Evening star., 1936-01-19

SQUAT gulls, and behind them, shooing
them forward like gigantic mother
bird, came freighter, black smoke
curling forward in an unruly queue.
To starboafd loomed the high fir
covered bulk of Cape Disappointment,
to port the oily green Of the Columbia
Rivers mouth, and smothering all OF
+ It in blue was the haze whlch 1oio Oh
approaching rain.
Like it. daughter?" Luke Farms
worth worked his way around the
ledge of the boat to stand beside tne
trim white clad figure Of Anne.
Love it, dad" she caroled above
che wind, and as the Anti dipped INTO
q trough, then rode to the crest OF
wave, "its like flying.
you'd better get back in the COCK
nit before we cross the bar. or II
will be like swimming. One wave ana
your white slacks@
Mr. Farnsworth." Old Capt jim.
who ran the Anti, thrust grlzzleo
head from a forward portfolio. IL l
vuz YOU I'd put back to Astor1a'
That storms not comm gentie' us
nilin' up its meanness and when II
strikes. it's goin' to strike plenty haro.
Them there fish-traps you was almin
T. see are roun' the cape and once you
get 'yond the heads thereu be no
rettin' back tonight, an with laoies
aboard
Blame 1t on the ladies, you oio
river log" returned Farnsworth, good
naturedly. but Anne noticed his brow
was furrowed with worry.
He hesitated another moment then
gave his orders. Put in to the can
neries, we'll try to make it tomorrow.
Come on, Anne, we'd better go back
to mother, she was afraid you'd be
blown off,
Anne left her post with reluctance.
For the moment she had forgotten
the mystery which surrounded this
trip. a mystery which seemed to strike
apprehension to some intuitlve sense.
It would have been fun, cooking
breakfast in the little galley, the
three of them humping into each
other as they worked at their re-
spective jobs Of frying bacon. boiling
coffee and making toast, only UNDER
lying everything had been that feeling
of something unpleasant.
Anne slid into the cockpit ana
went to the broad arm of the wicker
deck chair in which her mother sat.
She waited until her father had dis
appeared in the cabin, then began IN
q worried tone.
Mother, what's behind this trip?
I mean what's dads reason for want
ing me to see his possessions, ana
learn the cannery business?"
Must there be reason?" asked
Mrs. Farnsworth, whimsically.
Dad never does anything with
out a reason" Anne answered grave
", "and to begin with a trip to some
one else's fish traps, when he doesn't
approve of the traps, is simply beyond
me-"
Aren't you enjoying the trips"
Mrs. Farnsworth asked.
1.-THE trip, oh, yes, but, mother, II
We 70 into Astoria, will we have to
dine with the Lee Farnsworths?"
DO you dislike Uncle Lee that
much?"
mot Uncle Lee, he and Aunt Mabel
are just good-natured editions OF dad,
sans his courage and brains, but the
in-laws. really believe Aunt Char
lotte hates me. and whenever Tom
Farley looks at me I begin searching
back In my memory for some secret |
sin must have committed. And then
there's 'Sharlee'."
"Sharlee is trying" Mrs. Farms
worth conceded, "but believe she's
Jealous Of you."
"She couldn't be, shes prettier than
could ever hope to be. with her
black hair and sky-blue eyes,"
II don't know. Anne, your brown
eyes and tawny hair will hold their
own with her type Of beauty. But
its something else-something you
have Sharlee would give anything to
own
Meaning Rob Crocker?" The girls
eyes twinkled with mischief.
mot being engaged to Rob, I can
think of q number of things quite
Is desirable. However, she does seem
interested in him, doesn't she?"
Anne sighed. "Shed be interested
In anything I possessed from q hat
to . husband. Which reminds me. |
why. with my approaching marriage |
20 dads business manager, should |
he want me to study the cannery
business?"
Suppose you ask him." her mother
suggested, and nodded toward the
cabin from which he was emerging.
Anne waited until her father sat
down, then transferred to the arm
Of his chair and after q moments
study Of his face, still lined with
worry, repeated her questions.
II want you to appreciate your re-