Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

692 forward. Sellerman obeyed, raised the glass to his lips. *‘ Good Iuck, sir,” he said. “Vou can drink to your new skipper, Sellerman,” said the superintendent. “ Cap- tain Lyons, Mr. Sellerman.”’ “Your very good health, sir,” the mate said in a quite steady voice, and drank. The youngest man in the cabin nodded and laughed affably. He was a good looking man, with a set of perfect teeth; a bit of a dandy; and there was something lacking in his face, somehow. Among a community of ordinary men he would have passed mus- ter easily—he would probably have shown to advantage, indeed; but by contrast with these hard-bitten companions he showed badly. Maybe it was the weakness of his chin that told against him, or perhaps it was something in his eyes. ‘“T’ve been hearing nothing but good of you, Mr. Sellerman,” Captain Lyons said, and reached out a ringed hand. “I fancy we'll get on well enough together, eh?” “ T hope so, sir—I’m sure I hope so,” re- plied the mate, and sat down—rather heavily. His glance met the glance of Captain Brenstone, and very gently, as if to answer the slight bewilderment that appeared in Sellerman’s eyes, Brenstone shook his head and lifted his shoulders. That was. all. There was nothing in the atmosphere to in- dicate that the hopes of many years had been dashed to unconsidered fragments.. Lyons took out his watch and consulted it. It was a handsome watch of gold. The hand that held it was smooth and almost effeminate. “TIL take over the inventory to-morrow, then, if you’re agreeable, captain,” he said, “T’ve got an appointment uptown at eight, so. I’d better be moving now. Any one for the beach?” He gof to his feet and held out a hand to Brenstone. He turned to the mate: “You and [ll talk things over in the morning,” he said with a suggestion of a rasp of authority in his voice. He donned a smart overcoat, selected a fresh cigar from the box on the table, lit it, cocked his hat at an angle with the aid of the mirror, and stepped out on deck. The door closed be- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. hind him as the marine superintendent’s hand came down on Sellerman’s shoulder. “‘ A damned shame, I call it,’ said the grizzled man with a rough note of sympathy in his voice. ‘“‘ Not that there’s anything wrong with Lyons—never heard a word against him; but—”’ ‘“* Mate of the Prometheus, wasn’t he?” asked Sellerman quietly. Sailormen in the same line might go for a score of years without ever meeting face to face. But the gossip runs along the water fronts, and the men of the sea know all the histories of those who share the common burden. Sellerman was perfectly well aware that Lyons was a newcomer to the line—a man who had gone ahead rapidly. He was at least six years junior to SeHerman. The marine superintendent spat out the end of a new Cigar somewhat emphatically. “He’s an owner’s pet,” he declared. “Young Mr. Brent’s taken a fancy to him.” He shrugged his shoulders and a note almost of appeal was in his voice. ‘“‘ Don’t blame me, Sellerman, as I shan’t blame you if you chuck your hand in. But what could I do? I told Mr. Brent that you were senior mate and that. the job was yours by rights, but he’s superior to all cus- tams. I lost my temper with him, I tell you; things got a bit hot. between us, but— well, I had my own job to consider, don’t you see?” “Yes, sir, I see,” said Sellerman. “ But —I’d rather hoped—thought—” “It’s unfair!” blurted Brenstone. “ A damned rotten shame! If I’d known they’d do a thing like this I’d—I’d have jolly well seen them hanged before I sent in my resig- nation. Tell ’em to look out for another mate, Sellerman—I would, in your place. You and I’ve seen a few bits of hard weather together, and I know what you can do. Come to me for a reference—it won’t be one that you need be ashamed of,” ‘« Jobs aren’t as easily come by as all that, sir,” said Sellerman quietly. He had listened to the talk along the water fronts; he knew that the inevitable slump in shipping had come and that years might pass before things mended. “It isn’t as if Molly—my wife and I’d: got anything saved. We—we couldn’t af- Go 0)(\) AMUG S (C@