Evening star., 1926-06-20

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Ike roared again with laughter.
lodging with comical exaggeration the
old mans waving fists. 1t made Bob
furious. He pushed a fist under 1ke's
big red nose and the first quivered un'
der the restraint that held it back.
Ike stepped back and fell.
Darn ye! Stand up and I'll fight
yer' screamed Bob.
go away, old man" yelled Ike.
he hurts hisself. Go away, 1 tell
your he roared as Bob showed the
other fist forward and both menaced
his tormentor's face. II amt goin' TO
fight you. You amt big enough.
Bobs fist smacked home on the
bridge of Ike's nose, and Ike got up,
startled, while the old man howled:
"-----! You say that and I'll
I'll Why, - I've been told
that all my life. Now you put yer
hands up and see II L amt Dig
enough for ye!"
Ike Fergus backed away. Other
hands caught hold of Bob and pulled
him away, soothing his ruffied feel
ings as well as they could.
That was not easy. likes thought
less jibe recalled so many memories
down the years.
Il x
THE sprays hit the shack now every
:. few minutes In the harder gusts
real water struck the shutters. Ihe
wind moaned around the corners, but
inside the shack all was coZy ana
warm. Two more of the llfeboat crew
came down, too interested in the pos
sibilities of the storm to sleep. one
told Of a light seen to southwest: II
was nothing to worry about. When
the coast guard telephoned to the
boathouse II would be time enough
for the boatmen to show interest.
Member the gale o ninety-seVen!
the broad, dark man ventured.
No need to say which gale. Every
man there had been concerned In that
gale: and there had been others who
were not there now. The men talked
1t over for the fiftieth time, In snort
sentences and reverent tones. Old
Bob Stafford, once started on the SUD
tect of his pets, forgot all about his
anger. about the other men, about
everything except his rabbits, his job
and the least ugly of his memories.
While his old ears were keenly alert
TO sounds of storm or the ringing or
the telephone, he puttered about the
rabbit hutches, sticking bits OF green
stuff through the wire netting, hum
ming bits of his old fore bitter. And
the men talking over the old storm
lowered their voices still more so that
they might not spoil the old fellows
singing:
THE cappen, his honor. when he
looked down on her,
Ran down the ships side to assist
her on board:
And he said, with emotion, What son
of the ocean
Is lucky enough 10 be loved o. Peg
Ford?'
Peg thus she gave answer. This here
is my man, sir;
III make him as rich and as fine as
a lord
That ere said the cappen, cant
very well happen;
We've got sailing orders - you,
Grady, aboard.
Old Bob had got as far as
"Avast" says the lady, don't mind
him. Hal Grady;
You once was his man, but III have
YOU at large -
when the shack door burst open in
volley of sandladen sea, and two more
men tumbled in, streaming with wet
and painting for breath.
Wires are down. one painted.
ship backstrapped under the head
land" the other gasped, squeezing the
water from his eyes with his knuc'
kleS.
She'll never clear tn Ledges.'
The men crowded in the doorway,
peering seaward. There was no light
to relieve the wall-like blackness of
the night; but as they watched. pep
pered by the spray, thin thread of
fire scared aloft by the outer Ledges.
burst high in the air and was splashed
against the sooty sky in a golden
liquid voley.
shes struck the coXswain
snapped.
There was no need TO give orders.
The tall, lean man plunged toward
the boathouse and his crew trooped
at his heels. Ike Fergus was among
the first. His loud laugh. his raucous
speech, his whanging fist were part
of the man: another part was courage
and pride of place. Ike made enemies,
but even they would not withhold
from him the name of a brave man
and fine boatman.
The boathouse doors were open. the
hauloff rope in place, lanterns glim-
mered and Old Bob Stafford was in
there puttering around, humming his
interminable fore-bitter. Swift as had