Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-22
tain glance toward the skipper.

"lt needs q coat Of paint, too" con.
t.nued the critical Mrs. Simpkins;
Be sure and zee 70 Il the moment we
reach GfeeEport."
Without delay my love-" assented
her lord and master.
7 believe the boat Smells" went on
Mrs. Simpkins. shining.
Perhaps It does said the owner.
but 1t shall be thoroughly overhauled
the instant the new crew takes
charge" He glanced meaningly ut the
skipper and the mate. lowering in the
background
Are these the rufflans who assault.
ed your" inquired the massive lady.
Two Of Them" murmured the as
saglted one.
Mrs. Simpkins gave q fat but wither-
ing sneer. "BruteG:" she snapped.
The humbIed skipper came forward
TO put the cabin At the disposal Of Mr.
and Mrs. Simpkins. The mate and he,
he explained. had arranged to bunk
forward Anything l can do" he
began.
But Mrs. Simpkins pushed her hus-
band down the companion-way, and
after a silence-compelling look in the
! shippers direction, followed.
Late that evening the skipper and
the mate sat smoking by the rail.
While Mr.. Simpkins walked excitedly
up and down the deck.
This Is my boat" he announced,
and I'm going to be master here. I'm
running things. Tomorrow you all go.
/ wouldn't have you aboard for mil
lions. Ill run things to suit myself
Ill"
Elijah" came q voice from the COM
panion-way.
Yes. my dear" said Mr.. Simpkins
IT'S time you were in bed" contin.
ued the voice.
Yes. Maria" agreed Mr.. Simpkins.
and disappeared below.
Something must be DONE" an.
nounced the skipper tremendously.
so you've said a hundred times
remarked the mate.
| "Thi5 is too good q berth to lose
went on the captain; wed all suf.
fer by giving It up"
$50 we would" assented the mate.
They smoked in silence for a time
then the captain broke into uncon'
trolled laughter.
I've thought of Joke" he said. q
want the cook to hear IT. He likes Q
good Joke. Go an call him. George
The mate obeyed. presently return
ing with the astonished cook.
You know a good many young Ia
dies in Greenport, cook" said the skip
per.
"A few" replied the cook modestly
"a lot" said the captain. and nice
ones. too, / hear. Just thought of q
good joke. as l was telling the mate
OF course 1t never could happen, an
| can't imagine how it occurred to me
It's a mystery mystery, but a gooc
joke. You know Simpkins is a pillar
OF a church an you know the sort Of
wife he's got. / was thinkin'-it's toe
funny for words-how amusin' Il
would be II tomorrow mornin' a
Greenport a young lady come ABOARD
one O. the young ladies you know
for instance. cook-an' found tina
Simpkins was a old fame O. hers
Wild to see him again. and all that
you know. We all like Simpy prett!
well, even II he Is goin' to kick vi
out. an IL his wife wasn't round We.
do all in our power TO quiet the CIR
an keep It from causin' Mrs. Simp
kins pain
we certainly would" said the mate
smiling.
'Of course it's Just joke ! though
Of" the captain continued; 1T woulC
never happen"
Impossible" agreed the mate TIL,
cook shifted uneasily. - -
You've q good berth here, cook.
said the skipper; we've all goot
berths"
Yes. SIR" said the dazed cook
An tomorrow we go-every one.
continued the captain.
A smile began its slow way acros
the cooks face.
"Mebbe," he said.
Well. who can tell?" assented tn
skipper-"who can predict the future
That's all, cook; / thought It was
good joke, an ! thought o. you. 70,
like good Jokes"
Yes. sir" said the cook; "thanl
you. sir"
Don't mention it," replied the skip
per, graciously. Il think well al
get to Greenport about five in tn
morning. Goodnight, cook"
Goodnight. SIR" answered the smil
ing cook.
The captain nudged the mate, an,
the mate nudged the captain. In UNI
son they knocked their pipes agains
the rail. and arm in arm marched 4
their enforced hunks forward
The skipper awakened 10 the pleas
ant news that tine cook had disap
peared. Went ashore early" was tn
refrain OF the sleepy sailor man a
the wheel.
We'll, never mind. probably he
come back" returned the skipper
with unexpected cheerfulness: IAN
now We better all help with the BREAK
fast"
Mr.. Simpkins appeared for this rfea
in no happy mood. He complained O
the night noises on the river, an,
threatened awful things TO anyon
who disturbed his wife's early morn
ing sleep. The captains delicate sug
gestion that he enjoy to the utmos
the brief respite from that lady's en-
dearing care. Ne received with tn
scorn It deserved
Soon after the morning meal tn
captains anxious eyes discovered
lady. rather decidedly dressed, con
versing with the waterman and point
ing toward the Mary Smith. whel
she entered the skin he called MI
Simpkins to the rail.
Rather pretty girl. that" he sal,
with secret malevolence.
Il never pay any attention to sucl
things" returned the other sourly.
The captain leaned closer, and mold
ed toward the companion-way. NO
even when she's asleep" he asked.
| "Y0u can nayar no Sura - ,,Kl CT