Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"There I've been, standing by Cap'n Epps in the whole dingdo, and she

got me one side and looked at me and says a few things with a quiver in

her voice and her eyes all wet and shiny and"--he paused and looked down

at the paper with bewilderment that was rather pitiful--"and I walked

right over all common sense and shipboard rules and discipline and

everything and came here, fetching this to be stuck on to the wire, or

whatever they do with telegrafts. But," he added, a waver in his tones,

"she is so lord-awful pretty, I couldn't help it!"

Still did Captain Mayo refrain from comment or question.

"The question now is, had I ought to," demanded Mr. Speed. "I'm taking

you into the fambly on my own responsibility. You're a captain, you're a

native, and I need good advice. Had I ought to?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me, sir. The matter seems to be

private, and, furthermore, I don't know what you're talking about."

"She says it's to the milliner so that the milliner will hold the job

open. But I'm suspicioning that it's roundabout to the beau that's in

love with her. That's the style of women. Cap'n Epps shanghaied her to

get her away from that fellow. Now she has got it worked around so that

she is going back. But there's a beau in it instead of a milliner. She

wouldn't be so anxious to get word to a milliner. That's my idee, and I

reckon it's yours, too."

"I really have no ideas on the subject," returned Captain Mayo. "But

if you have promised a young lady to send a telegram for her I would

certainly keep that promise if I were in your place."

The next moment he regretted his rather impetuous advice, for Mr. Speed

slapped the paper against a hard palm and blurted out: "That's all I

wanted! Course and bearings from an a-number-one adviser. New, how'll I

go to work to send this thing?"

"I have been figuring on that matter for the last few minutes, myself,"

acknowledged the captain. "It's about time to have a little action in

this place."

He was obliged to elbow his way through the group of men who surrounded

the telegraph operator. Oakum Otie followed on his heels, resolved to

study at close range the mystery of telegraphing, realizing what he

needed for his own instruction.

"These telegrams are important and they must go at ore, madam," Mayo

informed the flustered young woman.