The Little River news., 1920-02-14
By EARL oERR eIecERs.

seaman, paused hopefully beside tfme-scsrred veteran fin the barroom ef the Sailors Friend.
 "Busy?" he inquired.
 The ancient mariner seized his half- emptied glass firmly. Quite" he said decidedly.
 Doing what?" asked the captain.
 'sRestin'," replied the veteran. ''restin' from . long an adventurous life by land an sea. In many far ports Two been. an many queer ex- periences ave 'ad-"
 How about another berth?" pur- sued the skipper.
 Not for love or money" said tho retired seaman: me an the ocean wave has parted company fer good"
 But I'd make it worth your while" insisted the captain.
 You'd ave to make 1t worth more than my while. wotever that is." re- turned the other discouragingly; me aa' tho river don't speak as we pass by"
 The exasperated captain was tempt cd to remark that the other looked tho part of a stranger to water, but remembering the paucity of sailormen. chOked down his resentment.
 See here." he said, I'm Captain Roberts of the Mary Smith. I've got to meet the new owner of my boat at Greenport this evening, an we're goin' to sail at noon. Before we start, l want another A. B. aboard. I've looked all morning"-he paused, and decided that 1t would be unwise to mention his failure to encounter sin gle available seaman-"all morning.. he repeated, "an' you're the most ex. perienced sailor I've come across"
 "Ay. ay." interposed the aattered enc; ''in many ports I've been"
 The work is easy" the skipper hur- rted on, "an' you'll find me a kind master. don't look hard one, do I?'
 "I'd hate to say wot you look" re. piled the other. Then observing the captains purple face, he added hast ily: My eyesights very poor. Any how, looks don't count. The coolest skipper I ever sailed under wore pretty red neckties. An as fer the easy work. that's wot they all say. I suppose there's red plush chair fer me to smoke my pipe in, an can vas-back duck fer breakfast every morning"
 I'm not here to talk nonsense" add. d the captain warmly.
 Then you oughter stop tryin' to tempt old Joseph Dobbs back to the sailors life." the other returned, "fer that's the worst nonsense there is No. sir: I'm here, an the rivers there. an here an there we stay"
 q like you. Dobbs," said tho captain. stimulating kindness he by no means felt. T want you aboard the Mary Smith. Ain't there nothin' l can say will make you consider it?''
 Nothing" said MT. Dobbs firmly; an even if I did consider it-mind you ain't sayin' I will couldn't think O goin' among decent sailormen ia these clothes. They're an insult to the calling That's the sorrow O my retired life-that I couldn't retire in good clothes"
 Don't let that worry you," the cap tain assured him, i've ain't perticu- Smith. If anyone made fun O your clothes. I'd brain them"
 You're a kind skipper" MT. Dobbs returned. "an' it's your kind cart makes you say that. But l wouldn't be . disgrace to the Mary Smith. not fer worlds"
 Captain Roberts looked at the clock, then across the deserted barroom through the door that opened into . deserted street.
 "What would you say" he asked. If offered to buy you new suit if you como aboard. And take it out O your pay later." he added. in . tone in audible to MT. Dobbs.
 ,. I'd say you ain't skipper-you're 2. fairy" MT. Dobbs said, "an' l don't believe in fairies, so I'd ave to say you vas drunk. It ud be ard. but I'd ave to say it."
 "rn in earnest" the captain in- sisted; brand new togs. It ain't ev- cry day such a offer Is made"
 'Msain't every day you meet a sail orman like me-" returned the redoubt- able Dobbs. fin many far ports"
 "Will new clothes bring you aboard the Mary Smith?" the skipper broke in. "or won't they? I want to know now"
 MT. Dobbs thought deeply. At length he spoke.
 They would" he said. If had the strength to walk to the quay. But l aven't- Not bit O breakfast ave aA. except two glasses O beer"
 Inc captain engaged in some rapid mental arithmetic in which MT. Dobbs first months pay figured to consider S sable extent.
 I'll add breakfast. then" he con ceded at last.
 I could almost be suspicious of a man 70 food as you." MT. Dobbs de- ciared, you don't seem human more