The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-05
Bat Meets His Match

missin'." His voice had the emo
ton that only the Irish can mus
ter. "But yen be breakin' your
mothers heart"
Dan spoke quietly. "After all,
I'm marrying the girl. not mother"
Mike paced angrily back and
forth. "a bargemans daughterl
Have ye gone mad, boy?"
Dan smiled. II believe her
father owns the honorary title Of
Captain. At least I heard him re-
ferred to once or twice this even
ing by that prefix"
boatman for your father-in-law!
boatman for your wather-in-law!
AS If any child Of his could be
good enough for son Of mine"
Dan laughed That's very
funny, Dad. AS a matter of fact,
Bat La Porte doesn't think I'm
good enough for his daughter. He
as much as said so tonight"
Where does this illustrious
family live?"
ON the barge, Molly, down at
Pier g."
Mike threw himself heavily into
chair. Have We no pride left?"
After that he refused to talk
with Dan any more. His big body
sagged forward, suddenly old. In
vain Dan and Ling tried to coax
him to eat a sandwich or have a
drink. He simply shook his head
and continued to sit by the fire.
He was still sitting there when
Dan went to bed.
Once in bed, Dan began to realize
how sore and bruised he really was
from the fight. Every bone in his
body ached separately. His head
throbbed and his eye panied him.
Harder to bear than the physical
pain, however, and even his fathers
anger, was his uncertainty about
Marie. He loved her so much that
he didn't see how she could possibly
not love him, and yet, that might
very easily be.
A jealous fear clutched his heart
as he thought that tonight, when
she ran so frantically out on the
pier, her concern was not for him,
but Tommy Ryan. Thinking of
this, he wondered how he could
live till morning to talk to Marie
and find out for himself about her
feelings for him.
Early as it was when Dan arose,
Mike had already dressed and
had breakfast. AS they met in the
hall, Mike put an affectionate arm
about his sons shoulder. His tone
was kind.
"We'l forget last night, laddie.
If We want to marry the girl, I'll
not oppose We, though I still claim
the right to stick to me own opin-
ion." His rough voice trembled a
little. But ye know, ye're me
only boy"
Dan didn't speak for a moment.
He couldn't. He just pressed his
fathers hand. Finally he said,
Where are you going so early,
Dad?"
Mixes voice became gruff again,
I've a little matter Of me own
I want to settle. I'm one to clean
up business as I go. I like to be
certain of me ground. I'll be tell
ing We about it in detail later"
With that he was gone. Half an
hour later he was asking a stray
gler leaning against a piled head on
Pier 6 where the barge Molly
MIGHT he
"Yonder," replied the man,
pointing. "You can spot it easy
enough. It's the only barge down
here that's got a fresh coat Of
paint. See its white sides and
green shuters?" He leveled an
index finger. "And there's Bat La
Porte himself, on deck"
Mike approached the Molly ami
ably enough, but his tone nettled
Bat when he introduced himself as
Michael Donovan. Bat thought it
understanding.
"And why do you want to be
seeing La Porter" he demanded.
Mike lost his temper. II want
to see the father of the girl my
son Dan says he's goin' to marry"
he roared.
Bat, who had been up since
dawn trying to figure how he
could reclaim the cargo which
Tommy Ryan had taken last night,
looked at Mike in bewilderment.
His own temper, never any too
good, f1ared as he realized the rea-
son for Donovan's visit.
I'm Marie La Porte's father, if
that's what you want to know
he shouted, "but your calls vast
ed, my fellow, if you think you
can persuade me to let my daugh-
ter marry your son." He snapped
his fingers in Mixes, face. 81 have
not the intention of letting my girl
marry a waster."
Surprised canalboat occupants
stuck inquiring heads out of
hatchways as Mike beloved back