The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-02-01
BY HELEN WORDEN

to Albany, then through the locks
to Canada. The people along the
way have seen my daughter
Marie grow up" His gaze rested
affectionately ON Marie as she en-
tered the cabin. They are my
friends"
Marie sat down. Pops talking
about the past. Trucking's cut In
on the barge business now"
Even in her present anxious
mood, she was certainly a most
attractive girl. 1t was easy to see
by Dams expression that he
thought so too.
"Yes," said Mrs. La Porte.
"We're lucky if we have three
hauls a summer, and tonight Bats
lost this phosphate cargo"
Bat scowled. 'I1l make them
pay for this"
Dan stared at him. II don't
want to be rude, but was that
where you got your black eye?"
There was a dreadful fight be-
fore you and Marie came" Mrs.
La Porte answered. II thought
Bat would be murdered"
Dan moved his chair close to
Marie. "Then you're really not
safe down here?"
Its just a war between the
truckmen and the bargemen."
A shadow darkened cabin
window. That's Tommy Ryan
again, papa" Marie spoke ner-
vously.
"Was he the guy that stopped
us out on the dock?" broke in Dan.
Eyes, and I wish to Heaven he
would leave us alone"
Bat took his pipe out of his
mouth and stared at Marie. He
was relieved to hear her speak Of
Tommy in that tone.
"Then you don't want to marry
that keed?"
did you think she did?" Dams
voice was desperate.
Bat looked at him shrewdly
"Why should you care, my fell
low?"
Mrs. La Porte raised a restrain.
ing hand. "Bat! Do be quiet"
Striking match, he Lit his pips
again. "My dear boy, Marie eel
not going to marry Tommy Ryar
or anyone else just now. But
when she does, I eenterSd that hel
husband shall be bargeman, like
myself"
A shadow again fell across thu
cabin window. Bat sprang Il
his feet. "That idotl Does hi
think he can police my boat thees
way?"
Dan reached for his hat ane
coat. "I'll settle that gazook."
He was on deck before Marie
reached the hatchway.
Let them fight" said Bat con.
tentedly. Maybe they will dee
molish each other, and then you'll
be free of these monkeys"
He had locked the hatchway ant
stuck the key in his pocket by the
time Marie reached it.
ooh, you're cruel" she shouted
"Let me out of here!" She beat
her fists against Bats broad chest
Have you gone mad, Marie:
First you tell me that Tommy
Ryan means nothing to you. Their
you see heem give your father a
black eye. You cannot possibly
have use for heem after that.
Nov, you bring These strange
boy, Dan what's hees-name in and
I know you cannot have any at
tachment for him because you do
not make hees acquaintance long
enough. Yet you cry when he and
Tommy fight. Eet Is not any con-
Germ of ours"
Wiping her eyes, Marie walked
toward her alcove. "They may be
killing each other for all we know"
Mrs. La Porte ran to a window.
"Bat," she pleaded. Tommy
might hurt that boy seriously.
After all, Marie is only remember
ing that we should look out for
him. He is a stranger"
Bat looked uncertainty from his
wife to his daughter. "Eet is very
hard. I don't know what to do.
Girls, they are deeficult to under
stand. You may not believe me,
but I am only trying to save Marie
from trouble. I have experience
I know" His voice softened.
after all. You are my family.
Everytheeng I do is for your
good"
Marie caught her fathers hand.
"Please, papa. Don't let them kill
each other" she pleaded.
She and her mother followed
Bat to the dock.
"Oh, I knew it," she cried, as
she caught sight of two men
fighting on the pier. "Tommy's
killing him."
Bat made futile attempt to
separate the pair. "You leave me
alone" gasped Tommy.
Dams suit was torn, his collar
ripped off and his face a mass OF