Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-08-10

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EFT was always so busy at his Of
flee.
During the following months, how
ever, Seymour's somewhat elevated
hopes of becoming shipowner faded.
The most he was able to do was to
run the Minotaur to schedule, and
this he did, come what might. No
leisure worth the mentioning was al
lowed him. Each voyage was almost
replica of his first-but he renewed
his courage and confidence, and the
fighting did him good.
Late winter passed, and riotous
spring ensucd-the weather seemed
determined to give him such a salt
ing as he had never experienced in
all his scagoing life. Old-timers
grumblcd that never had they known
such timeS-the seasons were all
adrift. Even the summer was a ira
vcsty-with odd bright patches that
made the recurrent gales seem all
the noisier.
Up around the Islands there seldom
was any real summer, anyhow-only
fog instead of wind, and of the two
Seymour preferred wind.
But his knowledge of seafaring grew
as did his confidence in his ship and
now made bosun, Seymour increased
himself. Thanks to Hodgson too,
his acquaintance with the intricacies
Of the coast. He even reduced the
scheduled timing between ports and
won such golden opinions that ship
pcrs who had held off the Burley boats
began to bring their custom. He gave
the Line an excellent advertisement,
too, by making hell-for-lcather run
to rescue people off laundering
pleasure yacht that had hit big trouble
in Godley's Gulf. There was fam
Gus descriptive journalist in the
yachting party, and when he had re-
covered from his scare, he gave the
Minotaur and her men such write
up as thrilled the general public.
Dawn typed and retyped those stirring
columns, for practice and got the epic
by heart, rejoicing in every cumula-
tive adjective. She also contrived to
leave copy of the journal lying
around on her fathers desk, so that
his soul should receive its appointed
whipping.
When Dawn considered he had had
time to asimilate the story she said:
'Td think you'd be proud to have
man like that in the family" Old
Ben had been thinking along similar
lines, but his stubborn pride forbade
utterance of such heresy.
"Any steamboatman could have
done it; it's just bit of days work"
Dawn snorted. Her father looked
an older man, more tired than she re-
membered to have noticed. His man.
ner was almost suppliant when he
asked: "See here, Dawn, haven't you
got rid of this romantic nonsense yet p
"Nor ever shall. 1t gets worse as
l grow older" But she hated herself
for having to say it; and only by re-
Numbering that cut on Seymour's
cheek could she refrain from sitting
on the arm of Old Ben's chair and
running her fingers through his scan
ty hair in the old way. $50 you'd
better give in and give us your bless
ing and make the best of bad job
not that it'd be bad job" she added.
at would be a fine thing for a
coasting skipper to marry shipown-
er's daughter" came with half-sneer
But Dawn, knowing what she knew,
didn't even trouble to answer that.
Jack hadn't known her for Dawn Rick
EFT when he first whipped that steve
: dore and SO aroused her interest.
Hes after my money" went on
Old Ben.
He could have had lot of it by
taking the Occident," he retorted.
"Well, gave my terms; and I've
seen no reason to alter them"
Having purposely made them i'm
possible" she added tartly.
"If he's the man you claim him to
be, they aren't impossible retorted
her dad.
That's why l didn't force him to
, elope with me at first" was her as
sured reply; and Old Ben studied her
closely. She was his daughter and
as stubborn as a mule; she might be
broken, never would she ben bent. Con
ceivably the same thought came to
him that had troubled Captain Thom-
son: that with such a mating strain
t of indomitable courage might be got