Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-08-03
CHAPTER w


ton. He was due to present certain
reports from the engine room; but
seeing what he saw, he withdrew and
closed the door, leaning his broad
back against it and shooting off 9TH
ers who approached.
"Can we no. see the auld mans no.
to be disturbed" he told the stew
ard. Presently he opened the door
cautiously, that was when the tumult
and shouting had died.
ooh, it's you, is it Chief?" Sey-
mour asked.
as yon the face that launched
thoosand shippies an burnt the top
less tooers O. Ilium?" quoted Macal-
pin.
"What's left of it anyway" said
Seymour, wiping his own hacked face
eyed a deeference of opinion?"
"Sort Of" Seymour was every
thing but all-in, for that had been
fight to remember when old age
cramped his vigor Anything might
happen in the future, but in his hours
Of worst depression, when everything
seemed to have gone by the board he
could always flatter himself that he
had licked Bully Burridge to stand
still and remained on his feet.
'Losh!" exclaimed the Scot after
survey of the ruins. "TNT could ma
ha' made a more thorough job OF.
What noo?"
BED for me-" yawned Seymour, his
strength oozing away. He left the
second mate in charge Of unloading
and stumbled to his cabin, where anon
the steward brought him a tonic: a
wire from Dawn, demanding to know
how he Jared and assuring him that
she would be waiting for him when
the MinOtaur returned.
"A fine girl, that-worth it ALL"
decided Seymour. 1t was a pity she
had the worry Of fretting over sail
or in his absences. The newspapers
would have made much of that bit
of a breeze. What with the wrecks
and everything, poor Dawn would be
troubled. He sent crisp reply; and
the conviction was born in him that
sooner or later he'd need to leave the
fighting end of seafaring. Not until
he'd prove himself, of course and
that wasn't by any means accomplish
ed thus far-but man who had
keen edge on a girl wouldn't wantonly
sentence her to those endless, torment
ed suspences that every sailors wife
must feel when the big winds are out
for mischief. Shipowning was the
ultimate solution-though how he,
mere mate, was ever to own ship
was a problem his sleep-needing wits
failed to solve.
Short Of winning one of those fabu-
lous sweepstakes that racing had bred
there seemed no hope; and, although
he systematically bought tickets for
them, he had hitherto not even come
within nautical miles Of a consolation
prize. Anyhow, a man OF Seymour's
size doesn't wait for chance to come
and tickle him under the chin; he sets
out, with both fists clenrhed, to meet
fortune more than halfway. Licking
Burridge to a standstill seemed to
him to be step in the right direction.
Getting Dawn's wire made him Won
der if he mightn't make her so hap
by as shipmaster's wife that she'd
maybe forget the comparative lux
ury in which she'd been reared. He
got into a glow al lover and had
feeling that he could tow the Minotaur
right back home with one hand tied
behind him. Then he reflected that
it took other things than just mar
riage to make a girl happy all the
time. Once you come to care for
girl you want to put her where no
other woman can look down on her,
not even by half-inch. To get her
hoisted to such an elevated pedestal
you have to work and think.
WE'LL Grandy Island offered no SOL
ution, for it was poorish place at
best; mostly given to fishing and the
export of salt herring to the Middle
European countries that like that
thirst-raising food. The richest man
on the island couldn't have given
Dawn a quarter Of what her father
gave her.
Jack Seymour supervised the load
ing in of a few thousand barrels of
salt herring, and his tally-book gave
him no inspiration. He also directed
the grooming of the battered Minotaur
for her return voyage. The ship