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Show I There's Many 1 I a Slip I: Captain of the Mary Jane $ I ;; Threw Away the Love of 5 Widow Well. When He Heaved $ !j Love Slippert at Playful Dog. I (Copyright by the Adanm Newspupor Service, New York.) I By EARL DERR DIGGERS. The captain of tho brig Mary Jano I hold a pair of embroidered slippers M up to tho gaze of bis disgusted mate. M "Beauties, ain't they?" ho Imiulrod admiringly. '"Orrlble," said the mate, with a -wink. H "Modo 'cm with 'or own llttlo 'ands," continued the sentimental sklppor. "They're big," growled tho mate. U "Slippers or 'ands?" Inquired the HJ captain warmly. HJ "Either," returned tho mato cheer- fully. J "Sour grapes," suggested the master HJ of the Mary Jano. It was a wclPknown fact that tho mato had also bcon an HJ ardent woor of tho fair donor. HJ "Ob, aro they grapes," said the HJ mato, closely examining tho oinbrold- HJ ery. "I thought they were turnips or HJ cabbago." HJ "Thoy'ro n flower I forget wot," ro- H piled tho skipper haughtily; "thoy'ro a HJ flower wot shows that wot shows HJ tho stato of 'or affections toward mo." HJ "They muBt bo a lato-bloomln' flow- HJ er, then," sneered tho mato, "fcr HJ you'ro 'or laBt clmnco." HJ "'Ow about yourself?" tho captain HJ wanted to know. H "I ain't in tho markot," tho mato ro- H turned. "I ain't to bo won with slip- H vers." V "Slippers 'as been your Watorloo," H said tho triumphant sklppor. "Slippers 'as proved wot I suspected I long ago," replied tho mato, "that tho I "Wldow'Wolls ain't tho wlfo for mo. I suspected 'or, an' I withdrew. A worn-I worn-I an wot'll giro a man slippers '11 do m anything almost kill Mm ovon. I'm glad I escaped. I could danco an' I sing fcr Joy." I "Why don't you?" askod tho sklppor I sourly. I "It ain't all Joy," went on tho mato; ' ' "thoro's somo sorrow when I look at tho sllppors an' think o' tho burden wot's laid on you." "I kin bear it," said tho skipper. "I don't ask for no sympathy." "Thoy'ro an clophant on your 'ands," contlnuod tho mato, "but not on your foot. That's tho ono ray of hope not on your feet. Fcr o' courso you won't wear 'cm. O' courso you'll lock 'cm up somowhore where nobody'U soo cm." "I'll do nothing of tho sort," retorted re-torted tho angry sklppor; "I'm go I a' to wear 'em often." Tho. mato shook his head sadly. I'vo 'card lovo turned men's brains," ho said, "but I wouldn't bollovo it boforo. bo-foro. Think o' your reputation. An' 1f that ain't worth much thought, think o' tho roBt o" ub. Wo'ro responsible respon-sible for you, In a way. 'Ow'U It bo when your crow 'as to blush fcr shamo when your name's mentioned. "Lot mo catch 'em blushln' for shame," roared tho Infuriated sklppor, " 'an I'll brain 'cm." "You won't catch 'era," tho mato assured as-sured him. "They'll mako fun o' you In tho fo'c's'le, too. You'll bo a stand-in' stand-in' Joko In slippers." Tho captain only snorted. "Whon you got om on," continued tho mate, "all you'll need '11 bo a 'ouse-coat 'ouse-coat nn' a bottlo o' dopo to look a regular Sherlock 'OlmcB." "Oo'b Sherlock 'Olmes?" inquired tho skipper suspiciously. "'B'a tho man In England," returned tho mato, "oo could convluco you that that dog o' yours Is a 'nrdened criminal. crim-inal. An' sometimes I 'avo my doubts if 'o could. I said you was making a mlstako when you brought Noah aboard, Jest as I say you'ro makln' a mlstaka now." Tho captain leaned over nnd patted tho diminutive Noah, so called because ho was a good sailor. "E's n lino dog," said he, "only a bit mischievous hit lively. 'E's fond o' fun." '"E'b fond o' vlttles." growled tho mato; "Vs et up all my fav'rlto dishes beforo I could get to them." "'H'8novcr ct mine," roturncd tho kipper; "mobbo I didn't mako such a mistake, nftor all. Mobbo I ain't mak ln' a mlstako about tho slippers." "I suppose next wo'll bo. 'avin' a llttlo llt-tlo party aboard," snoorcd tho mato, "with old Daniel an' Joo an' tho rest o' the crow wearln' long-tailed coats an' stiff shirts, nn' you dancln' with tho widow, an' Japaneso lantorns hung to tho masts." Tho skipper attempted n laugh. "Llko as not," ho said. Ho moved uneasily. un-easily. "I I'm goln' to 'avo Mis' Wolls aboard fer a cup o' toa tomorrow," ho stammered; "she wants to soo my I ship, so I asked 'or. I 'opo you'll treat Vr pleasant aa 'pleasant as though I you still 'nd a chanco to win 'er." This shot gave him deop satisfaction, and he paused to onjoy It. "I'm goln' to wear tho sllppors," ho added. "Is slippers ettlket fer afternoon teas?" the mato Inquired. "Mobbo not," tho skipper admitted, "but she told mo to 'avo 'om on. 'If jou love mo, woar 'cm,' sho says. It's u sign." "K'h a suro sign," said the mato; "the man wot 'ud wear thorn to please h woman If. consumed with a burnln' I passion for 'er. 'E'd do anything dlo I fer 'er yes, 'o'd ovon marry 'or." - Early tho next afternoon tho Vlp- I Par, entering tho cabin unexpectedly, came upon the mate with tho precious slippers In his hand. Tho drawer from which thoy had been taken was open. "Wot's this wot does this mean?" demanded tho captain angrily. Tho mate's grin was a bit sheepish. "It corao to mo In tho night," ho said, "that mebbo I was wrong mobbo mob-bo they was beautiful slippers, after all. So I thought I'd run down an' 'avo a look at them." "You might 'ave asked me to lot you seo 'cm," suggested tho skipper. "Ask youl" said tho mate; "never. Why, thu Idee I Wot fun jou would 'avo mado o' me." "1 don't bellevo you," remarked the captain concisely. "An' I was wrong," went on tho mate, Ignoring tho slur; "they are beauties thoy surely aro. I envy you, Cap'n. Wot's tho secret? 'Ow do you mako such a Impression on tho ladles?" Tho captain drew himself up slightly. slight-ly. "Oh, there's something about mo " ho began, and then broko off abruptly. "1 don't bellevo you. You know I'm goln' to wear 'cm fer a lovo sign, nn'you'ro tryln' to steal 'cm. It would ho wot you'd call a Joko." Tho mato sank limply upon an adjacent ad-jacent hunk. "Well, of all things!" ho said. "1 don't know when I'vo boon so hurt. Steal 'cm! Weill well I Wot a poor opinion you 'avo o' mo, Cap'n." "It Is poor," admitted tho captain; "but It's founded on wot I'vo seen o' you In tho past." "Steal 'cm," went on tho mate, who seemed unable to forget tho words; "why, Micro's nothln' 1 want more than to seo you wear 'om an' 'ovo your llttlo romance turn out 'appy In tho end." "I'm glad to 'car you say that," ro-piled ro-piled the captain, "an If that's tho way you feel, I'm goln' to mako you keeper o' tho slippers. You better set right 'ero, for If anything 'appens to 'em boforo I got ready to wear 'cm, It'll go 'ard with you." "Nonsenso," said tho mate,, "wot d'yo think I am a safo? I'vo been Insulted an' 'urt. I refuso to 'avo anything any-thing moro to do with slippers." Tho captain started for tho hatch. "I never want to seo any again," mumbled tuo mato, following mm on deck. Dcsplto his last statcmont, a half-hour half-hour later, when ho was suro tho captain cap-tain had business olsowhero, ho roturncd ro-turncd to tho cabin and took ono of tho slippers from tho drawer. With a noiseless laugh, ho tossed It amid tho dust and darkness beneath a chest of drawers, far, far back where tho hand of man, particularly of a portly man Uko tho skipper, could not penetrate. Then ho mounted to tho deck, and taking a scat near tho rati, gazed contentedly con-tentedly nt tho cottages of Dlmport, which wcro slumbering In tho sun. A moment lator tho captain appeared ap-peared and accosted him Jovially. "I think I'll go bolow an' dress now," ho said. "I 'ardly know wot to put on. 'Ow ought a engaged man to look? 'Ow would jou want to look If ou waB engaged en-gaged to tho Widow Wells?" "Id want to look appy," replica tuo mato, "but I know I couldn't. I'd probably prob-ably look awful sad an despondent. Hut sho'd look 'appy, all right. Sho'd look 'appy onough for two." "I think I'll wear tho purplo necktie," neck-tie," mused tho sklppor; "tho ono you saw mo 'avo on at tho longshoremen's picnic four years ago. Tho purplo ono with tho yollow flowcrB." "Do," said tho mato, "do! It'll add a hit o' color to a sad afternoon." Tho captain wont below, nnd for twenty minutes tho mato smoked peacefully by tho rail. Then there was a roar, and tho master of tho Mary Jano, gorgeously clad, appeared suddenly sud-denly on deck. Ono foot was decorated with an embroidered slipper, tho other boasted nothing savo a stocking. IIo wns ovldcntly In no gontlo humor, nnd ho rushed straight for tho mato. "Whoro Is It?" ho doraanded hoarso-ljr. "Where's wot?" Inquired tho mato calmly; "a engaged man oughtoncd to loso 'la temper." IIo glanced at tho captain's feet. "Oh, soo 'ore,' this won't do," ho remonstrated. "I didn't approvo of it, but it you must do it, don't do It by 'alves. It's like you, though. Tho widow, asked you to wear 'cm, an' I asked you not to, on' now you up an' wear only ono, as a sort o' compromise." Tho skipper was speechless with rogo. "Foolish, weak compromise," continued con-tinued tho mato, shaking his head. Tho sklppor found a gurgling voice. "You Btolo It" ho panted; "you you "Look 'ero," broko In tho mato In a dignified tono, "thlB 'as got to stop. I ain't no thief. It's you wants to mako mo out ono It's your mean naturo to. It's my belief you destroyed tho thing yoursolf, so as to say I, took It." Tlmo was passing swiftly, so tho Infuriated In-furiated skipper decided to try another anoth-er raothod. IIo choked down his anger, an-ger, mid gavo a poor imitation of a man smiling. "You 'vo 'ad your llttlo Joke," ho thld, "now supposo you 'and over tho slipper. There nln't no moro fun to bo got out o' It. Olvo tho Bllpper over that's a good fellow." "I'm glad you seo tho Joko In It," said tho mato; "for a minute I was afraid you was mlssln' the humor o' tho situation. Hut how can I glvo it to you when I ain't got it?" "If you didn't tako it, oo did?" demanded de-manded tho captain. "Wo a argument a woman's arir mont!" sneered tho mato. "If I didn't tako " A shrill bark from holow gavo fylm a sudden Inspiration. "If 1 didn't tako it, oo did, you uBk. Oo but Noah?" "Very likely," said tho1 skipper; "very likely Noah opened a top draw- er, took out the slipper, an' closed the drawer again." "Nooh's a vsry wonderful dog," the mato reminded him; "you're said so jourself, mtny a time. Thoro's never been no feat too marvelous fer Noah to perform, according to your stories.' Why. takln' that slipper ud bo mere child's piny f-r 'lm. llemombcr tho tlmo 'e opened tho door o' a red-'ot oven nn' stole " "You'll suffer for this," roared the skipper. "I know you'ro lyln You" Struck by tho look on the mato's, face, ho paused and glanced behind him. Slowing moving toward thorn across tho deck camo'Noah, tho mlsslug slipper slip-per In his teeth. Tho delighted mnta noticed that there clung to htm much of the fuzzy dust that gathers In corners. cor-ners. "There's my proof," ho said, with ecstasy, "right on tlmo. Now oo's a liar?" Tho captain did not reply, but with tho air of a man stalking a dangerous nnlraal, moved stealthily upon tho prancing Noah. Tho latter moved lightly aside, Just eluding his master's mas-ter's eager clutch. It was a gamo Noah loved to play. "Don't wasto time," urged tho mato; "tho Widow Wolls Is gcttln' Into tho waterman's skiff. Why don't you tako It from him an' put It on? It's no tlmo to play a gamo." Tho captain sworo hoarsoly. "Why don't you 'elp mo?" ho shouted. " 'Elp a man wot's called mo a thlof an' n liar!" sa.ld tho mato. "Wot d'yo think I am a statue o' forgiveness? Whoro d'yo think you aro In heaven among angels? Thoy'd stop that language, lan-guage, If you wus." Tho game of tag bctweon tho burly captain nnd tho llttlo dog continued, to tho great enjoyment of all except tho former. "Why don't you put salt on his tall?" Inquired tho audlcnco lightly. Numerous other suggestions met with comment moro forcoful than elegant. "Seo 'ero," protested tho mato, "this 'aB got to stop. Tho waterman's skiff's nearly 'ero. 'Ow'U 'alt a sign look? Mcbbe sho'll tako It to mean you only 'alf lovo 'or. Call off your llttlo gamo." The maddened skipper mado a wild lungo nt Noah, who again stepped asldo. Then, ovldcntly thinking that tho fun had gono far enough, tho dog trotted calmly to tho rntl and tossed tho object of tho chaso over tho sldo Into tho water. When ho turned tho captain had. tho remaining sllppor In his hand, nnd Noah Judged It prudent to run. On tho other sldo of tho deck tho sklppor let fly his weapon, which missed Its Intended victim by about two feet, and bounced over tho rnll Into tho river. Pausing for breath, tho captain saw tho mato helping tho widow aboard. "Very glad to see you, Mis' Wolls," ho said, with as much dignity as could bo expected of a man In his stocking feet; "I seo you'ro right on tlmo." , Mrs. Wolls regarded him coldly. "I'm In tlmo to soo tho slippers woj I worked on fer days throwed In the Thames," sho said; "I'm In tlmo to speak my mind, nn' thon go." "im sorry," murmured tno uazoa captain. "Sorry!" crlod Mrs. Wolls. '"E sos 'e's sorry," sho contlnuod to the mato; "Vb throwed my lovo token In tho river, nn' now 'o's sorry!" "It's 'Is nnsty temper, ma'am," said tho mato; "don't mind 'lm. It's 'Is mean way." "After this," went on tho widow, "I shall glvo my presents whoro thoy'ro appreciated." Sho smiled sweotly at tho mato, who bowed low. "Can I see you 'omo?" ho Inquired. "You'ro very good," murmured tho fair Mrs. Wells. Hero tho captain mumbled something some-thing In which the word explain was barely audlblo. "There's no oxplanatlon," said tho widow In a firm tono;"I glvo you a pair o' slippers to wear If you lovo mo, an' you throw 'cm In tho river. I seo you. Thoro's no explanation." ' "I throw 'om at tho dog," said tho captain weakly. "Indeed," roturncd Mrs. Wells, "I supposo you think thoy wns Intended to 'elp a big, strong man fight a poor, Innocent dog. That's wot I glvo 'era to you fcr to protect you. Wot a awful aw-ful temper!" sho added to tho mato. "Torrlhlo," agreed that gentleman heartily. "Woll, it's lucky I found out In time," Bho continued; "it's lucky I aeo tho mlstako I was makln'." Sho ngaln smiled nt tho mato, and motioning to tho skiff, which had waited. "I'lcaso 'elp mo down," sho Bald. Tho mato did so with alacrity. Tho waterman hastily closed his mouth, which had remained open during tho sccno Just enacted, and took up tho oars. At tho rail of tho Mary Jano stood her captain, glaring flercoly. "Tho worst thing I kin wish you," ho said, "Is that sho'll mako you slippers slip-pers slippers all your llfo. A pair a week." "Sour grapes," called tho mato cheerfully. |
