The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-03-14

| The sunlight, I thought whaling wa,
such a dirty business"
you mustn't so strong on appear
anoes, Miss Mary" Jake replied with
a laugh. Then he went on 10 tell her
about whaling. and found her a
glowing. appreeiatlve listener, lie
had never even while he was cap
tain OF tho orontes coming out TO the
Cape seen her 30 warmly eager The
hot blood that had made him snatch
her TO him once before almost over
mastered him now. But he got grip
on himself. az the expense OF his
pipe stem. He bit Il thru, aud the
pipe fell TO the deck.
lilo gaAed after Mary as she en-,
tered the main.dock saloon door. and
red CLEAN IL behind his heavy
blond hrows. Tony was there. The
doctor looked guilty as tho mate ap.
peared IN the door. and tried 90 push
Tony out, But Tony was not 20 DO
thrust out, Ito waa not ON watch.
lilo might have gone for the captnin.
but not for mere mate. The mate
appeared not 20 notice him.
Doctor. give mo that sheep polt. ="
1T Is not ready. Mister Stevens. -
replied the doctor, lie looked re.
lieycd. =.
Never mind Let me have t."
1T needs a lot o. fluffin out, sir"
"t'll comb a. Give Il 20 me-
The tone was decisive. Mr.. ste.
vens carried an the cleaned and
soraped sheepslSin that had been In
preparation FOR him ever since tho
first sheep was killed on tho out.
ward passage. II WAS soft and white.
but tho fleece was still tangled In
places. A comb was trimmed by cut.
ting out teeth, and thereafter. for
many watches. Jake Stevens might
be- seen painstaktngly WORKING over
tho sheepskin until II Was as free
from tangle as "A babes head. soft
as silk. and beautiful TO behold.
Then one afternoon when Drake
was In the ehart-Foom. and Mary
sat at tho saloon table writing Ia her
diary. Jake emerged softly from his
cabin. bearing the gift he had
wrought for her.
For me7' she exclaimed In frank
surprise. running her fingers iuxuri.
ously thru tho silky fleece. sho
glanced UP at him. lowered her gazo
and tho soft color stole over her face
tits beautiful" she said softly. II
ought not 10 let you give II 10 me. :"
She picked up tho llasom pelt and
buried her face IN II,
Il can't make you take IT," he re.
turned. gruffiy. 'Twouldn't do any
harm. tho, Was a time when YOU
were friendly. Mary"
She did not sec his face. She an.
swered him out OF the woolly depths:
'of course I'll accept IL. Jake. I'm
more than grateful And please don't
speak that way about being friendly.
or coarse we're friends. You're ono
OF tho oldest friends I have"
Jake stood his watch that evening
with a warmer thrill in his breast,
and a brighter gieam In his eyes.
Waiting
CHAPTER XVII
DY some OF those mysterious chan
- ncis that always seem open 10
gossip. Drake heard that Mary had
remained on deck until midnight
with the mate. He mildly repruvod
her. His voice WIS 80 low and kindly
that she, warmed towards him, be.
lieving that no might yet thaw out,
His black eyes gilttered ms ho re.
gRrded her vivid expression: the
faint perfume that chung 10 her al.
ways aroused memories In his brain
that set his blood TO Isaping. But
thru some queer twist In his nature
Alden Drake held TO the religion OF
duty so rigidly that he could even
lay aside love: or at least tho out
ward expression Of Il.
Drake was less moderate In his
reprimand Of Stevens. His words
stung 80 that Stevens blazed forth in
hot rebellion.
Capt. Drake. you have no fault
to find with my work. / hopper"
None. Mr.. Stevens, And none
with your conduct, except this: j
won't have tho officer OF the watch
negiecting his duty for any passen.
ger. say nothing now about the
iateness OF the hour"
(To BE Continued