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

ambitions. Financially he had climb
ed WELL but socially he was below
proof. Naturally he had a desire to
mount the top of that ladder where
his money would advertise itself.
And the Mortimers had been owning
ships since about the time of the Ark
Richard Mortimer knew that MONTY
was all goose-flesh over Dawn, anC
the great shipowner welcomed the
possibility of securing Ben as a FRIEND
rather than hard-fighting rival. The
quality that had built up the Rickett
Line from one salvaged tramp would
add drive and stamina to somewhat
conservative organization.
'Thcre's not a chiseled penny goes
to you unless you marry the man /
choose" he tyrranized. "A man
can't do everything he likes with his
money, but he can will it where he
chooses. See how fast Seymour cools
off when he knows what he'll get if
he tries his steamboat tricks with
my girlw
Dawn remembered one or two senti-
mental interludes and inwardly sniff
ed. Argument got her nowhere; but
there were other things than argu-
ment. She rubbed her soft cheek
against the cushion where Jack Sey-
mour's red head had rested.
Suppose he doesn't cool off," she
asked, more of the thin air than of
her father
II bet he makes an iceberg look all
steamy" chuckled old Ben. In the
morning, instead Of heading straight
for his office-and he was always
first man there-he made a detour
round by the docks. He esteemed him
self a shrewd judge of his fellow
men, having handled them for a life
time with more than average success.
He went aboard the Orient and ask
ed the gangwayman where the skip
per was.
Hes down No. 2 hatch, showing
the foreman stevedore how to sling
machinery" said the gangwayman,
who had never before met old Ben.
The latter went along and leaned over
the hatch-coamings to listen to the
argument. In two minutes he admit
ted to himself that Captain Seymour
had points. The foreman was chal-
longing him on deck to settle the mat
ter in the old-fashioned way. And
Seymour was right. When the two
men came up the ladder old Ben
shoVldered forward; a rhinoceros of
a man.
what sort of shipmaster is it
who does his mates work?" he thun-
dered.
"The mates in the hospital-he got
mashed about by a shore-gang late
last night, SIR" reported Jack Sey-
mour. Excuse me" He was a
young man who seemed always to be
laughing until you looked into his
eyes.
Hold on; We'll want that foreman
again."
"You might; l don't. Pm sailing
outward in this ship and he isn't.
what he doesn't know about slowing
machinery would fill an encyclopedia
He doesn't care cats curse so long
as it's under the hatch: but it'll be
February month out in the Atlantic,
and I've forty mems lives to think
about"
You'll find me in your cabin when
you've finished" sail old Ben, who
had elemental ideas of justice. "And
| didn't eat any breakfast to speak
Of" He went aft, and told the stew
ard to bring him coffee. Seymour
joined him minute or two later,
blowing on his knuckles.
You can have command of the
Orient if you lay off my daughter"
began Old Ben. "She's young and TO-
mantle, and she's got really serious"
He had been studying a large studio
portrait of Dawn on the captains
table. 1t was lavishly framed in sill
yer and looked like an ikon.
Its good thing for you, you're
an old man, sir" snapped Seymour;
cor else even being Dawn's father
wouldn't help you"
'I'll put it this way, then" The ole
man bridled, but through scuttle
he saw the foreman being helped
ashore and the foreman looked g
wreck. Though Old Ben had been {
bruiser in his seagoing days, he knew
his limitations. eff Dawn goes OF
being crazy she gets never a penny
from me-"
"All the better, sir" said Seymour