Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-07-13
eRom :. nc : i i Rough l& Seas"


was not bright prospect but it was
better than going on the beach. Loaf
ing around looking for work doesn't
help towards acquiring a girl like
Dawn.
It's a shame" Dawn commented.
What goods a smashed-up man to
me?
If I'd hold off thai stevedore,
sweetheart, what would you have
thought of me?" demanded Seymour,
handing over his own handkerchief.
We'll pretend Burley's job is that
stevedore-Im going through with it
till something better happens" He
dumped his dunnage ashore and hand
ed over to Congreve, the mate.
you run away now, grille" he
advised Dawn. Time enough for
kisses when the works done. I'll re-
port at the house"
He saw her to the dock-gates, where
her runabout was waiting. That lit
tie car had cost more than the mate
years. 1t made Seymour realize that
lot of hard work lay before him if
he wanted to put Dawn where she
belonged. Since he wanted no dis
contented Dawn, haggard with un-
fulfilled desires, he resolved to work
harder than he'd ever dreamed of
working; and he strobe into Thomson's
office with his head we'll up.
"Old Rickett fired me-" he announ-
ced ''I'm open to an engagement"
mo commands offering-you work
up in this line" said Thomson.
I'm here to work up, sir"
eft to sign on as mate of the
Minotaur?" With Dawn's glamour
removed, Seymour had time to remem-
Der that the Minotaur was a most
unsavory ship. Burridge, her cap
tain was as tough as they came.
Eyes, Sir" Jack answered prompt
ly.
go down and tell Captain Burridge
l sent you. l thought you were book
ed for Rickett' BEST"
Secretly Thomson was pleased. He
hated Burridge, and what he knew
of Seymour prompted him to think
the skipper Of the Minotaur mightn't
find his future life a bed of roses.
Seymour presented himself aboard
the Minotaur Captain Burridge was
making list of the dead mates eff
fects. Surlily he heard Seymour thru
sizing him up and down out of mar
row eyes. You couldn't get away
from facts after a look at Captain
Burridge. He was hard as a green
heart root and expected similar hard |
ness from such as served under him.
The coastwise work of the Burley
boats demanded qualities above the
average; and the wastage in person
mel was high.
Some said the Burley run was the
worst in the seafaring world-summer
and winter alike, driving hell-for
leather through fog, gales and crisis .
too, and weather tearing the channel
buoys adrift faster than the tenders
could replace them-but the Burley
boats carried the mails and had pas
senger Accommodations; so they had to
go through with it, come hell or high
water. They needed men to run their
ships, and judged, by physical stand
ards, Burridge was man-all six
feet of him: "teakwood to the core
with greenheart fittings" as they said
along the waterfront.
IF you've got any fool notions
that you're going to work up into my
job, you're wrong" barked Burridge.
whats Old Ben sacked you for?"
That's my own affair."" said Sey-
mour.
eff it's for inefficiency, it's mine,
too," was Burridge's sneering response
Gold lace never took a man far on
this dodgasted run. And I don't like
men who've held command-they can't
forget it,"
"Time enough to talk that way when
l remember it." Seymour said.
"Bustle that gang around down the
forehatch, then-we're making quick
turnaround," ordered Burridge, not
hiding contempt. So Seymour went
for'ard, tingling. Burley mates
worked for their pay-whether at sea
or in port. There were mighty few
tea-parties on the officers deck.
But his luck walked beside him as
he went to the fore hatch. The gang
foreman down below was that same
giant he had interviewed on the men,
orable occasion when Dawn came