The daily Alaskan., 1922-07-18

lA[lu AENll kAlG lhbtN9 ANAL NtH '''N' men were talking of cargOes, and of ships and of men who worked and sanrI on them.
 "IIow long have you been on the lakes: Alan Inquired.
 "All my life"
 DO you remember the Miwaka|
 Old Burr turned abruptly and studied Alan wiu, sIOw scrutiny which seemed To look him through and through: Vet while his eyes remained fixed on Alan suddenly they grew blank. He was not thinking now of Alan, but had turned his thoughts within himself.
 q remember her-yes. She was lost iu '95." he said. "In '95," he repeated.
 "Dld you know Benjamin Coryet| Alan asked.
 Old Burr stared at him uncertainty. "I know who he Is, of cOurse.'
 "You never met him"
 "No."
 "Did you receive a communication from him some time this y"ur-a re- quest tu send some things to Miss Con. stance ShcrrIll at Harbur PonlE
 "I never heard of Mss Constance Sherrill. To send what things"
 Several things-umouE them watch which had belonged to Captain Stafford of the MIwuku.'
 old Burr got up suddeutIy and stood gazing down al Alan. "A watch of Captain Stauords:-uO" lac said agi- taJedly. "NOw
 He moved away and left the place; and Alan sprmg up and followed him.
 He was not. il seemed probable to Alan now. the James Burr of COryet's list; al least Alan could mot sre how he could be that one. Among fhe names uf the crew of the Miwuku Alan had found jhut of a Frank Burr, and his Inquiries had informed him that this man was a nephew of the James Burr who had lived near Port Curhuy and had disappeared" with oli his family. old Burr had not lived Ut Port Corbay-Ut least. he claimed mol io have lived there; he gave another ed- dress and assigned to himself quite dli- frreut connections For every member of the crew of the Niwuku there had been a corresponding, but different name upon Corycts list-Jhc uume of close relative. IT old Burr was not related Co the Burr on CoryeJS list what connection could he have with the Miwuka. and why should Aiuns questions have agitaJcd him so! Alan would mot lose sight of old Burr until he had learned the reason for that.
 He followed. as the old man crossed the bridge and turned tO his left among the buildings on the river front Burr's figure, vague in the dusk, crossed the railroad yards and made It's way Co where a huge black bulk, which Alan recognized as the ferry, lOomed at the wuterside. He diSap- peared aboard It. Alan, following him, gazed about.
 A long. broad, black bout the ferry was. almust four hundred feet Co the tall, blum bow.
 Alan thrilled a little at his inSpec- tion of the vessel. He had not seen close at hand before one of these great craft which. throughout the winter, brave ice and storm after all-or near ly all-otApr lake boats are tied up. He had not meant 10 apply there when he questioned old Burr about a berth on the ferry; he had used that merely as a means of getting into cOnversa- ton with the old man. But now he meant to apply; for 1t would enable him to find out more about old Burr.
 No berth on the ferry was vacant vet but one soon would be, and Alan was accepted in lieu of the man who was about to leave; his wages would not begin until the other man left, but In the meantime he could remain aboard.
 All that was known definitely about old Burr on the ferry, 1t appeared, was that he had Joined the vessel in the early spring. Before that-they did not know; he might be an old Iakeman who. after spending years ashore, had returned r0 the lakes for a livelihood.
 The next morning, Alan approached old Burr in the crews quarters and tried to draw him into conversation again about himself; but Burr only stared at him with hIs intent and odd. Iy lntrOspectIve eyes and would not talk upon this subject. A week passed {; Alan. established as a lookout now on Number 25 and carrying on his duties, saw Burr daily and almost every hour; his watch coincided with Burr's watch at the wheel-they went on duty and were relieved together. Yet better acCualntance did not make the old man more communicative: a score of times Alan attempted to get him to tell more about himself. but he evuded Alaa's questions and, If Alan persisted, he avoided him.
 On deck, one night, listening while old Burr talked excitement suddenly seized Alan. Burr claimed to- be an Eng.ishmun born in Liverpool. lie had been. he said, a seaman in the British navy; he had been present at the slaIug of Alexandria .. later, because