Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28

HE second mate found MIN
when he went to his cabin
just after the bark Hemro
4 had cleared the harbor-heads
and was running out to sea.
Just inside the cabin door he crouch
ed. as miserable and forlorn speci-
men of. dog as the young sailor had
ever seen.
"Hellor said the second mate. bend
ing and tickling him behind the ears
How the mischief did you get here?"
The dog whined uneasily. His
battered stump of a tail thumped the
carpet Feebly he poked ont a pale
tongue and licked the hand that
Caressed him The second mate felt
along his ribs and whist ed The dog
was nothing but bag of bones. Its
golden wire hair was drenched with
the rain, mud Caked it's paws Once
it had evidently been something of
an Irish terrier.
Gee whiZ." muttered the young Of
ficer, rising to his feet. Wonder how
long you've been here. Climbed aboard
this morning some time. When II
was still dark, eh" Cunning iii rogue.
/ dunno what t'do with you. The old
man sure hates dogs. Guess you'll go
overheard fore you're much older
He paused and scratched his head.
He was q very young officer. the
youngest aboard. The mate and the
captain We're both hard bitten old
srouches. There was weary. long
voyage ahead. There stirred in the
second mate the aGe-old longing of
man for a hunting companion, for
friend to be trusted for some one to
sit by the fire with him and warn him
of the night dangers. And for the
same reason that his skin-clad an
cestors had taken wolves and tanned
them the second mate of the Hemro
bent again and patted the starving
dogs head.
All right. old man" he laughed.
You can stay. I'll run you from now
on. II you amt a sailor now, you
will be when we get home. stand up.
Sou-you. Wafffes, you. That's a good
name. stand up, Wafties. and come
with me-"
He backed out Of his cabin, in the
low deckhouse abaft the mainmast.
swapping his fingers. Whining, the
dog followed. weakness causing his
legs TO drag, his tail down, his ears
fiat. his eyes wide on the chuckling
man.
Doctor. give my dog some scraps,
will you?" said the officer TO the cook
when he reached the galley with his
charge.
The white aproned pot bellied,
stumpy cook looked down on the dog
and shifted "A dawg! Crik-ee; Wait
till the old man sees it. Scraps. sir
Aye. aye. Come here, you miserable
lookin' lump o mischief. What's is
nyme?"
"Waff1es. You know. same as you
make sometimes. doc"
Huh! You maxim fun o me?
Never mind. Wafies, come ere and
eat"
The cooks smooth moon-face.
bright red from long years Of stand
ing before galley fires, slid into a
smile as he watched the hungry dog
bolt the scraps of meat and yege-
tables he placed on the galley deck.
The second mate leaned against the
door jamb. He scratched his head
and tilted his peaked uniform cap
we'll back. A fine young man was
he, big and bright eyed, broad
shouldered, tanned, clean slaven, his
short throat well muscled. Nearly
always laughter curved his lips.
4 x =
A FOOTSTEP sounded on the deck
a planking, a slow methodical foot
step. 4 deep voice demanded,
What's that you've got in there?"
The face Of the cook lost it's grin.
The second mates eyes ceased to
twinkle. Both men turned slowly,
the second mate removing his foot
from the door step and commencing
to button his jacket up. The captain
stood in the opposite doorway.
frowning down at the feeding dog
that watched him from the corner OF
one eye and with one ear cooked up.
"a dog, SIR said the second mate
uncomfortable.
so Sec" Snarled the captain. i
Pitch it overheard"
The cook mumbled, "Yessir" in a
low voice and stopped to pick up
Waffies. The dog backed away and
groWled. The second mate flushed
and stuck his hands in his trousers
pockets. HIS obstinate jaw set hard. |
Leave him alone" he said dis
tinctly. Hes my dog"
The captain stiffened and frowned.
He was a burly man, black bearded,
gray-faced, his face lined with the
weather and years of dissipation. He
glared from under the low-pulled
peak of his cap.
Your dog be blowed" he said. Il
won't have a. dog on my ship. Throw
1t over side, cook"
You leave it alone" snapped the
young officer hetly. The cook hest
tated and looked from one man to the
other. It's my dog and I'll look
after it. If you want to pitch it
over, you'll have TO pitch me over
first, sir.
You'll keep your mouth shut and
you'll do as you're told. Healy," the
captain snapped, his eyes blazing.
I'll warn you if that dog comes my
way I'll shoot it. You'll pay for it's
keep till then"
He turned and STROBE away, NUT
tering darkly in his beard. The cook /
shot a scared look at the second mate
You'd better get rid of the
hanimal, sir" he mumbled. You
know what the old man is with dogs
He'll shoot the thing fore long. I'll
tell the world e WILL
''Oh, shut up, doctor" The other
snorted wrathfully. I'll look after
the dog. You just save scraps to feed
him and leave the rest to me. Why
why, darn it! I never had a dog
before"
The cook sighed and shook his