The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-28

Mac, don't stand there and tell
me you don't remember little Va
lerie Douglas. She used to scram-
BILE all over this ship - years
ago."
"You don't mean that long
legged kid with TIL tails,
Steve!"
9TH same, Mac, except I doubt
very much if she still has those
pig-tails. Must be quite a lady by
now. A cute one she was then, too"
Steve Hansen smiled softly. "Took
her fishing out in the bay, once and
she threw all my worms overheard
because she was sorry for them. Be-
fore her mother took her east I
promised she could come back some
day and be my first mate for a trip
or two"
"And this is 1t, eh? An you're
goin' through with it?"
Orders from Hank. TIL gal is
tn star womans sports writer for
a big newspaper syndicate. Hank
says she's dailyin' around with "a
Sea-farin' novel and decided she
wanted to spend part of her vaca-
ton aboard tn Belle to get some
more atmosphere, as she calls it."
MacGregor snorted and Captain
Steve continued. But don't take
all this too seriously, Mac. O course
you're still first mate. TIL gals going
to have sorta honorary title. But
the boys can amuse her by string
ing along with any little things she
wants done. See?"
"Yeah," Mac said mournfully. II
see, but I don't like. Neither with tn
boys, I'm thinkin'."
Captain Steve hitched up his
belt. tits gonna be your job to
see that they do like or there'll
be lot of cracked skulls around
here"
1t was o'clock that afternoon
when the taxi drew up at the dock
and instinctively Steve Hansen knew
Valerie Douglas had arrived. The
cab drew away and the girl who
stood with hands on hips looking ur
at the ship was slender, blond and
even from distance of 60F feet
amazingly pretty, Two suitcase'
were at her feet.
Captain Steve!" she hailed him
"Stevie. you old landlubber, il
this the best welcome you have
for me? C'mon down and haul vi
my duffle."
Steve Hansen's leathery fact
cracked. That little tyke grown
up like this. He could hardly be.
lieve 1t. And then twinkle popped
into his eye.
Lug it up yourself" he called
down to her. YOU'RE in the navy
now"
She laughed heartily at him
picked up her bags and hurried VI
the gangplank. Seconds later SHIT
threw her arms around his neck
and gave him big kiss.
He held her off at arms length
for a minute and shook his head
DANCED if I can hardly believe it
Little Val Douglas, all grown w
and purtiern a West Indies sun
set"
"And just as bright" she twittee
coquettishly. Where do I bunk
Captain Steve? I'd like to get intt
some different clothes"
"Good idea. You'll be in tn por
cabin, aft. It's fresh scrubbed ano
waitin' for you"
When she Joined him on deck {
half hour later she was CARRIED il
blue denim trousers, gray fame
shirt and heavy tan moccasins
Perched saucily on top her blont
curls was a battered officers hat.
He grinned, saluted her smartl!
down on hatch cover. "Nov
and then led her over and sat he
then, maybe, you've got IL year
of your past to tell me about S;
let's have it."
She hooked an arm in his. Gee
Captain Steve, I hardly know
where to start. I'm a sports write
for World Syndicate, you know
and"
Steve Hansen slapped his thigh
as he interrupted. Say, that re-
minds me. What's this about you
feudin' with this box-fighter
what's his name? You know WHIT
I mean. 1t was In all tn papers /
short spell back"
A shadow of a smile crossed he
face. "Oh guess you NEAR
Eddie Cavalier"
She clasped both hands arounC
a knee. HES a pugilistic snob.
told him so in a column wrote
Told him his pants were tot
pretty, too, and I guess he didn'
IKE it. Then one night at Madi.
son Square Garden the nigh
he knocked out Tuffy Brostak