The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-23
CHAPTER XIII

The young matron WnOSe StdSe name had been Mazle Miller and who now served behind the bar Of the Sheaf of Wheat Tavern, owned by her husband, was having a spell of nerves. She had broken half dozen tumblers in that many days, and when a customer asked for a stein of stout she was as apt to give him ale or porter.
 The reason was, she kept think ing of that pair of young lovers she had separated. It was the first time she had ever done a thing like that, deliberately. A half dozen men she had lured into the clutches of the press gang for it paid very well, and who was Mazie Miller to question the way the British navy was run? But never before had she lent her tal- ents to making a girl think her sweetheart had deserted her.
 So today she faced her own soul and said, I've got to make it right!" She meant with the girl
 Let us now be introduced to Maxie's husband, common man and mean one, flaShily hand some and sometimes given to blackening Mazie's pretty eyes when annoyed with her. Suffice it to say that Mazie had reason to dread asking the day off of this lord and master. Yet she did SO. Quite as she feared, he refused, and so she was compelled to slip away against his orders.
 When she reached the Unicorn and Crown Tavern (which she re- gretfully conceded to be much more respectable and pretentious than the Sheaf of WheaD she called the landlord aside.
 MT. Toby" she said, you've got a young lady staying here l must talk to. I don't know her name, but she's the bethrothed sweetheart, I take it, of the Jere- miah Whitfield
 The innkeeper scrutinized Magic more closely. Though she was not wearing the sky-blue dress, he now recognized her. "Why!" he exclaimed accusingly, you're the lady he went off with that night! What have you done with him?"
 "They say he was a deserter from His Majesty's navy" Magic explained briefly, "and I set a press gang on him. He didn't go off of his own accord. He was carried off. I'd like to explain that to the girl I saw him with.
 You mean Miss Polly Chelsey? We'll, it's too bad you put off your explaining so long. She left for Dover yesterday. She hopes to get home to America by way of France if she can cross the Chan nel. She had no plans when she left here"
 "She's an American, you say? And she's gone? Oh, my! What was her state of mind MT. Toby?"
 For several days, Miss, she seemed fairly crushed. Took to her bed and refused food. But all of a sudden, like, she recovered. AS my wife says, she seemed as hard as nails, tossing her head and act ing like she hadn't a care to her name"
 "Oh, the poor creature!" Magic exclaimed. She could read Polly Chelsey's behavior very readily It was prompted, she guessed, by a proud hurt heart that seeks tt hide its wounds. She asked anxiously, Do you know where could find her in Dover, MT Toby?"
 "No, Miss. Though she'd doubt less go to a decent tavern. Yes that's likely what she'd do.'
 Well said Mazie, T must dc what I can. I must write a letter and leave it for you to give the coach driver in the morning. Hell remember her who wouldn't He'll know where he put her of with her trunk. Here's four shil- lings to pay him for his trouble -Mazie paused and fixed the inn keeper with compelling eyes - tell him to deliver this letter tt Miss Polly Chelsey if it's humanlj possible, because it will right z great wrong."
 When MT. Toby had fetched paper and ink and quill, Magic Miller sat down at table anc began to compose letter.
 Jerry Whitfield and his compan' ion, Cabell Banks of Boston, were in the small dark prison hold of tht brig Sunrise, playing a game witt hemp strands. It was childish game, but it kept them from losing their minds. There was in the pri son hold great deal of massive coiled rope, an overflow from th' cable tier. For this stout wet ropt that smelled so reekingly of bilge water and the sea they pulled heml strands with infinite care, and theS' they pitted against each other il various ways. They were partlcula about the rules they made, ant events were conducted very sport ingly. Whoever lost an event pai' two pence to the winner.