Evening star., 1938-04-17
Young Residents of Capital Area Hobbies
The Monkeys Fist
INSTALLMENT I.
INS1 1AIIWENI I.
TOM POWELL, hands IN the
pockets of his dungarees, stood
IN the deck Of the little tug.

"NOM POWELL, nhnuS III IHe
pockets of his dungarees, stood
on the deck Of the little tug
a boat Gloria H. as 1t turned
slowly in toward the dock. The sun
light glinted on his blond head as he
turned to look at an outboard motor
boat headed directly at the tug. Sud-
denly the little boat swerved. and
sweeping around the stern Of the
Gloria H., dashed toward the narrow
ing space between the tug and the
dock.
Tom gasped. Hey" he shouted
warningly. watch out there! We're
coming I'M"
The two girls in the little boat
looked up at his shout. and the dark
haired girl at the motor, seeing their
danger. quickly advanced the throt-
tie, and they buzzed safely through
"Phew" exclaimed Tom, wiping his
forehead, that was a close one"
Turning to watch the boat, the boy
grinned as the two girls looked back,
smiling and waving their thanks.
Gee, they're sort Of fancy, too Tom
murmured. II wonder who they are?"
Intent on the two occupants of the
motor boat. Tom forgot the nearness
Of the dock. Suddenly rough shout
reminded him. "All right, there!
Whaddya waitin' for? Throw US
line!"
Toms head jerked around to the
dock, where he saw squat, powerfully
built man dressed in faded dungarees
and blue shirt, look OF impatient
annoyance on his face.
yeah. mean you, stupid" shouted
the burly man. as Tom started guilt
ly. Tom reached uncertainty for a
coiled rope at his feet, but stopped
short as the voice doomed out again
from the dock. Not that one, kid
Gimme that heavin' line. That heavin'
line. Don't you know a heavin' line
when you see it?"
TOM grabbed the heaving line and
threw it avkwardly toward the
dock 1t described beautiful arc for
half the distance. Then in midair it
seemed to tangle up, and the end the
boy Tas holding almost jerked out of
his hand as the weighted end missed
the dock and fell with a plop into the
water. Confused. Tom stopped for a
minute as the tug slid slowly along.
closer and closer to a fishing boat
tied up beyond. Gritting his teeth
and flushing, Tom hurriedly began to
haul In the line. hand over hand. as
the man on the dock shouted derisive-
ly, What's the matter? Can'tcha
do it2"
Just as Tom got the tangled drip
ping line back on deck, it was
snatched out of his hand Turning.
Tom saw Capt Olsen, who had rushed
up from the wheelhouse. Quickly he
made up the line. and then. swing
ing his body half around, expertly
tossed it toward the dock. The line
scared up in the air. the weighted end
carrying the unwinding coils, and
landed right beside the man on the
dock Capt. Olsen quickly fastened
his end to the eye-splice on a heavier
line. aud the burly dock hand pulled
1t in and secured it around a bitt.
The line was little tangled"
began Tom. hesitantly. to the captain.
But the skipper brushed by him with
out word as he ran back to the
Wheelhouse. Gee" said Tom, de-
spairingly. "he must think I'm clum-
sy ape"
But once again came a shout from
the dock.
Come on. come on!' yelled the
dockhand. Give me a line aft!'
r UNN1NG back, Tom managed to
get line to the dock. as Capt.
Olsen maneuvered the tugs stern in.
Tom looked up resentfully as the
burly dockhand took his line and
called down to him. You'd better
get back on the farm and throw corn
to the chickens, kid. You don't belong
on no boat"
Capt. Olsen leaned out of the Wheel
house and looked up at the dockhand.
"All right. Jack" he called, lay OF
You got something else to do besides
talk all day"
Shaking his head and laughing to
himself. Jack walked down the dock.
Shutting of the engine. the captain
walked slowly aft where Tom was pre-
tending to examine rope. "All right,
kid" he said gruf1ly. Drop it and sit
down there on the rail. I wanta talk
to you.
Il know you only been on here a
little while" began the old man, fill
ing his battered pipe, but you got to
get more handy around mere II you
want to stay aboard. I need somebody
to handle the lines and once in a while
take the wheel, and If you can't do it
I'll have to get somebody who can."
Tom gulped. Il know I'm green,
captain" he said earnestly, "and /
look clumsy, but I'll improve. I know
I can learn. My father laughed at me
when got this job. and I want to
show him I can stick"
Capt. Olsen lit his pipe, peering at
Tom over the bowl. "What'd he say?"
he asked.
TOM swallowed, embarrassed. ~
told him I wanted to 20 to sea-