The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-04-06


Tho ship or her people. has been d.
rectly due 70 my pursuit Of fad. As
see il now. Il meant only sport TO
me. but something very much more
serious TO others"
Jake stood dumb He could feel
Mnry's hand trembling On his arm
Forward. a eoneertina stopped play
ing. and Ell Gadsett bawled. 50 that
all might hear:
stand up. y lubbsrs. Health 20
IN Captain ana Is passengers
There was silence, then three awk.
ward. embarrassed cheers. The con.
certina started up again. and song
was volloyed forth with all the steam
Of rum.tlckied throats.
Drake paused while the cheers
went Up. then went on:
$50. 10 ger the glst Of this bust
ness. Mister stevens. did not enter
the stranding in the log am
owner. as weli as master. and shall
not enter it unless my officers insist. .
"Do you mean you won't" Jake
stammered
Drake cut IN:
Let mo finish, please. There IS
another matter. A word will dis
miss il. Mary is your woman.
stevens. She always was. | did
YOU a wrong there. But IL you had
heard what SHE told me while ago.
YOU would feel that had been
properly punished"
"ohr said Mary. The darkness
was kind 10 her.
Now I shan't reinstate you as
mate. Mister Stevens" Jake's figure
stiffened Here. ii last Was the meat.
All the rest had been vapor: words.
Because il Is not permissible for a
sailing ship mate to have his wife
aboard"
'oh. said Mary.
80 you viii remain q passenger, .
said Drake. and the kindly darkness
cloaked his broad grin, "a little
longer. You sec. " we're 70 put
you back IN command Of the ship,
you couldn't perform your own mar
rage ceremony. could you? So. II
YOU will both come into the saloon
with me. III call Mister Twining as
witness. and make OF two splendid
human beings the perfect pair"
"Just a minute. Captain Drake
said Jake Stevens. just a bit moro
chokfly. Are you having some more
fun with me. or"
I'm having fun. certainly. / hope
you viii soc the fun Of It, too, Stew
ems. Come along
They entered the saloon. Mary
big blue eyes opened like sea pansies
Ike had dressed 'Erb in n white
Jacket. They both stood at attention
beside a table laid out as II for q
feast TO royalty. Twining stood out
side his cabin door, grinning as II hi
knew something about u. There wal
a bouquet of flowers beside one plate
Mary stared hard before she rccog
nized that bouquet as belonging e
some OF her hats. But she smiled a
the joke. Drake was grinning. witt
prayer book In his hand, and she
could afford TO smile.
"come, children" the skipper
grinned. THE feast awaits. Let US
tuck this long splice. / never ex
Dected to be at your wedding. Jake
Now look at me-
The marriage service as performed
by ship master is a brief passage
Of words. with the least possible
delay Capt. Alden Talbot Drake pro
nounced Jake and Mary man and
wife. He kissed the bride warmly
and laughed al her bushes. Hc sal
her at the right hand OF the tabl,
head chair. then stood aside with
. that sunny, youthful, whimsical
fmile that naturally belonged TO him
Jake Stevens stood by smiling. but
rs II not sure that he was invited
Drake laid a hand on the back OF
the head chair.
Captain Stevens. won't you b,
Beated?" he said. y
"oh, do you mean--is Jake to-
what do you mean2" stammered
Mary, her face alight with some.
thing which convinced Alden Drake
forever OF the unfathomable happI-
ness 70 be got out OF decent deed
well 6nnc.
'Tf Captain Stevens will take his
teot, and let Us begin on theswed.
ding supper, perhaps you vh not
hmbarrass me with 20 many ques
lions 81 down, Twlning want
you 10 relieve Adams before all In,
rolor has gone out Of Mrs. stevens
face"
And Twining relieved young
adams, who was not in the secret