Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-07-13
CHAPTER |

as tney were nldue Ill Ills ONI HO
fighting youth, but he admitted t
his only daughter that he hadn't any
great sympathy with romantic no
lions. He told her so with all tina
sturdy directness which had lifted
him from collier briggs fo'c'sle t.
ownership Of the Rikett Line of high
class freighters-tea and wool ant
general, for the most part,d al
never holdful of coal amongst the
fleet. Dawn Rickett was sweet
girl and lovely. She was inclined tC
humor her fathers abruptness, but
this time she was fairly staggered
The way old Ben put it was this:
"If | see that red-headed cadger OF
a Seymour in this house again." he
beloved in his Cape Horn voice,
"I'll not only kick him through the
garden gate but l will fire him out of
the Orient"
"Then you'll kick two Of us at
once" retorted Dawn, who had been
one mans slave so long she felt she
deserved a newer and younger mas
ter.
"Pipe down. Listen to reason
even if you're woman" growled old
Ben.
"You don't worry about reason if
you're in love-" she answered spirit
eddy enough, although tears were
somewhere in the offing. "You just
go on being in love. And Jack Sey-
mour won't always be captain of the
Orient"
Seeing her delivered into his knob
by hands, Ben Rickett guffawed. If
there is one thing woman cannot
stand it is to have her lover laugh
ed at.
You're right" bawled Ben. Fright
you are. He'll be on the beach to-
morrow morning, or I'm a dago sea-
cook. Listen, young woman: | have
other ideas about marrying off my
daughter. She's too dainty a NOR
sci to throw to any mongrel that
yelps for her."
Dawn was white to the lips when
she retorted gamely: fYou hadn't
gone as far as to captain ship like
the Orient when you were his age,
and see where you are now!" She
was old Ben's daughter, sure enough.
Anyone else would have weakened
when the old salt-horse showed signs
of apoplexy, but not Dawn.
"See here, how do you come to
get this way. Seymour is just "a
just "a" Ben's eyes protruded like
boiled onions, and the temple veins
were much in evidence.
! 'Don't say it!' Dawn advised,
winking hard. She was counsel for
the defense at once. "He smashed
a big stevedore all to bits because the
fellow was drunk and took me for
another girl. Yes, down there along
side the Orient. And that's the way
you got Mother, if you haven't been
telling me lies all your life"
Dawn was only 10, but all womanly
wisdom was lodged in her pretty
shingled head. She knew that even
stern parents can be out-faced if you
stand up straight and smile even tho
your eyes do smart.
Old Ben changed his tactics. Wo-
men couldn't be reasoned with, said
his experience. And the more you
threatened the stubborner they got.
But they were open to odd little sus-
picions and suspicion was gnawing
canker-worm.
"And how d'you know your red
head didn't stage that little mix-up
just for your benefit?" he caustically
enquired. Listen, Dawn,-I'll let
you into a secret. l knew they'd
never let me get a look-in with your
mother unless l did something uncom-
mon; and between you and me and
the pinnacle l gave that stiff five
dollars to cut loose with her. The
best-spent five dollars l ever got rid
Of" he allowed himself to chuckle
'She never knew, your mother didn't
He hardened again into Greenheart
Ben; but his gimlet eyes couldn't ter
rorize Dawn any more. He snapped
Anyway, there'll be nothing further
of this crazy notion. I've made 9th
er arrangements for you. There:
Mortimer"
Il thought we were talking of men
cut in Dawn. Lets keep to the sub
ject."
"Old Dick Mortimer's got the Greer
Line; and we're in competition. 1
Monty marries you, We'll amalgamat
we'll build up the biggest line O