THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 57, 12 March 1907, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

(By J. Garstairs.)

JIHMY'S DOG.

In due coui-se Miss McCalje received tlio dog Fido as a wedding present from her prospective husband's crew. Her gratitude

was as great as it was genuine. BUI Greer node the presentation speech, and turned '■be limelight, strongly on himself and his mates. But the point on which the recipient dwelt longest and with most gracious words was the nobility ot James 'Jobber in giving up nis pet to her. As the crew returned, well refreshed, to the ship, it was agreed that the fn.ction had been an immense success.

"But," mattered Joe, "that kid always contrives to com© in for a bigger share o\ the glory than other people, people that deserve it more too."

■flw* statement met with general concurrence.

Early next day Jimmy intimated what he intended to do with the thirtv shillings remaining of the two pounds he iiad received for Fido.

' I m going to give Miss Molly a present n my private capacity. And TYfi going 1 .0 give her a couch for Fido, a stylish tiling. I wonder you chaps didn't think o' giving her or,e along with the dog. Where do you think she can keep him? She'd just have to go and get one made. You inayho ihinK you Impressed Miss llcCalx! with your kind hearts, but 1 bet you impressed lier more with your wooden heads. Such candor chilled men who were still pluming themselves on the success of the. previous evening.

Over this matter Jimmy kept nothing secret from his matos. They listened to cx-isperation point while he explained how he forwarded a comfortable and ornate do2T couch. It was accompanied by his card, printed for the special purpose, and in it he had got a more elegant penman than himself to write a gracefiil expression of the donor's good wishes.

Soon a letter on delioately scented paper was delivered to Mr James llobber. In it the writer expressed herself warmly and at great length over Mr Hobber's thoughtful kindness, and concluded by declaring herself "ever Ins sincere friend, Molly McOabe '

■ At the appointed time, and with all tlio traditional rites, Captain Frederick Molli- *» was wedded to as pretty a bride aa ever stood before an altar. His employers gave him a month's leave, and, at the end of that honeyed period, the skipper returned to his duties. His first words to lus men were:

. "I have a messago to you, lads, from my i wife. She asks every man of you to sup;per with us on Saturday evening. I'll get ' a man to take, watch, so you will all be free, and I hope you will all come and see how comfortably my wife and I are settled."

Tlie hearty invitation was as heartily accepted, and on Saturday evening each , man. in his variegated bost, was the guest ■of Captain and Mrs Mollison. The hospitality was lavish, the convivial spirit was rampant; th«s crew were lost in admiration of Mrs Mollison's genial and generous qualities. At a later stage she addressed them wifh pretty eloquence • "Gentlemen, there is one tiling I wish to consult you about, because you arc .ill interested parties. There was nothing I appreciated more than your present to mo of, my wedding. Hut a difficulty has arisen. I have a lavorite aunt who has a number of cats. Sho has given me one. But I find that puss and Fid ) don't agree. They fly at each other whenever they meet, and I have to keep them in different parts of tjie house, an arrangement I cannot possibly maintain permanently, i have been greatly worried over the matter, and I shall tell you wh^t—subject to your approval—l propose. Fido is. of course, mine, and I shall always prize him, but will you, for my sake, give him a home meantime on the Bolcar? You see, I can't pnt away puss for fear of offending my aunt. But I felt I could explain matters to you,""confident that you would assist me if you could. Now, Bill, you are oldest. Will you be spokesman?" "I will, ma'am, with pleasure," said -Bill, well-primed with food and fluid. ''l know what my mates would say if they could talk like me, and I'll say it for them. It's this. We are proud to do anything you ask us. As for giving Fido a home, that's nothing compared wi' what we'd do for you. I only wish you'd asked me to give you my head on a plate. You'd have it and welcome. And you'd get the same from every man on the Bolcar." Bill spoke with vehomencs of intense sincerity. His mates sat mute, but their looks indioatcd that BUI had not taid a word too much or too strong. At that moment, and simply for the asking, Mrs Mollison could have had the present of a sailor's head on every plate in her nowlystoclced pantry.

But she disclaimed any desi/e for such tragic proofs ef devotion, and exhausted her vocabulary in praiso of her guests's kind effer. Pleased with their liostess, much more, pleased with themselves, the (Tew prepared l*» depart. "Now, Bill." said Mrs Molhson gaily, "will you carry Fido's couch? Thank you so much. And Tames, you will carry Fido. and if ever T hear that you are enkind to Ki-n I shall bring him home at once and score you all oif my list of friends for ever and ever." Jimmy best appreciated Mit> Mollison's humor. Fido was already where, of all places, ho most desired to be. The awfil experience of sppaiation from its lawful master had almost crushed all the spiiit cut of tho dog. Now, securely sheltered un<l<T Jimmy's jacket. Fido was nuivoring with joy. Tiius, the happy and hilarious sailors returned to their ship, and soon all woe asl"cp. All save a !>oy and a dog. Neither of l hem could rJeep from sheer excess of emotion. Ever and anon the dog crept up to lick his bed fellow's face, and as ofien did the small boy stroke its head to satisfy both that it was all a living reality.

j On the following afternoon, amid the j Sabbathieal quiet, the crew of the Bolcar ; sot silently smoking. Removed from the ip"H of Mrs Mollison's smiles and hos p'ality, their thoughts lacked the intenco &entimentalism of tho proceeding trcniug. A short distance away James llobber souatUd in front of Fido'.* ornate couch while he laughingly put Fido through his, old fainiliar tricks. Ben Wvlie at l<.st removed his pipe from his .uouth.

"I <laresav," lie said, it's all rig])t unci pr<jp?r about doin' anything for the shipper's wife. But when you come to tliinlt ')' i;. we ain't done anything for any- !«■!>■ except that kid there. \\V let him humbug 11s into buying his precious dog. We gave him two quid. What did lie do willi it? lie gave a subscription to the Sftilois' Institute, a bigger subseiiplion than we did—out. o' our money. Then he gave Mrs Moilison a wedding present "n whit he (ailed hi-; pns-ato capacity—out >V our money. Vet. there, lie's sitting as much in possession o' his dog as otct he was, nnd with a swell conch liesides—out o' our money. What I wants to know is. why did wc go and do it

"'Cause we were a set o' fools," said Bill, with all the rudeness of incontestable truth. "Well." said Tien, "it's mighty humblin' for set o' men to !-" 'had' by a moiwl like that; and 1 move that we try and g"1 even with, him " "You're welcome to try," snapped Bill, decidedly. " and y«u have my good wishes. But I ain't L'oin' to have a hand in it. Interfeii.i' wi' that youngster don't seem +o pay." Hill's sentiment seemed to lie shared generally. At least it was received wilh 1 hat *ilence whieli is usually accepted as iie.-.ning assent. (.The Exn.l