Evening star., 1921-05-15

He had it sized up as follows: I. O..
O. +, dfe-and- drum corps-two snare
drums, bass drum and fife; Espey
Reckards and his "bayroosh"-by
splitting the top of his ancient vehicle.
the only thing of the kind in Todd
port, Espey was able to turn it into
something that resembled halved
watermelon, which he used thus on oc-
casions that were strictly formal;
delegation from Seaside Lodge of
Amalgamated Gondoliers. with ribbon
badges: the Veteran 1nvincible Fire
Department, in red shirts and tin hats,
serving as escort for handful Nesu-
vius Number One.
All these features were lined along
the street opposite the exit from the
packet-wharf at Toddport: The packet
was rounding the Blue Hen buoy at
the harbor entrance.
Capt Rotheus Cole amt any hand
to spread on hair-oil talk. remarked
Constable Sprague to Pingree Kay.
foreman of the 1nvinCible. but this
turnout does him and the town credit.
and he's going to say so when he gets
here and gets a good eyeful of it
The village hearse, Roscoe Burr on
the box, swung into view around
corner of a building and took place
at the tail end of the parade
Marshal Sprague's sense of what was
fit and appropriate was promptly of
Tended. Get out of line,' he shouted.
I'm waiting here to see the fun
when the boat gets in. They amt go
ing to bury old Mis- Dow till half-past
two, and I've got plenty of time"
That's a nice thing to flavor up
welcome home party with" complain
ed Mr.. Sprague. returning to Mr. Kay.
Some men have about as much
judgment as June bug trying to
uaitZ AUnaner stated Mr.
Capt. Roth wasn't feeling any too
clipper about this town when he went
away from here two years ago. It's
resky taking chances with his state
of mind, now he's coming back?"
others of the assembled townsmen
were canvassing the probable state of
mind of Capt. Cole, ancient mariner,
whose disposition had been corrugated
by the trials of the seven seas.
X X
THE why of his departure from
Toddport was this: The war had
sent forth loud call for master mar
iners, old or young. There were eleven
old ship captains, including Capt.
Cole. retired in Toddport with COM
petences. He had called them togeth-
er, urged them upon their duty and
asked one and all to follow him back
to the sea Not man would go. Not
only that-they told him he must be
getting daffy in his old age. For the
language had seemed to bear out their
suspicion as to his sanity. Then he
had stuffed his old dunnage bag with
clothes. settled the contents with
ramming foot and-his thunderous
curses died in the distance.
Until the war was over Toddport
had heard nothing from or about
Capt. Cole-there were no more ma
rine lists in the newspapers.
And now the packet was slowing
down for the landing.
The engineer of the sardine factory
across the cove had been instructed
and had already tied down the whistle
cord; it was a particularly raucous
came hurtling toward the wharf the
fife and drum corps struck up 'The
Campbells Are Coming" The passen-
gers on the packet, bound for points
further down the line, crowded to the
rail and showed great interest
An elderly man with a florid face in
which were set goggling eyes placed
wide apart was at the rail. too. Under
one arm was a set OF gigantic stag
horns mounted. evidently, to serve as
set up their clamor he began to peer
. into the faces OF the other passengers
In order to locate the dignitary for
whom the ovation was intended.
Cdll lOI tnIce CnceIS IOf C30n
Rotheus Cole!" bawled Marshal
The captain of the packet had step
ped down from the pilothouse. and he
slapped the elderly man on the back.
IAN being done in an Al shipshape
and seamanlike manner, Cap'n Roth,
Some town to come back to, hey?
You let out one more yawp." roared
Capt Cole. "and I'LL" He started
for the gangplank and charged down
the fhrAafaninp or ~
front of him. Constable Sprague, off,
cfally marked because of faded
cockade on the side of his hard hat.
was confronted by the hero.
/ another one of your damnation chiva-
ree-bees. have you, you blue -gilled
son OF a Hyannis Sculpin! 1 know
your style"
'It was the sentiment of the
The sentiment of this town is to
dust feathers over me and ride me on
a rail, / know what this town is In
your case, your vittles don't set right
unless you're stiff-legging it upstreet
In front Of that fife and drum corps"
He brandished his antlers furiously,
and Marshal Sprague backed away.
Now, be reasonable. Cap'n Roth"
pleaded Foreman Kay. step into
Espey's beroosh, there. and have a
ride and cool of. Here's the Invinci-
Il see 'em. You're getting ready to
tap nae for the price of a steak blow
out. The only fire your crowd ever
got near to was a fire in some kitchen
stove where vittles was cooking. Fend
of. or I'll pick you up on these horns
and heave you into the cove.
He pushed several men out Of his
path and climbed upon the platform
of a fish house.
I'm glad you're all here" he de-
clared grimly. Il may not seem to be
glad, but i am. 1t saves me chasing
around all over town and tackling
you separate.
you've gotta general idea Of where
I've been for the last two years. l
have been beating and banging back
and forth acrost the Atlantic ocean
in a foCr-masted schooner, with pow
der and case-oil under me. and hell
on seven sides of me. torpedoed twice
and that's all I've got to say about
It. And l have made it my way to
keep posted on where you've been
Briggs and you other rhne old qua
haugs, You've been right here tax
ing advantage of a war TO sell your
vessel property for ten times what's
it's wuth. And I'm knowing TO it that
not condemned man OF you has
bought liberty bonds with your money.
] suppose you thought the govern IN
ment was going onto the rocks De,
cause you were staying at home ana
not lending hand.
well, you have been getting richer
yourself. haven't you?" demanded Capt.
Briggs. I'm told they have been pay
ing masters thousand dollars month
for foreign trips"
II left every blasted cent OF il over
acrost the Atlantic ocean. and sleep
sounder every night when ! think Of
bought for poor children. I see that
you've got a hearse in line. For once