adams Newspaper servce New York
VlctlmlZed Owner


 plained, by his visits to many far ports. While the skipper was paying 2 bill that sent the cold chills up and down his back, Mir. Dobbs suggested ono 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 . secondhand clothes shop of which he knew. But his companion knew of 1t. too. ,--.
 T 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"
 "I know Q man that found ten pound note in some old clothes. once." the skipper said encouragingly.
 But Mr. Dobbs shook his head. II never was lucky" he complained, "all I'd find in 'em 'ud be fever, an death. An if I 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 MT. Dobbs to cloth ing establishment of better grade. There the recipient of gentle charity developed such a nice and discrim- mating taste for wearing apparel that Captain Roberts was several times on the point of throwing over the whole deal. Mir Dobbs was 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 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 ac. count was paid, and the skipper re- lapsed into a 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 MT. Dobbs, together with clothes. both old and new, had disappeared.
 The captains first thought was to call for a policeman. but soon realiz- ing that his case against MT. Dobbs would scarcely hold in 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 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 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 polling. Captain Roberts discontinue was not lessened by the remarks of several brother shippers who had ar rived in time to hnr his tale. He as sumed look of fierce authority.
 We sail at noon," he announced to his men, "and if you don't have that villain aboard the Mary Smith half hour before then, I'll hay you alive fer mutiny. Remember, he's 8 little man with whiskers. very homely. an he's wearin' either old gray suit or"-he choked slightly-"some fine new clothes-blue with faint white check. I'll make it hot fer you if you don't find him."
 The men glanced hopefully toward JuS OAI, Out IuO ohAPPOA W0O ADOAAAo hcpelessly 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 callin' you, the first thing we know-the Sailors Friend. :"
 We won't talk about it." said the skipper sharply.
 That's your modesty," returned the mate, "an' it does you credit, too. But don't overdo it. God a-thought it. our skipper friend to the poor. Him as we've thought of as cruel an heartless."
 Stow it," remarked the captain briefly
 T wouldn't be able to understand it," went on the impervious mate. If 'adn't read book once about a man