ly
carpeted corridor, "we mountain folks can beat these city dudes on
manners, if we can't in anything else."

The boy knocked at a door and a voice almost feminine in musical
softness bade them "Come in."

"Some one to see yo', suh," said the messenger, pushing Ralph inside
and closing the door.

The mountain youth found himself alone with a slender, exceedingly
handsome man, so slight of figure and fair in complexion as to fully
bear out in his appearance the womanly resemblance suggested by his
voice.

He was dressed in a walking suit of a subdued gray tint, with patent
leather gaiters, and his hands were white, while his fingers sparkled
with one or two jeweled rings. His linen was spotless and in his lemon
colored neck tie shone a large diamond.

He was reclining in an easy chair, smoking a cigarette, and as he
languidly surveyed Ralph, the boy felt that here was a sea captain
different from those he had read of or imagined.

"Well, my lad, what is it you want of me?" inquired the man.

"My name is Ralph Granger. I have a letter for you from Captain Shard.
He said you would understand."

Gary took the missive which Ralph now produced, opened it, and glanced
through it carelessly, then extended his hand.

"Glad to see you," said he softly. "So you want to try the sea, eh?
Well, any one coming from my cousin Shard is always sure of a welcome
from me."

Here he smiled very sweetly and waved his beringed fingers. "Stand
more in the light, please. I want to take a good look at you, Ralph."

As he inspected the boy from under his half closed lashes, his eyes
shone curiously.

"Now, Ralph," continued he with lazy cordiality, as if he had known the
youth for weeks instead of minutes, "what do you know about a sailor's
life?"

"I don't know anything, except--except,"--Ralph hesitated.

"Well?" suggested the captain inquiringly, and with an enchanting smile.

"I've read a book or two about sea life and ships, and all that.
Outside of that I ain't posted."

"I see. Did you bring any kit along?"

"What's that, sir?"

"Outfit, clothes, baggage, you know."

"I've got a bundle of clothes down at the car shed."

"Ah--yes." The captain reflected a moment.

"My boatswain is to be here at eleven sharp. I guess you had better go
aboard with him."

"Go where, sir?"

"Down to the ship. We call it going aboard, you see," and once more
Captain Gary smiled with almost infantile amiability. "Been to