New Britain herald., 1925-02-06
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

Orontes. Joe Bunting and Drake join hands in the forecastle.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 Captain Stevens refuses to let me Ihave things out of the slops. Said at my rate of wages I'd need all the al- lowance coming to me to buy oil- skins and boots when the weather gets bad"
 Then I'd wear my old dungarees till I was bare-legged, me lad" growled Joe. Show i'm up 'afore tn gall" .,
 T wonder. Joe," grinned Drake stealing a glance aft.
 Joe sat beside his pal and thread ed a needle. He could help, If he could not dissuade. As he stitched he, too, stole glances aft, for he was a loyal little man. was Joe. He sided with Drake. For the proverbial pair of fat weevils he would have march, ed aft and demanded clothes for him.
 Mary Manning laughed merrily. biohO SluASCu up, lo 5ldlily IllS senses with sight of her. As she stood there in sailor blue. her brown hair full of golden glints, her face alight in the last rich rays of the set ting sun. she was a vision for a sailor to see.
 "Wot's bitin' tn Old Man now?" growled Joe. Drake started at the voice. It dragged him out of his dream. He looked at the skipper. And he too wondered what could be the matter. Jake Stevens was not looking at Mary Manning. His eyes were cold and hard. He was smiling, in truth. but it was the smile of sailor-fed shark. And 1t was fixed full upon Drake and the work in his hands. The skipper spoke to Mir. Twining, and the mates whistle shrilled out.
 You, Drake! Lay aft"
 "Go on, mate!" urged Joe hoarse- ly. Don't give i'm no chance to git after yuh.'
 Drake laid down his work leisure fly, rummaged among the canvas scraps.
 "Go on!" wheezed Joe, painfully. The skipper was scowling. Drake picked up the scissors he had bor- rowed and walked aft. trying to brush and pull his soiled and torn dungarees into some sort of fitness as he went.
 Get move on m'lad!" cried the mate. The shippers eyes glittered. Mary took her eyes from the fore hatch gathering and looked interest edly at Drake as he mounted the lee side ladder.
 You told me you had been to sae before," snapped the skipper.
 "Yes, sir" smiled Drake. meeting the glittering eyes squarely, wonder ing what new humiliation was to be tried out upon him.
 Take the helm. Mister Twining, watch him! If he's been lying, keep him there until he learns."
 Captain Stevens turned to Mary and she looked up rather suprisedly Into a face wreathed in a broad smile. Sometimes she was puzzled at Stevens moods. She felt certain this sudden decision to have Drake stand trick at the wheel was induced simply by meanness. As for the genesis of that broad smile, she did 1 not know what it was. Only sailor could be expected to know the su- preme disgrace of being driven from the helm of sailing ship for in- competency Besides, she had no | inkling of the depth to which Stevens had been stirred by her outspoken championship of the mature ships | boy. The helmsman whose proper | trick it was, passed on his way to join the singsong, grinning expec- tantly, for he was one of the foc'cs'le hands who could not understand | Drake and therefore dtsliked him.
 Shall we walk while? "the skip per suggested, taking her arm in a strong grip. They turned and walked the deck. past the wheel, to the taff- rail and back to the forward rail. MT. Twining stood beside the wheel, watching the compass with a queer look on his brown face.
 Drake stood at the helm as uncon- cerned as if he had done nothing but | steer clipper ships all his life. Mary | glanced at him and smiled. The skipper glanced at him and smiled l less broadly. Next time they passed 1 he flashed a glance at the mate. who | avoided his eye. And when once more they approached the wheel, the skipper stepped to the pinnacle and peered in sharply.
 Drake steers better than anybody | In my watch. sir" grinned MT. Twi-