Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-23


broiling sun without hat, and
that nearly finished him. Pen
rose watched him staggering and
logged him for drunkenness. But
Ward was below for four days
after that and Penrose tried his
damdest to make him work. But
he was unconscious and couldn't.
1t seemed to become an obses-
sion with the captain to beat
that poor foremost hand. He sent
him oversize to paint when 1t
was tough to stay on deck. He
gave him the weather earring
when the mate himself was
scared to take 1t. But Ward did
all he was told and made no
complaint.
II guess you're waiting til
we reach port" sneered Penrose.
Aren't your" Ward said.
you'll never make it."
'Well see."
think it was about st. Helena
that Penrose got frightened. He'd
tried all he could to break that
young man. but Ward took 1t all
and still grinned.
There was a bad Southwestern
at the roads outside jamestown
and the rollers were acting up.
The rollers are great seas that
catch a ships boats and dash
them high against the cliffs off
the tiny anchorage.
No one knew why Penrose
anchored there so long; he only
needed vegetables and water.
There were a few whalers in the
open roadstead and no reason
to keep a ship there for days.
But he sent boats ashore for
water. bread, oil, anything to
get Ward In them rollers. Once
he sent him ashore alone In the
gig, to call on the postmaster
for mail. He knew there was no
mail and he watched from the
poop as a long smooth roller lift
ed the brig and chased that little
gig right into the wharf. He saw
Ward sculling like a mailman
to ride that sea but 1t caught the
gig and dashed 1t right over the
wharf and on to the road into
jamestown.
That afternoon he gave orders
to up anchor. But a signal flew
from Signal Hill and he had to
wait a day before a harbor boat
could come Off. In it was Ward,
arm broke and cut up a bit, but
still alive. He grinned as the
harbor master bawled Penrose
out for sending a gig through
the rollers.
A FTER that on the long reach
~ across the Atlantic Penrose
did all he could to kill that boy.
In the doldrums he sent him off
in a boat to examine wreckage,
and tried to ghost away from
him. But Ward caught him; for
the first time the Dutchman
didn't sail on nothing. In the
forties the brig rolled her rails
under and Ward kept the deck
through it all.
One dark night Ward was at
the wheel and a shot splintered
the pinnacle but didn't hurt him.
BY this time the rest Of the crew
were terrified and trying to shell
ter the young man and he kept
out of Penrose's way until they
locked in Boston.
Ward jumped ship and ran
with the rest but this tine Pen
rose didn't go off on his playboy
pranks. He discharged and with
in a week was reloaded and
ready for sea. One dark night
he mustered the crew and went
through his rigmarole. But this
time he stopped, for grinning up
at him from the waist Of the
ship was Ward.
So, you came back, my
bucko," he smiled. Il wondered
why 1 didn't hear from you."
II came to see you die" said
Ward. still smiling.
Penrose went yellow. but he
stripped off his clothes and
changed. Then he picked up the
bucket and plunged his head in
1t.
Suddenly there was an awful
scream. He dropped the bucket
and his face was In sh r d 8.
Screeching like a mad hyena he
ran into the poop rail. Blindly
he dashed into the pinnacle,
clawing at his tortured features.
I'm blind" he squalled. I'm
ruined"
They stood like mutes watch
ing that killer dash himself to