Evening star., 1925-06-21

| l ne JudSe toiu E'n he mad better go
| TO work, then folks would be apt to
believe that nI Was innocent OF
course he is Innocent My brother
Larry couldn't be crook, Mr.. Peg,
, well. But he has been under sus-
| 2icion. and l made him join that big
sailing ship, the Stella, for voyage.
When he comes back everything Will
be forgotten, and he CAM Oh,
here's Jack. Excuse me, alr. Peg
we'll"
A tail. brown-faced man of 80
hmped IN. Pegwell was no keen-eyed
Solon concerning women of Mary
, BANDS sort; but when he saw her
pretty face light up at the appear.
ance of this good-looking fellow who
limped on a shortened leg he knew
he was intruding. Putting furiously
at his pipe, he Stumped out upon the
front.
At $50 Larry found PeSwen sit
ting on the cap log of the wharf.
Come on. old timer. I got a fine
bunk for you" said Larry.
They turned down by disused and
evil smelling fish dock, out of sight
OF q growing district.
Have TO cross the creek in a boat, -
Erinned Larry. Save time. see. You
have to be on the job now. but other
times you can walk around. Here "
are"
At the foot of a perpe ndicular lad
der of boards nailed on a Shiny pile
a boat lay. Three husky boatmen
grinned up knowingly at Larry A
blue canvas sea bag lay in the bot
tom of the boat, doubled up like a
dead man.
Take good care of my old friend, -
Larry ordered. He gently drew Peg
well to the ladder. Hurry up. old
| timer. Soon's they see you snug they
have 10 come back for me-"
Pegwell stepped on the ladder.
'Hot' he said. That's your sea
bag, hey? Well, me son, do yer work.
an give the mates no slack, AM
Something heavy fell upon his gray
old head. He tumbled into the boat
AS he pitched forward Pegwell heard
the laugh of his friend Larry. and he
realized the treatment awaiting him.
THE tall clipper put out to see. On
her forecastlehead mer tramped
drearily around the capstan. Hard
bitted officers cursed them; an ex-
asperated tusboat skipper bawled;
the anchor clung tena ciously to the
mud.
Sing fare yew well. my bonny ' young gal.
We are boun' fer Rio Grande ~
A quavery, broken old pipe raised
that chantey. The mate left the
knighthead. plunsing in among the
desolate crew, humping, humping
curSlnS venomouSly.
You sojers,'' he yelped You dou-
ble-left-legged sojers. Here's old
Noah come to life again and you let
him show you your work, Heave.
blind you. Heave. Sing out. old
Noah. Why. if it amt old Pegwell
come with US again
The mate stood off a pace. staring
at Pepwel. Sailormen rarely made
two voyages in the Stella.
Il didn't join, sir" protested Peg
well. ceasing his song. All the men
stopped. Pegwell had tried to per
suade the captain he was not one of
his crew as soon as he recovered his
wits. - The result had been painful.
Il got to be on the job at s. sir. I'll
lose my new job. l was shang
haied-'
A fist thumped him hard between
the shoulders. driving him back to
us capStan bar with coughing lungs
Sing out. Start something, Heave,"
fetorted the mate and fell upon the
miserable gang tooth and nail The
tug hooted owlishly.
Away. Rio,
a jolly good mate, an "a good skipper
too.
An we're boun' fer Rio Grande,
PegweIl tramped around the cap
stan; donkey yoked to the bar of
q mill; a sailor bound by a lifetime
of hard usage to habit Of obedience.
Peswells bunk had bugs. All the
hunks had bugs. PegwelI's bunk was
beneath a sweat leak where bit of
dry rot had crumbled a corner of
deck beam. But Larry's sea bag,
blue canvas bag made by a sailorman
revealed itself full of amazing com
forts. The old fellow had never owned
such a bag. There were bla nkets:
woolen. not Woolly. Warm under
wear. stockings. shirts Good oilskins
leakproof boots. There was real
steel razor: real steel sheath knife
A great bundle of soap and matches:
white enamelware dish and pannikin
and a dainty thing that puzzled Peg
we'll until he opened it. 1t was a fold
er of blue cloth. tied about with
silken cord. On the fiat side was
worked in silk. beautifully, Larry;
from Mary
Inside, cunning pockets were full of
needles. thread. buttons, scissors. And
tucked into the innermost fold was a
note. in slender hand bearing signs
of stress. bidding Larry act the man.
wishing him luck, praying for his safe
return. The feel of it gave old Peg
well a warm thrill.
Hey, me son. I want that bunk.
he announced grimly, shaking the
shoulder of "a sleeping ordinary sea
man whose bunk was leakiesS. "C'm
on. Out of it, Able seaman comes
fust, me lad"
Pegwell carefully placed his needle
case in a dry place. then hauled the
youth out on to the filthy floor. cotton
blanket and all. Even youth must
yield to experience when youth is
seasick, and experience runs along
lines of deep water pully haul.
II