White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-08-16

II said she was my wife," he con-
tinued amely, because thought 1t
might help to save her from your sail
ors But don't want my wife to find
it out"
"All right, sir" l said, 81 won't re.
port 1t, and won't let my officers or
crew bnow anything about 1t. That
will be best. Treat the girl as your
wife. I will keep my mouth shut, and
you keep your mouth shut"
It was a difficult point of morals
aboard ship. If the sailors found out
that the girl was not the officers wife,
but only kind of stowaway, they
would lose all respect for her, and
there was no telling what they might
try to do. Sailors are not angels, but
usually, in fact, lot of rogues, but
they are highly respectable. They
have q very fine code of honor, and
a woman who is off the line is simply
off the line to them. Certainly, ! did
not want them to know that the off,
GERS wife was not the officers wife.
One of my prisoners turned out to
be an acquaintance of the officer of
the told him that the off,
Ger Of the had his wife
along, and introduced him to the girl
He laughed so hard he nearly fell
over. He wanted to tell the joke all
around. It was awkward for mo-
ment, but got the two men aside and
talked earnestly to them.
1--WE must be gentlemen in this mat
ter" l said. "She is girl. We are
men. We must protect her. The sail
ors must not know about it. You must
both give me your word Of honor that
you will keep mum and tell nobody"
They both promised they would obey.
Everything went all right until this
other prisoner took shine to the girl,
too. 1t was funny business. She kind
of liked him. kept an eye on the
whole affair and saw what was hap
pening. Here was more worry and
trouble. took the two men aside
and said to them:
~ don't care what arrangements
you two fellows make with your fair
playmate, but 1t has got to be kept
quiet. The sailors must think that
she is the wife of the officer of the
and that is only a
friend"
They made some kind of change, !
believe. never could figure just how
1t was. never was much good at
mathematics or at figuring out any
thing, for that matter. At any rate,
they kept it quiet. The other prison
er was married, too, and he didn't
want anything of the complicated ro-
nance to get around either.
had come to expect my prisoners
to be good company. Our former Cap
tains' club had been one of the most
delightful social organizations ever
formed. These two sentimental swains,
however, were not much good for
comradeship. 1t was difficult to get
together with them for pleasant
chat or game of cards. They were
always thinking about the girl. and,
although they were acquaintance In
captivity, their feelings toward each
other had become slightly strained.
There Is something about the air
down there in the South Seas, guess.
One of the captains made up for
the companionship that had been lack
ing. He was fine fellow. He was
jovial and intelligent, and thorough
seaman If there ever was one. We be-
came fast friends and had many a
long and sympathetic talk about the
war.
Weeks passed, and we did not see
another ship. The idle days became
very boresome. 1t was broiling hot,
and we had little exercise. Our water
turned stale, and we had no fresh pro-
visions. Our prisoners did not find
their stay with us so pleasant now,
but we could not find vessel on
which to ship them. One decided that
he could not stand 1t any longer. He
wanted to put his feet on land at any
price. He came to me with strange
idea. Would not land him on des-
ert island and leave him there cast
away? Anything was better than ship
board. But the principal part of his
plan was more subtle. he would be
reckoned dead at home, and his peo-
pie would collect his insurance money.
Perhaps would be SO kind as to
make 1t seem certain that he was lost.
Yes, no? On the island he could live
as Robinson Crusoe, kind of exist
ence which he fancied would be quite
agreeable. Unfortunately for him,
felt obliged to decline. was not in
terested In swindling insurance COM
panies.
(TO BE CONT1NUED.)