Evening Star Newspaper, November 15, 1925, Page 102

THE SUNDAY BIG BOY Money Meant R'US sort of raseal.” sald Cap'n Moat of the Lady West as he fumbled ahout at_the entrance to hix cahin Mind now until T find the switch. It's # new trick he's got. turning out the lights He fumbled again against the cabin wall. while from deeper within the darkness there sounded a soft cooing This followed by a shuffiing seund and a bumping againsi the floor. Then Cap'n Moat found the switch, the &mall light displaving a tidy cabin. An old-fashioned. red-plushed patent rocker still moved slowly from the ac tien of something which had jusi de paried from it. In the center of the floor. A groiesque. hairy thing stood on all fours, his forearms straight and extended in crurch fashion upon black. bent buckles. the heavy penihouses over his long lips pursed in a cooing of welcome ax he looked up with almost childlike amiability toward the slodgy captain and the larger. more flashily dressed man who xccompanied him. Cap'n Mot = wardly ow. Mr inswaorth. other man. That's 113 . stured v he began capn. supplied lim Ainsworth vight. That's right, Ains worth. Ain't much on remembering names. But,” he scraped at his throat with an exphision of breath. “there he Is, just like I said you'd find him Sound ‘in limb and body. Good and tame, too. Jim Ainsworth. of the Great Alox worth Shows, nodded and pulled again Al his cigar. “He's a finally. the gorilla all right Cap'n rubbed his hands. hat's what I thought. “That's what they told me.” “Yep.” Jim Alnsworth extended his clgar Gorllla. Them ridges over his eves, and the wav the hair bristles on his forehead. Cut like & pompa dour. If vou'll ever notice when he gets mad, they stick straight up nd twiteh.” “S07" Then Cap'n head. 1 ain’t Bver xees That's a good trail vears old then, I reckon.” “Something like that. Let's see. 1 hought him in Cape Lopez off a nigger aboui & vear and a half ago. He sald he was a little over three then. Yes 1 guess that's right. 1'd have thoughi about selling him before. only this ix the first time 1've touched here. China trade. vou know “Yeh? Jim mgain at his name?" **Big ame Moat shook his him mad “hout five Ainsworth sucked cigar. “What's his Rov.” said Cap'n Moat, and gave one of his few Indications of smile he crew named him that After an apprentice we had. All mus cles and no brains. Every time they wanted anything done they'd call foi Biz Boy. Didn’t know any more'n io do evervhody's work. He's kind that way—" the cap'n nodded toward the huddled gorilla. “Jt's a wayv they have what humans do. Crazy mans, them apes. Usually one person. Like with vou how attached you get to 'em self.” ©Cap'n Moat rubbed his chin “Oh, T don’t know. I never much ahout it. An animal's animal 1o me.” Jim Ainsworth puffed again “That's good—f{rom your standpoint Because once they're off one of these =hips where they've kind of looked on §t as home, they die pretty easy. Jusi like condemnin’ ‘em to sell ‘em. I always like to be stralght on those thinzs. Saves a lot of trouble after- ward. What're you holding him at? * ook ox A SULIGHT sparkle came into the hlue-gray eves of Cap'n Moat; the trader instinet to the fore. Now, that something to talk about What would you say? Got me on bad ground there.” He puffed slowly. still regarding the hairy heast. which at last had gone to the captain. raised its long black hands. fondled the freckled. stubby ones of Cap'n Moat in unrecognized affection. Jaid hix heavy head and grotesque lips azainst them and then shuffled away tn erouch. half-fearful of the visitor, in a corner. I don’t know just what to say. You see, there’s never been hut one gorilla in this country S The sparkle hecame keener. “What'd they pay for him? “Well, to come clean around 15.000.° Then. as man's eves widened couldn’t sell this'n for that— not to anvbody husiness. That case ment. First place, first one—too ng. Ain't big enough vet to look fierce—any big chimp'd be a better attraction, and a Int cheaper. Then there's the other angle—about him dying." “Awful healthy, Mr. Ainsworth. “Yeh. Here on the ship. But ships and shows are different things. These apes—they're just like us. Look on a cage like we look on a jall. Takes all the heart out of ‘em. hen the changes climate they're down in the mouth and grieving and not caring specially whether they bump off or . and the next thing a guy knows out a lot of jack. Nope. | wouldn't give move'n a couple of grand for him That's how Like to do about hu fasten 1o Funny vour thought just an they pald the other But you anything ke in the show was an_experi- he's just like that much? Two thousand a Great dollars” “Yeh I'd be 1aking a risk at Young like this—people don't care nothing about species. What they want is flash. 1 could show ‘em that nose and them eves and until 1 was hlack In the face, and it wouldn't do any good. Thev'd vather a good python bunk wild © Takin' him he'd live about weeks, and 1 wouldn't get my n out of him But.” and Jitn Ainsworth hitched suddenly forward in the paten rocker, tell vou what I'll do. i give vou 500 b ks and take an option an him when he's 10 years old. He'd he an attraction then- the gorilla stuff out on him plain Weigh three or fonr hundred—tw big as any thing else. that'd ever been on the voad. He'd live lonzer then—might last 4 season. That'd be worth while T conld climh high on something like that. Around 30 grand.” Cap'n Moat's blue.gray eves nar rowed and opened again. Fifty grand meant $50.000. If that were the firsi that see now e as Tell you what I'll do.” he after a long hour of argument had followed. “Tll think fi over. I won't zive vou an option, but I won't sell him to anybody else unless they offer 10000 more’'n you. Now it had haen a long speech for Cap'n Moat would that sound falr'n aboveboard?’ 2im nodded. 21 guess frs the best T can get.” he answered. “Now just remember what I've told you—a lot of thix stuff ahout apes heing flerce—they don't get that way unless they know thev're in cap tivity. Him, he’s just iike a kid. Keep that up—muKke a pet of him." * o ok x [*HEN they parted. Jim Ainsworth to go over the side, Cap'n Moat 1o wander the white-scrubbed decks of the lumbering old Lady West for a Jong time, then to go below, where he sat and rocked, sat and rocked, | while & cooing beast again came for- ward and crouched at his side, content in fts adoration. At last the cap'n tonk notice. | “Humph!" he =said, “Fifty thousand And 1 paid $20 for him That'zs a might of profit. T'll speak to the gal-| Jex aw about feeding kim better With which Cap'a-Moat diamiseed sald to to the to Make Deal the matter excepi to remember that some day. when, in his good time. he <hould come back from slow vears of wundering about the vagraAt ports of # faraway world. this thing would he waorth $50.000: perhaps move, depend ing upon hix size and hix health Which. ax Cap'n Moat had remarked, was & might of profic. 1t would enable him 1o do what he had talked over several times with & rather uncom municative person whom he visited re ligiously during the long months and years when the Lady West pushed her way through (ropic waves on (he other side of the world. He took it for granted that she wus ax matter of fact w8 he—a conviction with Cap'n Moat was sufficient, whether the ques ton be of & vear or a decade. Yes this $50.000 ought to seitle the matier: a house up on the hill. but like the tructure of a ship. with gal levies like decks. and a wheelhouse in which he could sit in the afiernoons when the sun went low. And. of course, her. She alwayx would be there. His whip and his crew and his wown, These were things unroman tically vital to Cap'n Moat Then he, too, went over the side while Big Boy. swkward and gang ling, plaved about the eabin. punching the room into darkness and light with chuckling excitement, or rocking in stolld enjoyment in the old plush chair until long after the day had faded and (he old freighter had settled down fo the laziness of night. Then he as. cended to the deck, to amble upright along the rail, cooing with delight AU the blinking brightness of the ferry boats and the glow of the city in the distance, looking upon it ull us a child would look upon u fairyland. Which." after all, he was. a beast child, happy In & place he knew ax home, hix whole affection centered in a man who gave him no move thought than that he xome dav would be valu able, even ux a lifeless cargo would be valuable. once the Lady West reached pori. But of that Bix Boy knew nothing. Cap'n Moatl was kind, simply by not being unkind: there was food and friends and the excitement of ac tivity, which wax enough. By som strange form of fascination. the great apes love the seu He ambled forward and. shaggy doz intruding uunoticed bled into the lolling group of on the forward deck After awhile, some forth an accordion and began to play wheezy . uncertain melodies, glorious to Big Roy. He chirruped and pound ed upon the deck with his heavy black hunds. He bounded in frantic ecstasy and at last in clumsy fashion. upon short. bowed legs, he began to da raising firat one tremendous. curved fool. then the wther in uncertain rhythm. swinging his giant srms and heavy rolling his eves and ing. The crew called encos Some one began to pai. seeking by the steady repetition o give the awk 'd beast W Suggesiion of lempo Then 1t all ceased as suddenly as it had begun. A harbor boat had chug ged 1o the side of the ship, and u tall man had come hastily over the rail to go ax hastily below. \Where the crew lolled forward. eves rolled in hum signaling. and heads went close. The chief. wasn't it “Yes. Bel it's huppened. hen waitful silence for & half-ho until the chlef engineer. hix sea-hag hastlly packed, « few possessions gathered under one :rm. made the rail again and disappeared into the waliting craft below. The crew musi cian drew a mournful note from his wheezy uccordion, and improvised to the swinging delight of Big Boy “Oh, here’s o @ sweeiheur patiently, Waltin® while boundin’ sex Waitin' while I'm boundin’ blue who's she a-waitin’ your" % It brought great laughter from the others gathered about: that had heen a sflent joke for a I time about the skipper, paving his stodgy court to @ woman who wrote letters to him in her own chirography and (v the chief engineer upon u (ypewriter. They must have met. Nothing else could have caused that hurried exit of the chief: he wus ordinarily « de liberate mau. So they were hushed and expectant when the cap'n's boat at last came alongside und the skip per had stumped below. followed always by the Big Boy. who remained unnoticed until Cap'n’ Moat had paced hix cabin for a lonk hulf hour. At last the cap'n unclasped his hands from hehind his back and raised hix heavy. sandy heud. “Get out of here.” he ordered brusk Iy, “Get ont! Get out!” He shoved the wondering heusi from the room then stood K ut the sight of the first mate. “Oh, vou, Marston.” he siid ed see vou. Let's gei some acti stowing this cargo. Do nothin, waste time once we get in port owding things tomorrow clear—jusi as soon as | can new chief. A little matter's up like « sham sewmen one brou ht 1Rement waltin I'm sailin’ on the sailin® on the But for—me or cooin “Want Vit but Start We'll ship & come AE CREW MLSICIAN DREW Captain, and Now $50,000. A new chief, did you say, sir “Yes,™ said Cap'n Moal, and the flrsi mate hurried away to spread the news. The next day, the cap'n took a personal interest In the loading. leaving the ship only in obedience to the necessitiex of rance and of a new chief engineer. Soon, the lumber. ing old Lady West, low with cargo, put owt to sed, hound for Shanghai, nor did Cap’'n Moat glance back to- ward 8an Francisco as they traveled slowly through the Golden Gate. * ok ox ok S the wandering months progress ed. the gossipy little group which gathered forward when duties were few took notice that the skipper spent less time than formerly in his cabin, preferring now to stay longer on the bridge. Noticed. too. that he had he- come more meticulous in his concern over the welfare of the cumbersonie freighter. more finicky about hix crew: poking hix head into the galley to suggest a change of fare at the next port of call, or rummaging about in quarters to see that all was well with the living accommodations of the men avho made up hix little world of the sea. What had been three greai things in the cap'n’s life had now dwindled to (wo. To Big Boy he seemed (o glve less attention than ever: he rarely spoke to the growing beast: it was as though the animal represented something he wanted to forget—like & valuable piece of Jewelry which one cannoi wenr Not thut Big Boy saw in it anyihing to futerfere with his happiness. Cap'n Moat had never done more than abide him: sufficient to the unwieldy animal the fact that he countenanced him. the affection of the giant ape was of the glving tvpe. not the receiving. He was growing steadily. taking on more and more the aspects of the gorilla—aspects which belied the na tre which layv beneath. The hristles of hix forehead were becoming more pronounced, the heaviness his shoulders. the barrellike aspect of his matted chest. the tremendous muscular power of his glant. hairy svmx which. in their steady develop ment. seemed (o sap their strength from his undersized legs, which, by comparison. became shorter and more bowed with every month of his up- hringinz. A vear passed. and (wo fol lowing thai. Biz Bov changed fre + (hing the size of an overgrown boy o 4 shumbling figure. which. when he roxe to w standing posture, nearly ap proximated that of Cap'n_ Moat in height—sand bronder by a matier of several inchex. Big Bov had changed from childhood to adolescence. Soon he would be on the way to maturity. But hix hody was all thai developed he was still the grinning. cooing, euxily amused beast that he had wavk been. imitative, obedient to the slightest command. So the vears went by Shanghai and Singapore and Hongkong: Yoko. hamu and Sydney: Honolulu and Van ver: and once Seattle, but never Sun Francis Three vears. four vears. approaching five. und then, in Singapore. Cap'n Moat received u let ter It hud followed him for six months, forwarded by and fi bore & stvle of w caused Cap'n Moat to stubby chin and pucker soundlesx whistle before he finally stick u freckled finger under the flap and. followed as always by the giant, shambling Big Boy, retived to the fasi ness of hisx cabin to read it Several tmes, during that perform unce. he avose from the patent rocker and punched at the electric switch then stood regarding the incandescent above. as though doubting lis bril ance. Each time he muttered some- thing about the light, then each time he rubbed at his eves before he went back to his reading. Neveral lines ascinated him: he read and reread them ~T suppose it was a sort of mud- ness vou heing away se much and Mr. Wilson being %o much more en tertaining in his letters and every thing. Then when vou found him here and wouldn't take an explanation what else could 1 do? I married him more for spite than for: anything el But that is all over now. so we won't dixcuss it. I haven't seen him for more than a vear. I might ax well be frank: T couldn’t live with him while 1 siill loved v We just hed to break. Of « e. all thik may be all in vain now, but I sheuld love (o hear from you. - more than the owners, iting which rub at “Ax ever, “HARRIETT.” K. 0 met a friend of vours the night and we had a long talk vou--Mr. Ainsworth. He was telling me about a deal he and vou had for vour ship's mascot, and 1 think if yvou see me firs If you ever come back here and it is still aifve, [ can give vou some pointers about gei- ting & lot more money for it than the original price. Why didn't you ever mention this matier to me? Things would have been so different. e wther about x ox % AFTER that, Cap'n Moat rose and stood for a long time, tappinz the the back of a freckled * letter againat A MOURNFUL, NOTE FROM HIS WHEEZY ACCORDION, AND IMPROVISED, TO THE SWING! DELICHT OF BIG BOY. STAR.” WASHINGTON, C. NOVEMBER 15. 1925 PART 5. D. He Had a Chance hand and rocking, and toe. “Come on, Big Bov,” he said with the attitude of A man taking new no. tice of things about him. and led the way above. At the galley he halted and asked the ships cook what he had been feeding the gorilla lately. A week or %o later, the first mate, happening into the chartroom, glanced over the wkipper's shoulder (o notice a freckled hand, clutching & pencil, and working &t a crude drawing of a house upon w hill, with a gallery shout it like a promenade deck, and a contraption in front, awkwardly describing a bridge and wheel-house. When the Lady West into port, it became know Moat had his eve oul for & cargo for San Francisco. Tweo months later, they were on their way. Again was there gossip forward Here and there the crew had changed there were new members to be told the story of that night when the mer chief came over the rail and sappeared azain. all in w half hour Just what had happened, thev could not be sure. except that the Lady West was San Franeisco hound. and Cap'n Moxt 2t Hongkong had nsked the bu's'n 1o mail a letter, the name on which had been recognized. Things turned out that way. The Lady West ploughed on On 1o a day when those who lolled did =0 under shelter from & whiteshot Bl and the black gang made more frequeni trips above for air, while the chief. n petula volce, signaled through the tube the first mate about the ventilators. Which availed nothing. They w turned full, the first mate said: the trouble did not lie above. How could he ger air down to them when there wasn't & breath stiy ring. and the ship trying to buck a swell (hat wax growing atronger every minute? Then the chief sent another personality through the ‘tube and the first_ mate responded “Well, I'm not run Ask the skipper shout changing her course: don’t ask me. He's ‘Frisco bound: a point off-course ix a million mile 0 him. Best thing you cin do s give ‘er more steam: this swell's head on “How draft below, ended. The world of the sea huad become a thunderous thing of black and flash ing green, revealing « stricken object which floundered frantically in craven- like troughs. fought upward against the towering walls of breaking water all about, then fell azain 1o new depths and greaier efforts. Lighis were out, excepting one in the wheel house, and a faint gleam at the stern, dipping and rising, swaving with sick ening convulsions, dropping until it seemed the range must hecome perpen dicular, then sweeping upward with unutierable swiftness, to gleam dully like some vagrant star in starless black ere it once more began s down ward course again. Again and again. Cap'n Moat., on the bridge, gripping the rail in the arkness or giving with mincing steps before the heavy rolls, only to bring up short at the balance point. noticed th&t for the last five minutes the rise of the stern had brought no ces sation of the propeller, but instead a constantly increasing vibration which emed to penetrate (o the very heart of the swricken ship. He veered, and |1 stubby arms pawing before him, stag gered (o the engine.room tube. Ain‘t that indicator working?"” snapped. “Yes." the faint voice from belot wax mingled with the swish of pistons and the clanking of heavy steel. “Yes it's working, but——" *““Then why ain't over? ‘That propelle Boin; Yes, sir paniment heel and toe, heel ext lumbered that Cap'n il Pef L) L | that shafi. IUN tear on us it we force it Cap'n Moat nodded silentiy. ‘There wan nothing else 10 do. Harder and with more recklessness of motion, the Lady West floundered in a new burst of the tempest. (‘ap'n Moat accepted it with a sudden hopelessness, not of self, but of soul. His ship was quit ting _him-—quitting when he needed her the most. Almost dazedlv he made the deck. He did not notice a sham bling figure which had taken itx place in his rear as he passed his cabin. and despiie s frightened whimperings. stuck doggedly 1o the rocking. danger ous course. It was not until he had gained the bridge sgain, swinging there in plummet fashion with the directionless tossing of the hoat. that ap'’n Moat noiiced something else clutching also at the rail. a roughened hand coming against his, a bulky body close beside him. A queer sensation came over Cap'n Moal. a feeling that he could not understand. He loosed a hand for jusi @n instant. and extend ing it in searching fashion. patted the head of a giant beast—nor heard the cooing that_resulted. lost in the rush of wind. Then he forgot it all as & voice came out of the darkness. roar Ing against the bellow of the storm, lips close to the ears of the skipper Marston, sir. "Things look & bit had ard. Siove in-—thix wrenching ont everything [meanor. “We've had no answer to the wireless and we helieve it’d he hest to make the try here “The try? The try? Did vou say the try”" Cap'n Mont stared at him ax though unbelieving. “Have 1 given any orders 1o The first mate was very the resi-of us have con vou would do. It isn't can't more than a g the ship sir “But what She pale sidered afe. few an 1 get steam without snapped (he rejoinder from and there the conversation s Ul haours 1 with her while she lasi= " The sentence came gaspingly as with the surprise of # man talking against his own reasoning. “I've given no orders . “That's Jusi it by at your But it ‘isn't It’s a shore chance strike But 1o wait, sir “You--you!" He blustered meaningless expostulaiions. mutiny?” The first mate moved u step away from physical danger “Any Inquiry would clear ns It's been decided before. We sign up to die —just 1o please a per, sir. We knew what vou'd about this ship Cap'n Moat, We're standing if are to wait any longer now. sir. We've a the Kilania sir boat vou to go. wind o with Is this ir! didn’t skip do- pale through his tan. merely gaped. Ned watched the firsi mate scuttle down the ladder. A boat put off bouncing high. then disappear ing into the trough of far-away waves. Another. Slowly he rolled “down to deck. and stood watching them, hands clenched behind his back. upper teeth digging unnoticed into lower lip and the bloed fowing down his chin ‘Will vou go, sir?” the first mate appealed i The firsi mate moved the davits. Then he 1 “How about Big Bo The ape had gone forward. rocking on his crutched legs, merelV staring at the strange procedures. A voice sounded from the remalning group. in suggestion. There were others knew his worth. The first mate chir ruped: “Come on “Shipping any waier?” Cap'n Moat shouted it &1 the (op of his lungs. “Water, sir? Yes. sir. plenty of it. hink we're done for ‘Get_down 1o the engine room and speed ‘em up there. See if thev can do anything.” * * THEN he * x hours of useless effori. desperate attempts of the engine room failed. The pumps worked ceaselessly, accomplishing nothing. More hours. in which Cap'n Moat rocked and tossed and scrambled upon the bridge. watching, merely watching. with nothing to do. Hours in which A giant thing still remained beside him, content. Then a sudden knowl edge that the wind had lessened, and that the screaming inferno of the storm had given away 1o mere thun derings and crashings as the sea con tinued to tear and slash at the thing which it coveted for its own. There had been nothing to do. Nothing but to notice the heavier rolling. the log gler recoveries, the deeper pushing of the ship’s nose into the waves. Once again Cap’n Moat of the Lady Wesi reached outward to pat at the head of the faithful thing, crouched beside him. Then dawn came, and with it the faint view of men working at the davits. The firsi mate sscended to the bridge. “We've talked it over, sit,” he said It ste, rned. nearer vou easing her keeps right on " 1t came 1o the accom of heavy crankheads turn- ing. and of u ceriain strange. inter- mittent rumbling which Cap'n Moat could not fathom. “We're having a bit of trouble- . “T'rouble? p'n Moat raised his head. That terrific vibration again like 4 thing in the hand of an infuri ated giant, being shaken. The angr) slap of a wave, rising high above the forward deck. hovering there for an awful moment in the green flash of jagged lightning, then coming down full. to slosh and swirl and batter itselt against swaving fittings, then sweep again into the sea as if (o gain new fury. The whine and rush and bellow of ‘the wind, mingling Its myriad welrd noises with the cacophony of the waters. (‘ap'n Moat brushed at his ears as if to improve hix hearing, and | with an enforced quietness of de then, head bhent, resumed the tube |——— B . ““Trouble?” he asked in w perplexed manner “Yes. sir,” came the faint “Main bearing. propeller shaft thing's happened. sir—must’'ve that had wrenching we got a while back. sir. She's off true, evidently Wearing on the main bearing. Pretty hoi—although we're doing our best tu keep it drowned in o ‘““Ihen save it by the stern’s out.” “*Afraid to, sir.” tone of fatality in Iast time—it burred pretty it had started to freeze—the bearing siv. Against the shaft. Must be ex- panded some from heat, sir.” Cap'n Moat grunted, and again took to stumbling about the bridge, only to ret as that shivering tore again Al the ship. He blew in the engine [£0ID B . room and waited. And again—to re.|IIf8" and “more of it! 2 ceive no answer. For a third tme. | Her life for two monthx past in Then he halted: the (ube evidently had | France has been an unexpected : S been lifted from its hook by some one Whirl. Rich American boat acquaint- | Why does luck stick to some people Waiting 10 give & last command before |NCER - invited her for a week at| This American girl school teacher answering, admitting a jumble of con.| Deruville and took her to the rich |has seen n quantity of other Ameri fused sounds and commands before at |84 elegant casino. can women who have been extremely last the message traveled upward, | There. at the casino gambling |lucky. Regularly, they fancy that P o tables, the leader of the party, ovi | they win by their own skill and cool e DesEink? of pure good nature, siaked her for | nes Fox. Bii: “You'd bettes 2,000 francs ($100) at the compar-| There is a handsome woman from i |atively cheap “rallroad” baccarat.| Detroit, with her niece. They have “Play for me.” said the kindly widow, | won 400,000 ($20,000). first at La Baule and keep half the winnings for and mow at Cannes. Probably it is AP'N MOAT, head deep in his oil- | yoursel | not much more than their expenses, skins, ducked forth to the fury of | The girl was but it is a sum. the night. The storm seemed 1o have | possessed—but A retired Pittsburgh lawyver ’”1“ his grown worse, the light at the stern | confused ai a young wife are said to be $50.000 Qanced and rolled and jerked, appear. dozen smart ahead. She does all the plaving—he ing 1o take on a new motion even ‘rallroad’ because 1he role of never 'sits at the table, but only behind before it lost the momentum of {ts “banker passes round continually former course. The propeller had |like a train. stilled. Cap'n Moat could discern it| When her turn came to “bank” by the sudden logginess of the ship, | ahe shoved up 1000 francs for them the (ossing, divectionless manner in | to play againa (the least bank pos- which it (00k the waves, seeming io|sible) and gave the cards correctiy. head about, even as he clawed his| But suddenly, then, all grew con- way down the ladder. Gradually a|fused. She saw the croupier gel | sickening roll was taking possession |busy with the paddle. pushing chip: against the sieadier pitch: forward a |into the center of the table nea new wave hung High, then dropped|her. She knew that she had won: flat, a second and a third. Deeper and, desperately, she carried on went the nose of the Lady West into | giving cards again and again. And the liquid mou her; each | again! And again! time her recover and more | The croupler nodded admiringly like & vanquished thing exerting its|but she understood nothing. Again | final atom of energy. Sloughing and | she dealt two cards for the oppo- | staggering, the captain made his slow | nents, two for herself—and all the way along, taking notice in blurred | rest. She did not know that she | fashion that shadows of the deck had | could atop. She heard a hum of ad- | disappeared, that in the lightning, gap- | miration. The pile of chips and ing streichex showed where the rail | notex grew big. once had run uninterrupted. Awnings| *“The stuff ) had departed: a life:raf(, perched high. | tions!” “Material for operations” | lucky—they are winning in spite of was just disappearing in the angry they whispered around her. - She that 7 per cent rake-off on all new cluich of & wave which had torn it |looked self-possessed, but all her move- | money, Le., on each new bank when a from its fastenings. | ments were mechanical - unffitil the | player puts it up, and in spite of these Between decks, and the crew slouch- | rich woman who had staked her jogged | extremely heavy tips! ed there, tightly grouped: there was her elbow. saying. “You know vyou| See what happened | nothing to do but wait. Deeper, and {can stop i You want to. Tell them:|after. A nervous old Frenchman put |into the engine room, where struggling | La main passo’~ Which she did.|up a 20,000-franc bank. A South | figures, worked at the preparations |And the croupiers pushed up her win. American calied “Banco!” (matched for the pouring of hahbitt. ninge. the whole bank In a lump). won on the he went out. sir.” said the chief.| Thix was how the American school point of 5. and pocketed. not 20,000 all at once. like milk pouring from a ! teacher girl won. for her half, those | francs, but 7 per cent less —the sum pitcher. . We're trving to Ao some-| $0,000 francs that people talk about. | of 18800 francs. So. the bank was thing—but it won't work. It's off true, in less than an hous, broken on Its first deal, and the N Big Boy beast cooed curiously, uncer as if striving fathom the for the actions of men who before had left the ship except in port. Cap'n Moat pre ing lips. After all, even a served & chance for itx life. pleading “Big Boy!" But the great animal suddenly seemed 1o have divined the situatio his cap'n was not going! The fir mate put forth a hand and touched his shoulder. The ape brushed it away. Again. “Come on, Biz Boy! Come on here—" he caught a shaggy P The wainly, reason never beast Again a voice Some. been shutting off when BY STERLING PARIS, HEILIG, October N American girl schoolteacher on Kuropean vacation has come up from La Baule (the new resort on the Atlantic) and canceled her return veservation for New York. She banked a lot of easy money and is going 10 Cannes “for the golden less the rakeofl. Asx changed her European trip entively. She had no warning of it in advance. Much has been sald ahout her ability, coolne: quickness and nerve. Sure. she has since picked up all the. points of baccarat. very smartly, and plays with quiet courage. But that first time, when she won so much and got her start. she did not know what she was winning. She won so much becanse her mind was paralyzed and she did not know enough to stop! She got it There was a mono- will appear it the voice. “The hard, like come down, * Xk % quick and seli- who might not ge: new game,,among # players? It is called nings. A young Kansas City woman is safd to have won two millions (near $100.- 000) in the past eight months, follow- ing the big play of seaside, mountain and Riviera resorts. 1 saw her take a 10,000-franc bank on a dull day at La Baule, while they were waiting for big players to gath- er. She let it double four times! Here's the most favorable short play Imaginable. Let 10,000 francs lie and double four times. It comes out 20,000, 40,000, 80,000 and 160,000, does it not? No, mot in baccarat! As a fact she had only 138,000 francs when she quit. One thousand had to be dis- tributed in tips to employves who run the game. And, before she started. the establishment took 700 francs “rake-off” from her “bank. “Pognon!” “Muni-| So, these lucky women are really i il ‘,“‘\ - that | arm and for the merest part of an in-|§ her chair, keeping an eve on her win- | immediately | I A e \ e | I bl LATE THAT AFTERNOON A SMALL BOAT PUT OFF FR OM A THING WHICH LAY VERY LOW IN THE WATER. heast him ant. tugzed at him. The screamed and turning. caught swinging him high for an instant and held him scrambling aloft, hefore he dropped him, unharmed to the deck at the word from the rear. Ten min utes later, # boat was pirouetting on the waves, while a gray-faced man Slaoa alovie on thie dscl ot thelKesling Lady West, alone, except for a cooing thinz which crouched beside him £ k% s O leave a ship. their ship, before the moment had come: His ship. Ilis crew. By and by he began to pace: a tremendous thing followed him. His ship! His crew! Mutiny- depending upon the preponderance of their assembled testimony clear them if he ever appeared against them. He moved forward and stood for a long time, staring at the batiered prow. The gorilla still beside him, he went below and listened dully to the pouring of waters at a dozen vital points. Then he turned to his cabin gathered up in haphazard fashion, a few things. while Big Boy, cooing with wonderment at the disarray of the room. straightened the overturned patent rocker and climbed Into it, shoving himself forward and back ward with heavy movements of his tremendons It lasted only a moment ened voice Big Boy,” said a gruff. Then Cap'n Moat, inj stolid fashion. took his possessions on deck. Late that after in a half fair wea. a_small boat put off from a thing which lav very low in the water, | and lingered like a sweetheart untll| only a swirling maelstorm was left Then Cap'n Moat took the oars again, | he breeze had died; the current ca ried them on—through the night and the day and the night that followed. | To the heat of afternoon, when Cap'n | Moat. aching and gaunt, half la resting in the bow, and looking stolid: Iv toward the glant beast, crouched and fingering in curious fashion the slight wash of water in the boat bot- tom Had Cap'n Moat been standing, he would have rocked on heel and toe, or placed his hands on hix hips. “Well. you never quit, anyway.” he id. and the giant beast cooed, simply hecause his matster had spoken. After that, the man remained silent with half-closed eves, for a long time—until smoke had appeared on the horizon and began to come closer. Two hours later. in the light of a dving sunset, he stood defiant, commanding, once more the cap'n “Well, fend away scared,” he shouted of us, or neither. There’ll be no trou ble if vou just hand us a tow and then stand off until I get him aboard. Do vou think I'm going (o throw away 00007 hen. if you're It's either both establishment earned vake-off in four minutes it was small business for La Baule. But imagine it going on all night, till after daylight. ana every afternoon from 4 o'clock till dinner time! At Cannes, even more than La Baule, there are players who put up their 500,000 francs or 700,006 francs as banker, easily, again and again. and call “Banco™ against ench other for the whole of it. continually. At such speed, the average life of 4 bank is scarcely 15 minutes—in which time the esiablishment wins 90.000 francs ($4.500) rake-off! Now. the French government is trying to collect up io as high as 60 per cent of this rake-off. 1t explains the big gambling permitted at the “health vesorta” —the government needs the money 1400 francs It explaing why women are encour aged (o play baccarat—but only at health resorts, never in Paris or big cities like Lyon or Marseille. The result is “the golden life” of these resorts, where all is pleasure and beauty. Women are absolutely necexsary to the picture. The little American school teacher has melted into the scenery as if born to it. “How long are you going to keep it up?” 1 asked. I have $5.000 cash today,” she answered. ‘‘Yester | day afternoon 1 won $2,000:" | 'That was at La Baule, where she had been playing quite alone, and $2,000 looks a big plle (40,000 francs) | In' French money. She won the whole {of it in the last part of two hours'| | play. “Come to me, little ones!” she | | murmured in the jargon of the tables | -which she has picked up astonish- | ingly. “ome to sister! Sister will| take care of you!" And I believe she | will! They admired how she quit winner | [that day. | She drew the point of nine—a six | and a three. Nine is the highest win ning point. Only, the parties who ! were playing against her had nine | also! She quit, cold. *“The hand passes!” | she said, and motioned to the croupier | i to push her capital up to her. They let her do it. Now, observe, { the next party who took the passing |hand drew three picture cards, three | “‘buches” or “dead ones,” the meanest. ! |Jowest possible point of | How could she judge? Yet some call this good playing. Rea son says that it iz pure luck. Yfl1 there are players who continually 7010° She conldn’t | praisingly | her ald | account. In three weeks the Emprees Fugenie arrived at San Francisen, and A stodgy. sandy man searched lonz hefore he could find a hotel that wonld accede to hix rather particular de mands. This done, he sought a tele phone, and pawed in disturbed anxious fashion through the directory The name still was there. He called the number. and for a long time merely talked and giggled. Then with a sudden thought “Yon know. I lost tka. gorilla wrote me about. Yeh. got alck on 1he Fugenie. Afier the wreck.” Yeh. | know what the papers said, thai | still had him: they got that from rhe wireless before he took down.” Then he walted. his eves widened. 2 with expectation. Gradually the pression faded. He moved closer the ‘phone: it was his turn 1o apeak again “Oh must ves. 1 know how husy be. I'd be right glad to. time. Oh, ves. I'll call you After that, he went away, and back to his room A week later. he had a caller, in the shape of Jim Alnsworrth “Hunted all over town for vou said the circus man ‘Guess vou had to come down here on account of the ape. eh? Funny thing, I was talkine to a friend of vours, the day landed—before the papers came She said he was dead.” Cap'n Moat smiled siightiy “That so? Wonder where that idea? “Said vou'd 10ld her she that’s the wa | with a woman: always getting things no offense now.” =aid Cap'n Moat. wrong: “No at all. “Well? “No offense Jim Ajnsworth glanced ap at a tremendous thinz crouched contentedly in corner, chewing at a lettuce leaf “Guess we'd better get to husiness He's about 10 vears old now.’ But Cap'n Moat looked up. “There isn't any.” he said. An hour later, he made the remark for the last time. “Don't prefaced. which know just what I'll do. he ‘Got some friends workins for me 1o get the San Marco ligh I'd rather like that. Kind of lost m taste for the sea and ships and—such Guess I'll just take Big Boy dow: there and batch it. We'll get alons Nope. Mr. Ainsworth. sorry te pu you out——" he rocked then. heel and toe, with hands upon his hips. “hut there ain't any business to talk on. In & month more, a sandy. stocky man received a telegram—that his friends had been successful Tn his preparations for San Marco he qooked over a number of things he had Yaken haphazard from his ship. and therw away some of the foolish ones Among which was a letter, (Covsrighi. 1228 1 American Women Win and Lose Big Sums At Baccarat Tables of French Resorts by such “hunches. speak of her “intuitions. She never takes mere than a of her capital, nowadays. they the tables. At her worst some time ago. she lost she had brought with her on her third bet—very rapidly. to her great sur prise. For three davs afterward, she played a piking game. until she had “won decently in small sums and felt Ineky again Daes she earthenware Half these American women who samble are rich persons, with fixed incomes. They are brass pots. floating Admirers third say. to moment every c realize that she pot? is an ldown the stream. which bump but de not hreak. The remainder are the poor lady of whom they tell the heariless jlbe at Aix-les-Bains. She had just lost her last thousand francs and asked for credit. Prust her for a drink said, as he pulled in her with the paddle. . Amid these “floating earihenware pots, always liable to hreak, I admire immensely’ a woman who arrived a1 Nice with a valise. a handhag and on= high-class, absolitely new taflores gown She put dress for like the eronp thousand up at dinner A hotel where vo Her strongesi com edy. I think, was< when she weni 1o dinner, those first nights, the only female not in silk or chiffon. She had porters hunting at the depot for her luggage, which was delayed. And her demeanor was 80 modest, vet assured, that she seemed all right. and not criminal, to come down to dinner in a tailored suit! In the lounge (he ladiex liked her She was “waiting for papa.” A rich Amerfcan woman 100k her on exeu: slons to Grasse and Cannes, and asked in shopping. This shopping wasx her firat chance. Soon she had | new clothes and things arriving dafly for herself—along with the rich wom- an’s purchases, Another nice family took her 1o teas, and widened her acquaintance ship. When the hotel presented her bill she showed money, but did not pay—she had a better use for money those first days. To the Casino bac- carat she went with married women only. This, indeed, was her strongest calculation. At the Casino baccarat with weighty married women. she got going pari ners with them, playinz for joint Somehow. the other women hought the chipe, and when thay won she divided honastly.