Evening star., 1921-05-01

Joining as an officer the greatest joke
in the world. There was a difference
OF ten years between US. and l sup
pose he remembered me Best In pima
fores. ] was kid Of four. when he
first went to sea. 1t surprised me to
find how boisterous he could be.
Now we shall see what you are
made Of he cried. And he held me
off by the shoulder and punched my
ribs and hustled me into his berth.
Sit down. Ned. 1 am glad OF the
% put the % finishins % You ,ouch Sto to ms; You my u
young officer. And. first Of all. get il
well into your head that we are, not
going to fet this brute kin anybody
on this voyage. We'll stop her
racket -,
'I perceived he was in dead earnest
about it.
He gave me a regular lecture on
special seamanship for the use of the
Apse Family; then. changing his tone.
he began TO talk at large. rattling OFF
my sides ached with laughing. l
could see very well he was a bit a bove
himself with high spir;ts 1t couldn't
be because OF my coming. But. of
course, ! wouldn't have dreamt Of ask
ing what was the matter But it was
afcrward, when ] heard that Miss
Maggie Colchester was coming for the
voyage. uncle was giving her sea
trip for the benefit OF her health.
wrong with her health. She had a
beautiful color and a deuce Of lot
Of fair hair. She didn't care a rap for
wind. or rain, or spray, or sun, or
green seas. or anything. She was a
blue-cyed. jolly girl of the very best
hour Charley sticks his head into my
cabin. l was stretched out on my
back on the settee. smoking in peace.
"'Come ashore with me, Ned he
says, in his curt way.
81 jumped up. Of course. and away
after him down the gangway and up
George street. He strobe along like
! giant and l at his elbow. painting.
1t was confoundedly hot. Where on
ley? l made bold to ask.
Here he says.
Here was a jewelers. shop. He
thrust under my nose three rings
which looked very tiny on his big.
For Maggie! Which?
pointed at the one that sparkled
white and blue. He put 1t in his waist
coat pocket. paid for it with lot Of
sovereigns and bolted out. When we
| breath. Shake hands, old chap
! gasped out He gave me thump on
the back. Give what orders you lik e
| to the boatswain when the hands
turn to- says he; I'm Off duty this
| afternoon
Then he vanished from the deck for
! while. but presently he came out Of
the cabin with Maggie. and these two
went over the gangway publicly. be-
fore all hands. going for a walk to-
gether on that awful. blazing, hot
day. They came back after few
| hours looking very staid, but didn't
! seem to have the slightest idea where
| they had been. Anyway. that's the
answer they both made to Mrs. Col
chester's question at tea time
And didn't she turn on Charley,
with her voice like an old night cab
| mans. Rubbish. Don't know where
you've been. STUFF and nonsense.
You've walked the girl off her legs
Don't do II again
Il think he let Maggie have too
much OF her own way. She was hop
ping all over that ship in her yacht
ing skirt and a red tam o'shanter like
a bright bird on a dead black tree.
The old salts used to grin to them
selves when they saw her coming
along and offered to teach her knots
or splices.
LAS you may imagine. the diabolic
J propensities Of that cursed ship were