Adventure, August 1917 — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

~ edict ~ = A i) =r} => — 3 = Author of “Another Cup-Winner,” ‘On the Way Back,” etc. ICHAEL O’LEARY sat on a ditty-box in the forecastle of the U. S. S. Panther and did three things at once. Between his knees was a deck bucket of scrub and wash clothes which kept both hands busy, while he sucked contentedly at a black, cord-wound clay pipe. These two things were mere routine. What O’Leary had on his mind was the talk he was having with Apprentice-seaman Hooper Flynn. “Tt’s a long trip, Hop,” he said seriously. “One little step’s longer than scrubbin’ up and down this pant-leg six times, and it’s a climb as monotonous as cracker hash and beans. three times a day.” “But I want to do it,” said the youngster. ‘‘There’s a boy back home won the appoint- ment and he’s making good at Annapolis. He never was any smarter than I am.”’ “Maybe not,” said O’Leary. ‘But it takes money to live on and go to school. In a year now you'll be too old to start that way.” “T know it,” said the other wistfully, “and that’s why I came in anyways. If I can’t get a commission one way I’ll get it another.” ‘“‘That’s the kind of stuff that makes good when you do get in,” said O’Leary, ‘but you’re tryin’ to break in the back way. It’s a long pull, son. tioned is the front-door way. That way they kinder invite you along at every step, offer you a chair and make you feel at home. “This way you’ve tackled, you’ll find a ‘Keep off the Grass’ sign on every rate The way you men- you try to break into. If you keep on goin’ as you’re goin’ now they’ll let you be cox- swain of a boat in about two years, and then after you’ve been turret captain and chief boats’n’s mate and quartermaster for about three years each, you'll have a chance at boats’n, and two years after that, when youre a-gettin’ along about forty-five they'll make you an ensign. You can figger the rest out for yourself. Some time along in the Spring of your ninety-third year if you've broke no rules and been a good boy, you may get to be an admiral.” “T’d better quit now,” said the other hopelessly, “if there’s no more chance than that.” “T’d tell you to quit too, if it wasn’t for one thing,’ said O’Leary, adjusting his pipe with one of his soapy hands. ‘“That’s the thousandth chance, Hop. It’s worth waitin’ and hopin’ for, that thousandth chance, and if there’s any way to stack the cards we’re goin’ to doit. Meantime, keep on knockin’ at the back door.”’ “Why didn’t you ever take a chance at it?” asked the boy. “‘Who? Me?” said O’Leary, with well- feigned surprise. ‘Sure,’ said Hop. “When anybody wants to know anything about seamanship I notice they usually ask you. Why didn’t you try for a commission when you were younger?” “Y’m coach,” said O’Leary. “TI can tell others to do things that maybe I can’t do myself. Then besides there was a time once when I needed that thousandth chance I was tellin’ you about and missed it.” 168 cComiclaook (© 5}