The Kevin review., 1926-09-09

chicken. l should say she was, WELL pas
thirty and she was full weight, mind yot
I'm not criticizing her, for it wasn't heI
fault she was big and on In years. What
amazed me was the way these two carried
on like young things Jack was over
thirty himself and there was the two OF
them making an exhibition Of themselves
in front Of young fellow of twenty two
| didn't know where to look | can tell you
You see, mister says Jack, holding
her in his arms, her father is old Mr..
Carl Johnson of the ship chandling firm
and he wants her to marry a rich old goof
the skipper of a ship. Think of it, this
lovely creature the bride of a miserable
bridge ornament Now / want you to be
me best man, and Wen slip ashore the
day before we leave here, and she'll be
Mrs. Crosbie in two shakes of a lambs
tailv
81 must admit l didn't think much of
the scheme Neither did the lady, who
seemed to be playing a game of her own.
She might be fond Of Jack, but / didn't
see her getting into trouble with her father
for him. My own impression was this,
that she was making a sort Of snatch
at her vanishing youth, If you understand
me, by having this love affair with our
handsome Jack, but she'd do what her old
man told her, all the same. But young
fellow, as | was then, couldn't very well
desert shipmate, so | said I'd give him
hand.
Where did you meet herr 1 asked
him on the way home. He told me 1t was
these Young Egyntian fellers was annoy
ing her. i laid him where he stood said
Jack, and | called q cab and / took her
home. Her father gave me drink In her
Yeranda and thanked me for my meritor-
ious service, but the second time / called
he said he was busy and couldn't see me.
So we just stood In the garden. OF course
says Jack, with his arm round my neck,
and thinking / was Miss johnson, l guess,
the old fellow has the usual prejudices
against an engineer. AS IL / wasn't as
good as any skipper In the merchant ser
vicev says Jack. I've as good ticket
as he has, the ould telegraph pullerr
Who7' says, who are you talking
"'I'm talking about the whole blethering
tribe Of skippersp = he shouts, and the .cabby
pulls up, thinking we were fighting.
"'Wen, you can't sail without EN- /
told him.
80, can't We? says he bitterly. you wait.
The days coming when they viii be elm
tolerated them. They'll have their day and
cease " De. Not that 1t will make any
difference to me. ! shall be happily mar
ried and have a job ashore
IF I'd only been able to get him aboard
without taking on any more drinks Ii
would have been easy. But Jack was just
reaching the stage where he felt angry and
thirsty, and we had to call at the Red, |
White and Blue cafe before we went aboard |
Now we were moving over to the bouys
vas coming aboard to clean the hold |
Ind while we didn't have any orders | |
vas coming aboard to clean the holds |
knew we'd need steam on the main engines. |
And the next morning the chief, Mr.. Mac |
3rayne, comes to our alleyway and |
leard him talking to the second, who was
ying on his settee.
Don't forget mister, light the wing
Tres at nine o'clock.
"All right, Mister MacBrayne.'
" And warm her through at noon.'
All right, Mr.. MacBrayne!
ff Md take a frIrn O1f of har af fxun 4
,'clock. Wen be moving at three
'All right, Mr.. MacBraynep
"I'm away ashore with the Old man.
)ut have her ready as I'm telling ye.
ays the chief, and Jack Crosbie roars out
All right Mister Macbrayne; but let me
ell you it's me as is going ashore tomor-
ow morning, as have particular private
business to attend to, Mister Macbrayne.
"'Well, you'll have to see the Old Man,
ays the chief, and shuts the door of Jacks
oom
I'm goin' without askin that friend
# yours on the BRIDGE yells Jack. opening
he door.