Crawfordsville Daily Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 29 August 1891 — Page 2

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Adventures of Tad

OK TIIK

Hirs

AD MISHAPS OF A LOST SACilEL.

A Story for Youiiy and Old.

IIY THANK II IN

Aniiiii

\vi:I !s :.

"I'Krrnu An.ius."

"LINWS OCT

HI SKA," I'M'!- OKAd'ON,'' lVfl".

\C"plirk}h^-.i,1 }nj l. !''\rnp ,(• athi

cHA!"rr.n

il. who wa- ~T»: 11 in':"! !"t I--I1 swift-footed. father. unexpectedly I'mit'routed. Mr. Junes oil the pavement in ./front of as lie'wa.* hailing bu.-i, "1 cried Tad. exciledly "noli'- of :!:ii. you know—gh im• ni% -K-iu i:'1

My. ies started, stared...very hard it a it ii 1 a rem. Sllbcl' where hch.tl! seen hiln before.:»f(ll lli. Il lo'jkeil-Wiethe saehel it! yltis luirn!. "Weil. I dc.dar, !s* clalnied. in 'seeming '.surprise, I'IIII W have t:iki-thi- up in a li of abstraction anil walked',out... without thinking of "ii at all. my :d."

Tad shrugged lis shouhiers. "I ./•vvant my saehel." he *aid, stoutly, as a :}i11!»• knot uf |i*j.ilo began to gather. ..

TiJu/vsaoh'repeated Mr. Jones' •-with a shadowy sneer "I'umi', iiov.'. that',-ton"— 'tPA "At our old p.'rmois.jagain, are you,

Kd wards?". interrupted a ijuii-tly anthoritaiivo voice. It,- owner was :i (•mail. thin-faced man, in cirizen'sdress, who, stepping forward as lu' spoke, ge.'.tly touched Mr. Jones' shoulder, to: §|Umt gentleman's visible discomtiture. SP "Js .this '•yours, boy0"'' cntiimcd thn •^Speaker, addressing Tad anil touching the-sac-hel with tin* tip of a small whalebom- eane. I

T:ul nodded eagerly. .Sirietly.speak-1 i.'ig. il was not. his. Inn. lor obvious ""reasons, Tail forbore i'urtiuT explanatii!!-. "Hatnl it over." said thi'small .man, briefly. to. Mr. Jones, who complied so' airomptly as greatly to astonish Ta«l. !/|ib:1 then, obedient to a gesture from & him of the cane, tin fraudulent Jones -^vanished with considerable celerityronnil the

luares'

corner, while the

.' .small man walked qiiietlv awav. "-1 hat City-I Vteet Blossom—lv's s.j'Vfn in om- jilac.. l'ots of tinn's." Tail liciU'tl a ti'i. _Ta|)li iii' --niL'.-r-lmi\' in,:.f"rm another, in awe-.-tniek t'iii-s. nii'l. after ailinirinirh wateliin^ the

Miiall mail out of Mght. the two ,-camlicreil off top'tlier. •/. ".Strikes me that my frieinl Jones

VOU

GOT

hiilil of this same little liao.

as easy a- he thoiiL'hi fur," ehnekleil Tail, um.'olisciotis that t!ie sentlemaii in i|Ue-tio:i. with hi- iiat ])ulleil ilowu .over his forelieail liki- the villain in a :,)lay. was .WiiU-hinjr hi- niovemeiitd lritii a in-iirlil• rin^r ilooi'-u av. ,.

Hut whither shoiilil Tail turn liisf.ots"1 oi\\"si 'or ilown-toun, or— 6to|i a ri'.iniite! The saehel mist eon.tain .-omethintr of more than onlinary -.'vahie—:ti fact which- tin- fraudulent'

Jones hail in some way ili-eovi-re.l. i-l-e a a 1 'isioll of il? "(.'haps like him iloii't take tho charu-i mi an enipt_\ iiair." solilo.juizeil Tad. uitli a wise .-hake of the head, "and, aeconlin' to my way of thinkinir, sorni iiiM.!y:Il be olTeiin a nnVaril for this if liropertv oeforc lon,r.*' .... .'•' •. vmen reasonin.i: resulted in Tail's ffiiivi.'siiiijr .. iialf his stocky of ready cash |it\ the pureha-e of thi-ee daily |iapers, wil(,Si c,,illlUllS Iii- llojled to lillll |rilS?'|ilble tneiitioii iiiade of tin. 1,,-t saehel. lii.1 I'.nreliase i:-. lf deeidi.-il the diree,.tionliis^tep-. lb- knew that alono liiost eityfwllarve- were sheltered anil puniiy spots wliei'i!-he could sil down and glance over hi- papers uudis-

•'t'urlM'd by'otU^iuus 'T Having dibeu duly directiivr- br -harp-vo ci new-b,,\. Tad 1/egaii making' Ws way:Avjiarfward, through a narrow and not. particularly, inviting street, known as l.ewi- Lane, Tho theory of cau-e and etl'ect was visible oil every hand, in the shape of nourishing liijuor-sliops and miserable tenements. Shaltbily-ilre-sed uiiai lounged on every conii.-r. tilling the air with oaths and tobaeco-snioke, while shrillvoiced women goi-iped in the doorways and swarms of.dirty children paddled in the gutters. "Come, now you give us that purpl'' Said a threatening voice, and Tad looked •oiddeuly round. A vcrv ragged boy. whose hair was cut close to his bullet head, stood confronting a ncatlv-drc-sed girl, rather .younger than himself, who, fr.ni her appearance, was evidently stranger in the neighborhood. "Av yo don't hand 'im over, we'll take 'im away from yez in less'n two shakes, chimed in a Hibernian voice, whoso owner was a red-haired youth of fourteen .summers or tliercabouU. In his dirty lingers was a string from which dangled ail empty oyster-can, destined, as Tad at once saw, as an attachment to the tail of a small and decidedly dirty dog which tho girl was liugging tightly against her white apron, very much to its detriment.

The young and unprotected female compressud her lip?, and. looking quite defiantly at her opponents, deigned no reply to their amiable intimations. But Tad thought that she also glanced ivt him rather anxiously, as though fearing lie might array himself ou the side of the foe. "Sure, 1 w'udn't be afeared of a gurrl. Bob,"' scornfully insinuated tho red-headed, in an undertone, and, thus stimulated, Bob took a step forward, but Tad was too quick for him. "Look here!" exclaimod Tad. feeling his blood tingling clear to his fin-cer-tips aa he placed himself directly

in fiimt of Huh. the short-haired "you just leave that iiirl alone, will you?" And. tucking hi- sachel under one arm. Tad threw himself into an attitude both otl'eusivc and defensive, which was calculated to strike terror to the heart of tho enemy. "Wasn't a-touehin' of her —was I, Mickey Di.lan?" returned I!ob, stejipiiijj back in evident alarm. "I will, though, if .-he don't give me my ])urp!" lie added, with a threatening shake of the head, encouraged at the .-iglit of his friend, .wiio after carefully turning liaek hi- tattered shirt-eutl'-. was rapidI ly rc».)!\ing a pair of red li.-ts with a and view oi |iar ily/ing the bold intruder' is is a "1 don' .-iuv." uudauiiti'diy replied tin- small female, sjieaking for the lir^t time ''it's not your dog. and 1 won't give him up there, movl" Andl r»gret toay t'lat .Mi-- l'olly l'lagg furtIn11" emphasized l.cr declaration by staiiipiug.a sniii'l foot with Oons'iOcraiile 1-.rci "Doiv'1 .worry, mis-!'' suringly. ''They u..n ger on you-y-o]- th

r/.f

!1 tiii pa.vement

said Tad. reas-1 dare lay a tin- I

lioif, either while a policeman just, iniei

I'm here and ther eomiiig round, tlie conier, to,,." the lat-

ter iutdniiytlo iifteiided for'the ear.- of niki.i outh-. haxinijatt im-]

two w' iiate illi'ct.. Miekev tlirus his

ML ii

ksM tiba?

iiy :-A A .1 W A '1 //i

V. i.'t

"l.nuK 11 J. I F.. s\i:i'i'\t).

hands in hi- pin ket-. ...,and walked away, whirling ••Mniligaiv Guards." while lob with a parting scowl, quite equally divided boUveen tin- girl, the dog.ami Tad himself, ran hastily across the slree:, and disrq.qieitred up tlie near-

"Which way miirht y,,u be goinir, mi-.-?" n'-ked Tad,With great politeness, a.- ^1 i.-7- I'olly I lag::, loukiutr extremely relieved, made preparations for departure by cuddling tin. small dog' securely in her anils. "1 'own to oninnTciial wha.rf. wliere our vessel li,--. w:i,» tho imliesitatin" .•insw,-r. --My father is Captain Jetliro l'lagL'- and I'm Polly KlagL"." continued Mi-s l'oliy, vaguely cotir-ciou- that some/.sort of introduction wa.- the proper thing, under ail the- circumstances. "My name Tad—I mean Thaddens

Thome and I'm fi-.,m l'hiladelphia." said Tad. wishing that his jacket was. le-s tiiread!"are and hi- sinus were wlnde. as he glanced at the simple but neat di'e.-- of hi- eompaidon. whose face' wa.- completely overshadowed by a deep i.-ilieo sun-bonnet shaped like tile tilt of a. market wa ron. '•Oh! returned l'olly. and then, instead of speaking of the weather, asking Tad how he liked l!o-ti,u. i'ollj plunged hi'.'idlong' into a per.-,,nal ex. jilanation: vine cook wa.-n't well thii moniitiir." she began, "-o I had to ge to market. f..r iher \yas uj,^town. And while I was Imrrving baek through I.ewis Lane, because it was nearer, those horrid boys chased the poor little dog that'-Vhad g'.t lo-t, and he ran if. 111.' ,v. pr.ifed." l'olly.

T•i1.iv.ll

auinutl in her ann until it

W:is cmpl-tely i-eiijI l,v the sunbonuei. "that I can-lit him up. and said they .-liouldn't have him. Then you came along, and—I'm ev.e.r 1 much' obliged." I

nii'e little dog after he's i'1-inarked. patting the his embarrassment, for I'd to thank-, particularly I giie.-s he's a Newfound

land," lie continued, with a knou-inu glance at the animal's ears and pnw£ anil they 11 III .-il-ela.-.-w it.ei-dogs, vou know." l'olly nodded, and. after a short pause, looki-d euriou.-ly :it the handtome traveling saehel in Tail's hand. "YO'II don't belong to auv of those vessels?" she a deed, inqniringlv. For the^ had crossed busy t'omniercial ftnvt, and wen- walking along' the lilatform on tin- water front, where the pedestrian looks down upon the bewildering maze of masts, spars and cordage liclonging to the coasting and tishing craft huddled in the ba.-in between the two wharves. "No," replied Tad, in a low voice. He could not tell her that lie belonged to nothing—to no one, a.s he mentally expressed it. It would make him seem like a port of vagrant, youthful tramp. Nor did lie—to Polly's secret disappointanent—account for his ^lossessioTi of the handsome little traveling sachel, with it.s silver mountings, at wliich Polly liad cast B«lnjiring glances. "I ho)e he iiune liv it honestly," thought Polly, and then was ashamed of the ungenerous self-suggestion.

Yet, I am afraid it lingered unconsciously in her mind, for she had in the flush of h«r gratitude decided she would ask Tad to Uke dinner with herself and Captain Flagg, on board the "Mary J." But a! they reached tho end of Com. mercial wharf, where the "Mary J." was moored, l'olly hesitated a little. "You can come aboard, if yini like," Fhc said: but Tad, who noticed her almost imperceptible change of manner without, being able to account for it, shook his 1- ad.

"Oh. no, miss I don't look lit." lit replied, with a glance at his shabbj clothes and patched shoes, that was pathetic. "I collie down here." he continued, simply, "because there wasn't any other place where I could set ilinvt and look over the paper*—good-morn-ing, miss," and before l'olly could rt pi Tail wa.-

-"lie. -.K-,-

CHA1TKK IV.

Just astern of the "Mary J." a largo iron steamer wasdiseharging her cargo

Looking about him to make sure: that lie was unobserved. Tad .-cram-: bled up the back side of the tier, and, crawling nimbly o\er the top,! dropped into a narrow niche between I two of the bales, where, well sheltered from tiii- wind, and warmed by the.-un, he found that without being seen' lie could ionk directly dou upon the "Mai-y 1 ,'s" deck. l'olly Flagg' had thrown ••aside lu-r ugly head-ei ar, and., using the end of I llii-half-hou-e for a wash-bench, was \igorou.-iv scrubbing the- small dog. I who feebly protested, ill a bucket of warm water furnished by the cook -a diminutive colored man with very round shoulder-, and wooly locks plentifully powdered with gray. "There, little doix." said Follv, as she rubbed the whimperinir pup with a •bit of an old sail-cloth. -'v,m were never clean in your life b-forc. Now.

George Wa.-liingt.ui'"—addressing the colored individual "take liini and lay him in the galley, by the lire, till lie's dr\." 'Pears though he nrter be c'nsiderably refrigerated by his absolution. Miss l'olly." returned Washington, •with a convul-i\c giggle, a-, receiving the small bundle, he hurried back tr. the galh y, which was a sort of large "eubl.y-hou.--e," midway between the two mast.-, where the .cooking was 'done.

Meanwhile, Polly unpinned her dress, which-he had carefully'turned up in front during tin- wa-hing. pulled down her sleeves and. without renming the big sun-bonnet, walked to the rail, here she stood looking up the wharf in an expectant attitude. "She isn't exae'ly slylish-lookin'," said Tad,

viewing

Miss l'olly critically,

from hi- point of observation, "but she's got a goi di-h kind of a face." No—Polly was not stylish-looking. Her cheeks were as rosy and round as a Baldwin apple, and her -mall nose .not innocent of freckles. Then, too, her mouth wa rather larirc, though one forgot, its .-ize in the kindliness of her smile, which, moreover, showed a vei"V perfect set of small." even, white teeth.

Polly had a pair of pleasant dark eves that, when shewa- a bit excited, looked almost black, and she was al.-o the possessor of what thi' novelists call "a wealth of broh/.r-tiuted chestnut hair, with a natural crinkle in it, which lie, amount of art could have imitated. But Polly briefly summed up her own personal appearance in one ter.-e soiilenei"red hair, freckles and a snub-nose and no amount of reasoning could convince her she was not undeniably plain, or—as she unhesitatingly allirnied— "awful homely."' "1 don believe it's polite to stare at ladies, even if they can't see you." suddenly thought Tad. And vaguelv wondering at iijs own iicwlv-awakenrd sense of propriety. Tad settled back in his cozy nook and. pulling out. his three papers, began niiinnigovcr the "Lost" columns, but his si.:u-eh was in vain atchi'-s had 1. "ii lost, diamonds stolen, gold-headed canes taken by mislake anil pet poodles lured from tlicit homes

—for

..SO

The abrupt wind-up, though a little incoherent, was perteetlv ,atisfaetorv to Tail. '. "He'll be a Washed." Tai I*U] to cover Tad wasn't ufroin e-irls.

the recovery of each and all

of w-hich rewards were oiVered. with llie suggestive "no questions asked," as an I extra inducement for their return. But there was no reference in anv ol tin.' papers to "a small alligator-skin sachel. with nickel mountings, left hv mistake in the waiting-room of the Broad Street, depot." or words to that effect and Tad began to wonder what he had best do next, lie could not ad-! vertise under the head of "Found," for live cents was nil the money Tad had in the world so, dually, lie was forced to the conclusion that all lie could do was-to use his own unspoken thought —"to hang on a spell longer."

It was much harder to decide what he should do with himself. The bag had some one to look out for it. but there was no one to look out for Tad. And. for the lirst time in his short life, lad felt a feeling of something like homesickness creep over him.

A familiar voice on the wharf, elev, to the pile of cotton bales, amused TaU very suddenly from his reverie.

It that Jones! he excitedlv oxclaimed, though under his breath, as be peered down at the speaker. It was indeed that ingenious gentleman, as lifting his hat with winning politeness, he hid accosted Miss Polly, who was evidently impressed at such a display of courtesy. "May I ask, miss," said .Jones, calling up his most agreeable smile, "whether you have seen a shabby-look-ing boy, carrying a small alligator-skin sachel, anywhere in this vicinity within half an hour?" "Why, yes—hewaadown here awhile ago, but I guess he's gone up-town again, replied Polly, wondering what tho stranger wanted of the boy who called himself Tad Thorne.

Mr. Jones looked sadly disappointed at Polly's answer, tfliile Tad, winking at himsalf, chuckled silently. What Mr. Jones might have said is uncertain, for just then a third party hove in Bight—to use a nautical phrase—who, Tad felt by a sort of instinct, must be Captain Jetliro Flagg. He was a tremendously stout man, with iron-gray hair and a rim of white whiskers which made sort of halo whom his fat,

weather-beaten tacc. The blue shirt, pea-jacket, canvas trowsers, oil-skin hat and heavy sea-boot-, which he wore left no doubt as to the nature of his calling. "Now. ihen. Kphr'ni," -said Captain Flagg, in a voice like a trumpet with a bad cold, a.-, turning about, lie addressed a long-legged youth who brought up the rear with a heavy basket, "heave ahead lively with them stores, my hearty, or you won't fetch the schooner till dinner-time." Thus admonished. Kphraim nir.'.lcreo Something inaudible, and, reaching the edgu of the wharf in a breathless rendition, set tee ba-kei down with a bang, while t':e Captain greet id Miss l'olly with a jovial wink. "Haven't got to putb -"l: •'or nothing this time, l'olly," he trimnnhautlv announced. unmindful »f the presence of Mr. Jones, whose a'.,-tract.d gaze was seemingly directed at the'little pennant W'hieh tion'.ed from the schooner's topmast In-ad. "The store.- is ail-n the ba.-ket. the new jib i- coming down this afternoon, and I've got .my freight money along of my clearance papers all right in here." holding up a Mat, japanned tin ease as hes:okc. For. being very absent-minded, though constantly ruminating in his great- responsibility as ma-ier of the coasting schooner "Mar\ J.," Captain Jethro Flagg usually forgot some part of his up-lown errands, and was invariably sent back therefor by practical l'oiiv. as a sort of atonement

of cotton bales, a dozen or more of which were tiered up one upon an-j other, at the verge of the wharf.

for

his sins of

omission. l'olly nodded apprnvinglv at her father's assertion, while Tad. as an im-ob-el'Ved bllt interested oil-looker, noticed that, at the mention of freightnionev, Mr. Jones' eye fell from the topmast head to the japanned lin case in Captain Flagg's hand, and bri.'liy rested thereon. Suddenly producing a note-book from his pocket he..began writing on a bi.mk leaf, occasionally glancing thoughtfully at the "Marv. as though noting down a brief ilcscri|tion of her buil.l and rig. to the evident uncasini -s ,,t Captain Flagg, who regar, led Mr. Jones and his little book with ill-concealed suspicion. "Beg pardon. Captain." .-aid the latter, looking up with easy familiarity, as Kphraim and George Washington succeeded by their united ell'.,i ts in getting the stores safely on board, "but I'm a HMK reporter. Any thing extr'ord'nary or unusual last vovage that would make us au'item. eh?"

He held hi.- head a little one side as he spoke, and tapped'his teeth with the end if liis pencil in such a biisine.-s-Uke manner that the Captain's face cleared at once. "Fxtraord'nary!" thoughtfully repeated Captain Flagg. leaning up again.-t a cotton bale, and inviting his companion by a in id to do the same, "well. 1, mine overhaul the log a bit, an see. Polly." elevating his voice for the hciielit of his daughter, who was regarding the representative ,,f the press with admiring awe. "what night was it we lost Sam overboard, whilst wt was hove to oil'Thatcher's l.-lan'?" "A week ago last Thursdav," promptly returned l'olly, with a shade of sadness in her tone. "Ah, indeed!" returned "Mr. Jones' interestedly, a.s he jotted something down in the note-book, anil continued to write as lie talked. "lie.-n gale. 1 presume, and man fell from

aloft,

reef

ing the—a main ("gallant sails?" l'cgarding the speaker for a brief

nio-

nient in pitying silence, Captain Fhe'g proceeded to enlighten his ignorance, "i inly square riggers carries t'"all'ns'ls." he explained, "and the 'Mary J.,' boinVa fore-an-after. has wi need, o' seeh. Sam.'J solemnly Continued the Captain, laying his stumpv fore. linger on Mr. Jones' arm, to command' his undivided attention, "S:nii was a! black pig the ciinnin'est. kuowin'estj —why, what's that?"' he exclaimed, suddenly breaking oil in his eulogiiim on his lost porker, as the sound of a suppressed giggle was heard to proceed from directly overhead. Turning his eyes upward as he thus spoke, and catching a glimpse of Tad's mirthful face peering over the top of the cotton bales. Captain Flagg's fingers insensiIily relaxed their hold upon the japanned tin case containing his paper.and money.

This was the moment, for which Mr. Jones had been watching! Whippin" the tin case from the Captain's unresisting grasp, he dodged round the

pile

ot cotton bales before Captain Jethn could say "Jack Robinson" or Polly recover her breath to scream.

Now, despite, his sudden, ill-timed mirth. Tad had been sharply watchin" the movements of the erratic Mr. Jone-s! whose purpose he had dimly suspected from the lirst moment of his pretended interview. And, as lie snatched the case, Tad, scrambling from his hidingplace with inconceivable rapidity, slid down on the bank side of the cotton bales, just in time toconfront the escaping Jones.

Unlike the average boy-hero of fic•ion, Tad did not throw himself lmdilv upon the wouut-tie robber, regardless of personal safety, etc. But, Instead, resorting to a device not unknown to playful youth in moments of extreme hilarity, he threw himsen on all four# directly in front of the flying feet of the fraudulent felon!

Uttering a wild whoop of dismay.Mr. Jones plunged with outstretched arms over Tail's prostrate body and struck the wharf with such startling suddenness that the tin case llew from his lingers and was immediately seized by Tad, who had scrambled to his feet in a twinkling, though only a second or two sooner than the active Jones himself, who, taking tw his heels with the speed ](optically attributed to the St.titled fawn, was (juicklv lost to sight

among I in- surrounding drays ami ex-press-wagons. Without his hat. und in a very bewildereil frame of mind. Captain Jethro Flagg rolled heavily around the corner of the pile of cotton bales. Following him at suitable intervals cmic breathless Polly, astonished G. Washington Johnson and the remainder of the "Mary J's" crew, including the chief mate all comprehended in the lengthy person of Fphraim Iv. Small, otherwise know as "Fnh."

TAD TIIKh.W IHMsEI.P ON ALL FOCliS. ail lion est face shone with pleasurable excitement as lie handed the tin box to Captain Flagg. and began brushing his dii-ty knees, while l'olly Flagg finilcd her approbation. "My lad," said Captain Flagg, placing his big hand on Tad's shoulder, "it's nigh eight bell- come along and ha\e some dinner. We'll talk over matters aboard the vessel."

Au imitation of this sort—particularly under all the circumstances, was not to be retused. and Tad, recovering the .sachel from its hiding-place among the cotton bales, accompanied Captain ,Flagg on board of the "M.iry J.." where mutual explanations followed. while George Washington \vabringing the dinner into the small cabin.

In contributing his own share, Tad insensibly to',,1 the most ,f hi» simple story, alter which Polly Flagg, with sparkling eyes, related her morning adventure and Tail's connection therewith hearing which, Captain Jethro gravely shook hands with Tad across the table, without speaking. Indeed, he finished his dinner in like silence, and, after pushing his chair back, sat staring so hard at the jo-.uh that Tad began to feel vcrv hot and uncomfortable. "My lad." suddenly said the Captain, "which way might you be cal'latin" to steer? Is ii 'bout ship, and put back to Philadelphy, or," continued the speaker, rising to fanciful heights. i.--it dead before the wind to whatcvei port promises the best freightsand biggest protits?" With a dim comprehension of Captain Flagg's meaning. Tad, conscious of a slight choking in his throat, replied saiily that, he didn't know—he had no mother, no friends, in, home, and it didn't matter much where he went or what became of him. l'olly eyes shone sympathetically, and the Captains voice was quite huskv when, a little later, he replied to Tad's despondent answer. "It mayn't matter much to yon, Tad." he stud, very tenderly and reverently, "but it matters c'nsider'ble to liini that watchin' vu from np aloft, for if lie hadu some sort of sailiu' orders for you, 1 le ncver'd'a' sot vou adrift on tliis here sea of life. Now, my lad." Cjiptain Flagg coutinued. impressively, "only for your overhaulin' and runuin' dow that privat.-erin" chap under false colors. I'd have lost the ships papers, and nigh forty dollars in clean cash, to say iiothin' of the good turn you did l'olly here, this inornin", which I ain't like to forget. And. summin' it all up." said the Captain. patting blushing Tad on the shoulder. "1 ve made tip mv mind to give you" "No. sir" interrupted Tad, with a decisive shake of the head. "I didn't want any thing for w'.at I've done." 'To give you—a chance aboard the "Mary J.,"—-to be-e-c-e a galliant sail-\er bo-o-o-o-y.' Trolling out the concluding words, which were a reinihiMvnct of sonic o]«l in :i deep voice, that might have come from his ca\cnious boots, the

Captain leaned

hack in his chair, and beamed benevolently upon Tad, who did not seem quite as much overcome by the magnitude of the oiler as one might at lirst suppose. "I'm ever so much obliged, Capt'n rluirjr. faltered Tn], conscious thnt Polly was waiting for his answer, with a look- of pleased expectancy in her bright face, "but I'm afraid" "That you'll be sea-sick? Oh, that's nothing—you'll get right overit," broke in l'olly, with impetuous assurance. Anil so well assured did both father and daughter seein to feel that Tad wmild jump at the proffered honor, thatTad's haJf-uttcrcd refusal died awny on his lips.

"All right, sir, I'll do my best," said Tad, sturdily and, slapping him jovially on the back, Captain Flagg declared that nobody could do more than that.

"I began to the very shecrpole mv•e f. explained the Captain, in the fulness of his heart, "and, when I was

then 'V

ruftin

loGs

It good Capt.-dn IV,,, "'^ti'r of a tw.Mhoiis-mi",

u':i

mi"

then I pulled bow-oar in a gnnd'low, and after 1,1 gone two or three trips to the Banks, I shipped as fo'mast hand a coastin' vessel. 1

was a rood

many years workin' myself from tho fo fie to the quarter-deck," said Cnptainilagg, with a solemn shake of his head "but I done it, and now I'm c'm"m"4" ™'1 °f

'lUartor

the

had

dipper, he

spoken will, more

:"-t

"!^»,P1" icii'r.iii,,,! 1''"' I garilieg him with ailiniri,-' '"5,1 7 cr, j^V' "?ea "ere an cm lonsly around the eallh,

'l,,!,'"t little in,e,-

curtained berth on eit|„.,, Mate-room, rathe,- i:i, sized dry-good l,„

.'!'S. ''"«n ii,.,,,

t!|

I,"/,'* /'""l""! f"r 11, ,.

Mis.- I Oily II Igg, ul„, vacation voy.-,^, unl, j,,, reward of.mc.it l,„ studies at the p,i\pi„, tnaiii-uia-t. win, I, „i '•••''.'i" ""or and h„,| nails driven hung the Captain's oil.,-',. ),. ly's big sim-bonin s„n,lf'. 'able, attach,,! t,, ()„, •nast by a Inn.',, onld hr

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out of the w,\ |,i ii„tj„ dingy-faced do. k, bki ,1^1, looked down froni the posite was a higliK-e.il,,11. representing I hi |,,, "1 »readnought plowing 'V green seas und,' I here was in, carpetwhich, however,'.. widean. While three cleii Stages ol dilapidation, niinirtK entire stock ot fnniiuir," l.ju Was one of the most dvligMf. imaginable, and he long,-,If,i-to come, so that he could M.m away in the little berth ulildi assigned to him by Captain I'li "AH han's on ih-ck!" gi-n tionnced the Captain, asti'uck one.

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Kphraim. who hid h, en sin length ,,n one of the locket*, himself up, and, inotioiiiugTii' low. climbed.' li'islu 11^ up t), j» uiion-wa\'. "We're goiu' to g. nii'tl. afternoon." said Kpii. tremendous lo| ..f things ,|, see —what'll we take holt ,.f lit--

I'-l'h looked listle.-sly alniut :li then, thrusting his IKHI.J.S in leaned against the rail i:: altitude. Captain Flagg imi|$: and squinted aloft at thelitlfejiii--. pennant, after which he l',.!i„texample of Kph. l'oily, recm-'r-j small dog from the pilk-v. George Washington Methodist hymn as lie washed -. iicr-dishes, sat dow witli it .: arms, on a coil of rope. A'ail J: :. ing silently on, began to ,|ij hardships of a sailor's iiiV greatly inerrati'd.

By and by Captain Flage rthat lie guessed the tide right, and they'd botterthiiik i," under way. Certain liiies-?\\e -v and hauled on board, ami mysterious manner, ijiiife ino hensible to Tail, the ••MOT .1 ." slowly extricated from the surroundiiig vessels, the wis by the united force ,.f tl„- shiji paiiy, exclusive of ,M- l' dlv.-Ar a favoring wind the \eiier.'ililcfi:: schooner began lu-r voyage "Bring up tne spy-glass I said Captain Flagg. wliO'-,sa: i" lily on the head ol the niihl'.'r. li hands grasping the-^spekes wheel. '7-?-.-. "What, is it. sir.-'"'-askeil.lv having brought the lnstrimii-nU-: tion li-om below, her lather. )1 at his ,.\ e. gazed back a: the-eii wharf froiq which the. MarvJ cleared. "1 thought 1 saw 'someone 11 that's all. Pollv. was ihe i' kept the fact lo himself, huiVi'V the person in question is inn than the ubiquitous ,b ties, servant of the Captain gaze, placed the tip of his tliuia end of his nose, and twiddle'! gers derisively.

He's bound to keep traek 'en' little hail" bag," said ajilaiti. to himself, with a dubious .slaiV-e head. For Cajitain Flagg liaM convinced, after hearing Tailthat Mr. Jones, who was eriil'n'5 sharper of the lirsl water, tained in sonic way best known vi" self that the sachel contain"! thing of considerable value, «r ic er would have shadowed" it# sor so persistently. I'll it.Jve:' for the boy sunn's ever we get a he menially decided, and then p'undivided attention to the repel-. consequent upon his eoiiimaii'l. "Mr. Small." .-aid Captain I" gravely, "have the decks e!e:an' then let- the port watch go 'A vi answered l! legged, sandy-haired youth, his dual cajiacity of oflicer am! was "Mr. Small," or "Kph,'! m'1': to circumstances. That is, as

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Mate" lie was addressed witJi th'F^ fix of "Mr. as a member of •'lfl"'j watch, which now consisted ef liife'l anil Tad, he received his mere fatW'T title of "Eph." "Come for'ard along Mr. Small, ungrammniii '.Hv brusquely, motioning to Tail. whoffl staring at the passing tugs ami "--'J in open-eyed amazement, and 1 ter meekly obeyed. "Them's the 11 lialyanls," said Mr. Small, nclini"?^ an easy [Kisture against the ferfti'^l with one hand in his trousers l"'c while with the other he point™

rope in question, '*an' you coil on that air pin, same as the Tad having accomplisheil tlw satisfactorily, Mr. Small ]irci*c "1 point out in their several 3 jib down-haul, tho fore and nial" -JT yards, and peak halyards, and 11 and main sheets, with some ii^,rlicl I

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to their several uses, showing how to coil them up proper!}