Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-03-23

ment." he asserted, arising. TITS MUIR
der to send ny crew around the Horn
without one"
Ships have cone around there before
wireless was Invented" Sprohl reminded
him with rising asperity.
mo ship III the Endym1on-s condition
with a cargo Of ore and in the dead of
winter" Captain Austin replied. then
turned on his heel and left the office.
As he emereed from the building and
crossed the Sidewalk a motor drew up at
the curblng and q Young woman alight-
ed. She looked up brightly at him and
held out her gloyed hand.
How d'you do. Capt. Austin" she said.
II heard the Endymion was in port. I
half hoped / might run into you"
The young skipper saluted, then took
her hand.
1--WE are going out this evening, Miss
Crowell," he replied, for wan Of anything
better TO say. His regard for her made
him i'll at ease.
you're a most elusive person since
you've become captain" she chided
gently.
"a shippers duties are many" he said.
She nodded.
II suppose you viii be too busy to take
tea with me at the house this afternoon,
since your ship is leaving this EVENING""
MY mate attends 10 the details Of get
ting ready for sea. I shall be delighted
to take tea with YOU"
four?"
He replied that four o'clock would suit
him very well.
The Crowell mansio non Fifth avenue
in the seventies had been built when
Thirty-fourth street was still the princi-
pal retail t~horoughfare of New York and
when Madison Square had not yet sur
rendered to the Roaring Forties" its po-
sition as the hub of commerce. 1t was
a rather ugly old brownstone pile of Nor
man architecture, but spacious and
homelike within.
Edith Crowell received him in the high
ceilinged living room whose arched and
heavily mullioned windows overlooked
Central park. The great room with its
massive furniture and tapestried rugs
lay sunk in shadows, deepened by the
leaping flames III the wide fireplace. Her
hair caught dancing lights as she arose
to greet him.
Il like to sit and moon by the crate
on a dreary afternoon life this she said,
He took her hand. She was like some
lovely young neophyte tending temple
fires, he thought.
~ ID OA1C VI ~ lAAAllHO tAla AibNNo q
sailor wonder sometimes why he sticks to
the sea-" he found himself replying
easily, to his surprise.
Then the sailor should get himself a
CRATE" she retorted.
Repartee had not been included in his
sea curriculum. He covered up his de-
ficiency with a smile and took the chair
which she had drawn up before the fire
for him opposite her own. They dis
cussed the future Of the Inter-Ocean
Navigation company and then returned
to the more significant topics of the past
and of their old friendship.
IT had rather hoped that you would
have accepted the captaincy OF the Cor
sair q year ago." she said. but / sup
pose that the chances for advancement
in the active fleet are greater"
1T was never offered to me-" he re-
piled.
She paused Il the act of rehlling hi.
cup and glanced up at him in surprise.
Father said that you had told MIR
Sprohl that you preferred to remain or
the E~ndymion," she told him.
MIR. Crowell was misinformed." he re-
piled.
"You never told Mr.. Sprohl that?"
Hardly. I was mate then. 1t woulc
have been insanity to refuse a promo
ton"
She passed him the filled tea cup.
II wondered at your refusal at the
time. Mr.. Sprohl explained that yot
were waiting for Capt. Anderson's re
tirenent."
mfr. Sprohl was Tying" he wanted
! to say-"under the wrong impression,
he did say.
The girls face grew thoughtful.
IF I ask you a personal question yot
won't be offended?" she queried.
5 He shook his head, wondering wha'
was coming.
! "You and Mr.. Sprohl are not on yer.
!. good terms-am l right2"
. Hes my superior and q very ablt
man." Austin fenced. 81 do not ALLOW
my differences with him to interfere with
my duties to the company"
"Of course not" She regarded hin
!, warmly. But such differences do exist?'
81 have not said So he repliey stiifly
II admire your loyalty" she said soft
: ly, "and l appreciate Mr.. Sprohl's abili
ties as a manager. You, know, OF course
that hi is going to Australia in an effor
to open up new markets for usY"
d Eyes, I'm to meet him at Port Prize,
!; Austin said.
"He's going as far as Auckland Will
e the Corsair-to a v the company travel
: ing expenses. You know that. too, I as
d sume?"
80 he informed me-"
Here 1t seemed appropriate to broacl
, the subject which he had made up hi
mind to discuss with her, for the safet,
of his crew n at the risk OF incurrinI
2 the stigma Of disloyalty.
q Il suppose you know that the Endy
mion is the only vessel of the fleet tina
is not equipped with wireless" he nm
! ished, after giving her the reasons TO
IT the necessity OF its installation.
II know, but I hadn't given 1t
4 thought" she confessed. 1T must, Q
e course, be installed at once"
Its too late to have 1t done her
now" he said, and I'd rather wait unit
we get to Melbourne. It'll avoid fric
o ton with Sprohl. AS 1t is he'll probabl
never forgive me for having gone owe
his head
AS he spoke he realized the delicacy Q
4; his position. He knew that Sprohl Woul
o. lose no opportunity to make the most c
1t. but the welfare Of his men came frs
re This was the code of the sea. Persons
: considerations came second. She mus
% have OWNED some of the thoughts tha
,e were passing through his mind, for SD
: said presently:
Suppose l let you draw on my per
sonal account for the installation. M
M ~am