Adventure, November 1915 — page 192: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

190 on yer showlders. Most remarkable! You’ll doubtless come to a bad ind, Sam- my, but I’m proud of ye. But I’m think- in’, Sammy, me man, that we’d betther be sthrollin’ up Market Sthreet.”’ And Mr. Sullivan smiled. The depres- sion that had weighed him down since early morning had lifted. ONLY once during the course of the evening was any mention, how- ever indirect, made concerning the source of their wealth. “Sarve him right!” said Mr. Sullivan, breaking off a heated discussion on the question of dry farming, a topic of which he knew nothing whatever. ‘‘He’s always in- therferin’ an’ makin’ throuble. Now he’ll be havin’ something to make throuble about.” “Who’s that?” asked the second en- gineer. ‘‘Any one I’m acquainted with?” Mr. Sullivan frowned. . “T’ve a brother-in-law in Armagh who sells horses,” he replied. “T never did like horses,” said Mr. Higgins pensively, examining his empty glass. ‘“‘Not as pets, that is. Nor broth- ers-in-law neither. My sister’s husband borrowed five: bob off me eighteen months ago, an’ he’s never so much as offered to pay me back yet. Yes, mine ’ull be an- other steam, thank you.” ~ §an Francisco is a friendly city, inhabi- ted by a friendly race of people; conse- quently it was late when the mate and the second engineer of the Yarmouth stood once more on the coal-grimed deck of their ship. “Home at last!’ said Mr. Sullivan with the feeling of one who has done his duty. “An’ I’m glad of it. Spendin’ money’s a sthrain on the intellect. An’, Sammy, if ye fall overboard, I tell ye plainly, you'll dhrown. I, for wan, will not jump in afther you.” 3 He was groping in his pocket for his tobacco when the second engineer clutched at his arm. “Look!” he said. ‘Will you ‘tell me if you see anything over there, Dan?” Mr. Sullivan’s gaze followed the out- stretched, shaking finger. Seated on the bunker-hatch in the moon- light was the figure of a man, huddled up, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands covering his face. On the deck was an empty bird-cage. Adventure Though it was a warm night, a cold shiver ran down Mr. Sullivan’s spine. He shook himself free of the trembling Mr. ‘“‘Who’s that?” said he in a weak voice. “Who is it?” The man on the hatch straightened his back and lowered his hands. Dimly, as through a mist, the mate saw the thin, pasty face and pale eyes of Mr. Brandon. At his side he could hear the second en- gineer’s teeth chattering. “Be cripes! ’Tis the chief engineer. Is it in pain you are, Chief? An’—an’ what is the cage doin’ out here?” “Leave me be!” said Mr. Brandon wea- “My canary bird’s gone, an’ nothin’ matters now. Never yet have I had a bird like Dickie, never. An’ because of that— because I cared for him, the door of the cage was left open. Was it a joke, to lose aman his pet? Had they a grudge against the poor bird? Man, my heart just aches when I think of the voyage home without Dickie; without hearin’ him sing. “Tt doesn’t matter, I suppose; he was only a canary, but it’s hard, somehow— it’s —— hard on a man to lose ’is pet!”’ He stood up, thin, round-shouldered, narrow-chested, and walked off, carrying in his hand the empty cage. The second engineer and the mate watched him without speaking until he had entered his room and closed the door. ““Well!’’ whispered the Mate grimly. “Well! I hope you’re feelin’ as satisfied with yerself asITam. We’re afther sthealin’ his pet, an’—man, it’s ashamed of meself I am. Come into me berth, or there’ll be some one hearin’ us.” Mr. Higgins staggered after him. “T never thought, never for one minute, never for one second, Dan, that he’d take it that way.” “Oh! I’m not blamin’ you, Sam,’ said Mr. Sullivan heavily, lighting the lamp over the bureau. ‘Not a bit. It was my own fault for not sthoppin’ ye. I, at laste, should have had more sinse than to be playin’ a thrick like that.” “Man!” The second engineer seemed near to tears as he dropped in a limp heap on to the settee. ‘Not till I saw him just now did I think what he’d feel like. If I could undo this night’s work I would, willingly.” ) “We have done wrong,” said Mr. Sullivan, CS (EC) EOmicboo