Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22

thrown I'M"
Lord! Look at that there Jukes Ees
like monkey"
Some sailor. that" the skipper said. Look
at him CO."
But the young man WINS" the mate replied.
Bully for Limber!"
The youngster touched hand upon the fore
royal truck touch ahead of Jukes upon the
main.
"Down!-down .-down!-" roared all the
sailors
ALI Jukes came sliding down the main royal
stay. Down the fore royal stay came Timber.
toes.
A tie! They're neck and neck"
"NO! Timber winsr
A below rose from every sailor Full 40
feet above the deck, ALI Jukes let 70 ana
dropped. Hands up and arms above his head,
he fell straight as a plummet and landed On
his feet
THAT fellows like q bear" the skipper said.
"Jukes, was you ever beat at anything2"
Without an answer Jukes walked slowly or
and sat alone upon the bulwarks. His face
was grim.
The bell struck eight. The crew strolled aft
TO answer to the muster roll. Last came Jukes
He looked like bear that, peering from shell
tering wilds, wonders what lies in the valleys
beyond its great freedom.
GALS were furled, ropes coiled; the ship ct
anchor chill wind thrummed in her
rigging. Cold rain beat down.
The sailors sat in the forecastle, amidst them
q boarding master. While they drank from his
bottles. ALT Jukes paced up and down the deck
outside. alone. Now and again sailor looked
from the forecastle and called to him. He
paid no heed
The boarding masters crimp came out bottle
In hand.
"The boys sent it We, matey" said he, and
held the bottle temptingly toward Jukes
Jukes answered with growl. His great right
fist shot out, and, as the bruised crimp climbed
to his feet, the sailors looked, laughing, from
the forecastle ports
The crimp re-entered the forecastle. The
boarding master passed the bottles round The
sailors cursed the ship. all ships, and damned
the sea. Soon crowding at his heels they all
Swarmed out, and clambered down into the
boat ahead of him. Paying no heed to their
loud farewells JuSes walked up and down I'm
the wind and the rain. Last lettering from the
fOrecaStle, came the crimp
The shouts of the sailors faded away. The
ship was silent. The wind and the rain beat
on her.
Jukes entered the deserted foyecastle. It was
gloomy and chill Water dripped from him
He sat down, shivering little. He drew out
his oilskin package and united 1t. Dark fell
Presently, lighting the lamp, Jukes saw q
bottle on the table. He scowled. He picked It
up. and stepped to the door. The wind soughed
drearily. The rain whipped by He hesitated
IN the doorway, the bottle in his outstretched
hand.
A boat drew noiselessly alongside the >ship.
The boarding master and his crimp climbed
back aboard and peered unseen through one
Of the forward forecastle ports
Bottle in hand, Jukes leaned in the doorway
and looked out into the night. Tomorrow he
would be forever done with the sea.
Shore lights glimmered winkng through the
rain. The sound of music reached him. faint
upon the wind. Singing came indistinctly from
the waterfront. 1t was very solitary, very cold
In the forecastle
Jukes moved closer to the lamp and held the
bottle up. The crimp nudged the boarding
master
ALI JUkes put the bottle to his nose. Some
thing to warm him a little; then toss it over
the side.
Jukes tipped the bottle. His Adams apple
rose and fell. He took the bottle from his lips
and listened. The looked about him, making
sure that he was all alone.
Jukes sat down, bottle in hand. Outside the
wind walled drearily The cold rain Kissed.
His Adams apple rose and fell again.
The boarding master entered the forecastle,
the crimp at his heels. Jukes turned and leaped
to his feet. Lifting the bottle to hurl it. he
swayed uncertainty.
The crimp was laughing
Jukes clutched at the bulkhead The launp
was grown suddenly dim. The boarding master
and the crimp had disappeared.
Some one struck ALI Jukes Just behind the
ear. Some one laughed near by.
Stars whirled in a pitch-black sky. The
boarding master knelt over Jukes