Evening star., 1925-06-21

y
i giiHpseu the loGy spars of
the clipper in the bay. She
was the only deepwaterman in port.
Blood boat he chattered. "A
blood boat. But you don't git no
more o my blood
He shambled along the wharf, at
the end Of which stood an Office. OPP
posite the office, bright and CHEEKY
against the gray and dirt of the
waterSide, tiny store kept it's door
open, revealing an interior To set the
pulses OF an ancient mariner leapinG
Never a yellow oilskin nor a bit of
rope; not .,rr- Slock or shackle offend
ed the eye grown weary through half
a century of salty servitude.
Glossy plugs of black tobacco: clay
pipes of virgin whiteness and lissone
shape; woolly comforters and stout
shore going Winter socks; old, tasty
cheese and soft, white bread; fat
sausage and luscious, boneless ham
all these things, mere fancieS of the
dreaming sailorman at sea. were clear
to the view of old Peswell through
the open door of the little store as
he paced up and down before the
office waiting for the man TO whom
he was to make application for the
job of watchlnau of the wharf.
All, There was a snug harbor, in
deed, for battered old Seadog. II a
chap could expect TO come at last into
such a fair haven as that little store.
now he wouldn't mind a few decades
of bitter travail at sea.
Fat chance I got o savin money
now" he groWled.
He sought for a match. found none
But he had few pennies. He would
buy matches in that store. He waited
until the stream of lunch customers
thinned out and entered.
BOX o lucifers." he demanded. slap
ping down the coin. His eyes wan
dered around the honey little place.
There were things he had not noticed
before from outside - red candy.
bright. painted toys; rubber balls.
Children came there evidently. What
sort of children would come to that
neighborhood for toys?
Your matches, sir" said i ripping
laughing voice: and old PeSWell
turned and discovered why children
might we'll come 10 that store. Men,
TOO. a 20-year-old girl was offering
him matches. Her big brown eyes
danced mischievously. She was as
trim as Il bra nd new China clipper.
Thank e. ma'am." said Pegweli
confused by the vision. He was still
dazzled, his box of matches un-
opened, when he stumbled against the
man he had waited to see.
Heard you wanted watchman,
sir" said Old Pegwel, respectfully.
He proffered a bundle of ships dis
charges as evidence of character
The man nodded.
Night work." he said. Six TO six.
Tf you suit, in a month I'll give you
day shift. turn and turn about.
Nothing much to do here, but you'll
have to watch out for strangers. Lot
of crooks on the water nowadays.
Rum, dope, all sorts. Start tonight"
old PEGWELL had landed his
~ first shore job. For the first time
since starting out to earn his own
living he could afford to gaze GU
riot sly at a sailorman, going large,
staggering along to the next blind
pie.
Sailors is lot o lummoxes, he
decided. Like kids.
If yuh save UP yer money. an don't =it
Yuhll have plenty o tobacker in yer old
tobacSer box.
he sang. quaveringly.
He pulled up sharply. ceasing his
song, and drifted over toward the lit
tie store again. He would have to
least. That girl looked different from
others he had known. Perhaps she
would tell him where to seek. He
walked in. more confidently than be-
fore. He had a shore job now.
Plug O tobacker. miss" he asked
for. The girl appeared from behind
provision case. putting on smile
as she emerged. A man thrust back
deeper into the shadow. Pecwel1 saw
nothing of the forced smile or the
man. His eyes were rowing. taking
in the wealth of the stock. When he
turned to take his tobacco the girls
smile was sunny enough. He felt en-
couraged.
Beg y pardon. miss, just got a
Job on tn wharf. and thought likely
You could direc' me where to git a
Just as long s there amt too many
bugs, Or
You got job on the wharf" in
terrupted a mans voice. 4 youth.
who might have been good looking if
he could have changed his eyes. came
from behind the provision case.
What job
'Watchman." said Pegwell import
antly. Night watchman. Know any
place kin get a bed >"
How did you get to hear about this
job? I'm livin' here right along,
lookin' for a job, and a stranger comes
along and lands it over my head.
You're a sailor. amt you?"
No watchman." retorted old Peg
well. Was sailorman. Had good
discharges. I'm watchman now
D'you know of a place l ken sleep.
miss"
The youth dragged the girl aside
and they muttered together, ignoring
Peswell. Presently the girl spoke
sharply, angrily.
It's best for you to go away,
Larry. It's a good thing you never
heard of the wharf job. Too many old
friends hanging around there. You've
signed on in the Stella. You know
what the Judge said. Go to work. like
a decent fellow, and you won't be
Go to work? I'm willing to go to
work, Mary, but what d'you want to
shove me off into an old square rigger
for? Amt there work to be GOT
It's best that you go away for
WHILE insisted the girl. You were
lucky to escape Jail when the gang of
snnusglers got caught. If you stay
around here they're sure to watch
you-"
Beg pardon, miss, but if you know
of place" interrupted Peswen
impatiently. Larry swung around
and grinned crookedlv.
'All right, sister," he told her
III do it to please you" He took
PeEwell's arm. IN find you a bed,
old timer. What time d'you so to
work."
"six. Want to get a sleepin' place
afore that
Meet me here at $50. III have
bunk for you by then
PEGWELL started off for a walk,