1940-11-08 — Page 27

·THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT,; NOVEMBER-

SHORT STORY

Night Ashore

John Quinlan, captain of the all the ha'pence and leave the daining further association with Fellaheen, told the Dago pilot just kicks to such what he thought of his clumsiness money by hard faring through listening agent: "Can you do any

as earned the his hireling, Bullough asked the In almost cutting a pleasure-boat bitter seas? These Bullough boats thing about it?" in halves; and then handed his were run on a shoe-string: pared. binoculars to the third mate, who down to the bare bones, each voy shared the ugly freighter's bridge...age their stewards were carpeted with him.

for extravagance; the wages paid would have disgraced a slave

"It's a bonny harbour," he said. "First time. I've been to Santa Paula. And that yacht makes it lovelier. That's bought out of our

cut wages."

a

Amongst so much beauty the squattering Fellaheen looked mud-smear on a perfect woman's face. Quinlan jerked an unshaven thin at the yacht Semiramis.

"Young Bullough's joy-boat," he explained.

"The owner, sir?" "That's right. Our lord and mas- ter; the swab who inherited us, und that ice-cream. shop as well. Look at the skirt on her deck."

Macready made admiring noises, and Quinlan checked him with a curt: "Not in your street, on the wages his Nibs pays us."

Captain Quinlan had reason for his sourness. Before the Fellaheen Jeft home Mona Tolly had accused him of lack of ambition in being satisfied with that lowdown end of the tramping trade, and, when he said that to be skipper of a ship was better than being an of- ficer in the swaggerest liner aflout, she handed back the three-guinea ring that was the token of his ownership of her future. Natural- ly enough, being fond of the girl, he felt like playing hell..

owner.

towards the freighter, and when

The agent's sleek launch glided, the port doctor had granted prati- que, Frazer came up the ladder. The launch looked making up to a trollop.

like a fairy Quinlan forgot private dislikes and hopefully asked:.

"Any letters?" There were plenty; but all were official; Mona bit by contact with the yachting hadn't relented.. Frazer, spoilt a crowd, said severely:

"You should have slicked up a bit; she looks like something the cat brought in. With his lordship's yacht in port-"

"How in hell should I know his Nibs was coming here? You can't slick up a ship without paint; and we get it served out in Woolworth tins. We belong to the useful side of things; we don't pose as being ornamental."

"If ever I get a chance to rub that gilded pup's nose in it-he wrathfully gloomed. "Mister, slick

her up."

the

1940

By Frank H. Shaw

if Macfee felt like a turn' ashore, pays dividends, even if the wages tired in plain blue serge.: The though; my luck seems in," Lord Macfee agreed; so they landed, at are rotten. Follow my play chfet's hands would have made a Bullough wasn't one to take ad see the harbourmaster at once."

"Certainly, your lordship; I' dog sick, and his ideas of enjoy- vice from an underling, however

ment were Rabelaisan. They much he took in cash. guests think, seeing a flthy eye-hei

"See to it, then. What will my drank at this cantina and that."Sturrick, you damn fool, come sore like this flying my house- brought them within view of the nostrils somewhat pinched.

unguided ambulations away!" urged the blonde her

more on the tramp might improve arms?" invited' Quinlan. less spent on the yacht and a bit."How flag?" In Quinlan's opinion a bit gaudy Casino.

"Lemme alone; I'm doubling my about chancing our losses-bound to win," stuttered the situation; but he kept mouth shut. Bad as: the job was, it thrifty

the peer. his

"Gamblin's sinfu," decided the

"Don't talk to me that way!" offered bread and a scrape of in- mechanic.

· and. semi-intoxicated Flushed, she forced a way through the press, to fume on the outskirts: ferior butter.

"Who said we'd gamble: we can Apparently · Lord. "I'll see if I can smart her up watch a bit can't we? Come on, chances of future happiness were Bullough's a bit, sir," he presently offered. Chief, change a, saxpence and see about equal to his own, Quinlan then went down the side to return tion; the whirl of gay colour al- a cheeseparing, sailor-robbing nit- Bullough sniffed disdainfully, life." They entered without ques- thought. Serve him right for being danced the first bitter steps of a drabness, There were exotic scents thousand pesos, almost without to eye-pleasing opulence. Quinlan most blinded men used to dreary wit!

He advanced another ten derisive hornpipe, and considered and music; tangoes raged; jewels missing them; they trickled down his calloused hands. He said all scintillated vividly the things he had refrained from necks. Play at the tables, as Quin-

on shapely the insatiable sink.

"It's a swindle!" saying twice over; and the second lan shouldered

Bullough time was worse than the first.

a way, appeared yelled. He began to thresh about to be running hotly. Everything with excited arms; and satellites tended to jolt him from normal moved purposefully towards him. caution. Mona's Birthday was on Choking and scrabbling, he was the 13th of the month; this was jerked from his chair. the mate protested. "The owners What the hell, anyway? He threw the identical day; he'd intended to "Neither men nor materials, sir," give her a

"Ye'll obsairve there is a God!" worth-while present, .chuckled Macfee.

Quinlan expected satisfied "Look out: his lordship's coming make the crew work cargo out down a five-peso cart-wheel on triumph to warm him. But to see alongside," whispered the agent in abroad, remember. If I was half No. 13. The game was roulette; a Briton manhandled by a gang an awestruck way: and the yacht's the man I used to be I'd board and after calling: "Rien lovely gig streaked to the gang- that ice-cream shop and help my- plus!"

ue va of garlicky Dagoes wasn't good way, with the pomp and circum- self to all that's good. Including said: "Treize gagne!"

the Frenchified croupier enough. He crammed his winnings stance of a naval boat. Lord Bul- that blonde girl by the wheel. Sit-

into his pockets, and called: lough's sartorial perfection suffer- ting opposite her, even slumgul- Quinlan as the chinking placques "Golly-gosh-this is luck!" said

"Get him clear, Mac!" ed through his ensuing scramble lion'd taste decent."

The blonde stood half paralysed were pitched on top of his stake. on up the side-ladder.

The shocked agent said: "That's

the fringe But he grinned when, passing

of the ensuing "Ye'll lose it a-ay,, an' more, melee. It was "See here, my man, what do you

a full-sized fight, close to the snappy Semiramis, a mean by smothering me with your lordship. brought her cruising to fee,

future Lady Bullough. His the next throw," protested Mac- because the whole Casino staff sudden cloud of clinker broke infernal Alth?" he demanded, persuade her to marry him.".

rallied to the offensive. The public from the Fellaheen's funnel and without preface. Quinlan 'safuted

Who cares? Let her ride!" He joined in. Forgetting professional smothered the yacht's awnings stiffly.

"She looks like she ought to left the maximum on 13, which dislike for an owner, Quinlan did and deck with foulness.

have a man instead of a stuffed turned up again. A woman the best a man trained in a bitter "Sorry, sir. It's-it's the cheap yachting suit," differed the mate, screeched and vacated her seat: school could do. The blonde's eyes A young, calf-faced man in coal we've got to burn." Bullough whose temper was frayed, like the Quinlan slid into it. At the table's glittered, her face renmined flush- Snowy drill dusted himself down gave the slatternly craft a once-wire rope on which he had torn far end he spotted Bullough and ed-with admiration, not rage. petulantly before shaking a over, bit. his lip.

open his hand. Quinlan left him that heady blonde: What of it: for Vigilantes, trooping in, tore the wrathful fist at the collier's ob- scenity. Dainty

"She's a disgrace. Can't you go fuming, and sat down in his own a crowded hour he was his own milling combatants apart. But girls fluttered away-a long way off? You're littered cabin. He hated Lord -er's equal! That blonde wasn't Maciee raced outside to find the "shriekingly away for cover; and, spoiling the view for everybody."

no class-hater normally, Captain

Bullough cordially: a gilt-edged patch on Mona, if you reckoned second mate and a couple of Junior Quinlan thought of poetic justice.. unload at Santa Paula."

"Sorry, sir; my orders were to pup who'd never done a hand's things up soberly, allowing dis- engineers and these reinforce

turn of honest work in his spoilt count for Mona's faithlessness. Why should Lord Bullough spend "Don't be impertinent!" Dis- life. Better men than himself

ments joined in to some purpose.. earned the riches he squandered no novice. It was actually difficult the surface. He looked the worse He settled to steady play, being Lord Bullough was dragged to with both hands. An owner who to make a mistake. Unlucky in for wear; an ear was half an owner would have love, lucky at-well, chance, eh? mess-suit

was torn; his invited this

was drabbled. The present dividend That was how things ran. Occa- Chief of Police headed more vigi- earner to his yacht for champagne sional glances up the table gave lantes; and. Quinlan, knowing his and association with smart wo- the impression that Bullough was business, slid a thousand pesos men. Not that he desired any wo- plunging to loss. His blonde fairy into the Authority's not-reluctant man in the world, now Mona was tried to urge him away; Eullough onim. That ransomed the body of lost to him. He took up Mona's was half-drunk and stubborn, portrait to say to i

Lord Bullough, which he convoy- "You're a money-grabber, too; another maximuni from his lord-"He'll sober up by morning," he

Watching the croupier rake in ed down to the water-front. if I'd saved up enough to start a ship, Quinlan staked the limit on consoled the blonde, who was, he home, you'd have you fast enough. On twenty-five sible for him to make a mistake.

let me splice red, and won.. It seemed impos gathered, Lady Sheila Waygot pounds a month, you can't save a

“I don't care a cat's curse if he whole lot." Presently he

"Dinna tempt Providence long-stays tight for a year!" she blazed. ashore in the agent's boat; enter- awa-are ye almin’

went er!" protested Macfee. "Come "You're a man!" Obviously Lord ed' the shop, drank a glass of whole o'. Santa Paula?"

to buy the Bullough's matrimonial hopes sherry with the shipchandler,

were dissipated. "I'm proud to "That's who had been instructed from about buying the Semiramis? We Her eyes invited; for Quinlari, a notion, Mac. How have met you," said Lady Sheila. home to pay no commissions; idled could send the perishing owner though hewn from teak, was. around the lovely town for want. home in our bunch of troubles, at handsome. But meeting her bla of something better to do... The that. Poetic justice, eh? His blon- ing gaze, he felt chandler's water-clerk offered to die looks as if she'd like best the wasn't Monashe wasn't Mona. act as guide.

"That a da Casino," explained yourself a drink." He pitched a He carried the inanimate hulk up man with the biggest pile. Get Get him aboard," he suggested, his cicerone, indicating an ornate gold piece to the chief, and went his own gangway and to his sum- building. "Good gamblin' place, on playing. Twice he lost, then he ptuous stateroom, where he ex- Capitan. S'pose you like-a, you won a sequence Money piled high pertly bedded him down. The ca- win lots of dollars."-

bean; trust the snuff and butters, ful. Lord Bullough went on losing the alleyway. "I bet white man's never won thousand pesos apiece were plenti- kick-shaws. Silic pyjamas pro- before him, "fat placques worth bin was scented, full of useless

to see to that!" But the guide heavily, his blonde grew fretful.

mised effeminacy. He went into protested that the games within: Losing obviously quickened his Come and get a drink?" Lady were fair. Himself had won quite noble thirst; the walters were kept Sheila invited. a capful only a month ago. Not busy. His face grew dejected. Fils that now was the time to see the white mess dress grew creased and rooms at their best..

stained. He snarled at the blonde "Ay de mi-at night-a-ah!" girl for her pusillanimity. He kissed his stained finger-tips.. Quinlan had just pulled off an- "Lovely senoritas plenty swells!" he enthused.

other, maximum when his shoul- der was clutched from behind;" "Then it's no, place for me; I've "I say, you're the captain of my no soup-and-fish togs with me," shin, "what?" Bullaugh stuttered: demurred. Quinlan; and was told "Off fluty, though, sir!" -- the sumptuary laws were easy. He Well, see here these damned: "It's streets ahead than that turned it over in his mind as the Dagoes won't cash my cheque and flouting night-club. How about. sight-seeing progressed. Return I want some money." Quinlar, booking a passage home with you, ing aboard he had an inclination grinned, waved to the pile of Captain Quintan? I only came in to invite the chief engineer to wealth stacked before him, the yacht because I thought I make a night of it. Not getting Help yourself, sirwa don't might marry Bullough, but--**** news from Mona hurt like the de- stint anything "" vil: Mons would indubitably be to, Sen here. I'll give you my che passenger accommodation, 1'11 see Zanussię z Dizzy, Quinlan said. "There's no blame if he overstepped the limits que: Ten thousand of these darned you aboard the yacht..... ofprudence in the many drink dollars, what?”, shops and dancing houses. A Twenty thousand, if you like, "a shareholder, you know if I can She sobered to say "My father's binge of sorts was indicated.

Then he contrasted the yacht Communistic mate!.

sir". There'd be a yarn, to, tell the do any hing with the freighter, and a wild idea: The neighbouring seat was morning when the agent's launch Neo-Quinlan was on deck next of Shanghai-ing his lordship vacated; Lord Bullough slumped brought. Bullough aboard. He still aboard the Fellahcen and making into it. Accepting twenty thousand looked the worse for wear.

GRAND GIN

THIS!"

YES ISN'T IT! ALWAYS DRINK IT AND IT'S ONLY FIVE BUCKS A BOTTLE!"

The Best of Gin

Yet compare $50

the price!

per bottle

FINDLATER'S

DRY GIN

Findlater's Gilman

.

da

no thrill,

She

have some Al stuff aboard the Fellaheen, if you like plain, hon- est, liquor."

portrait, Quinlan, might have lost She did like it. But for Mona's his head. He forced himself to

say:

Better go back to your own ship, lady. This hooker isn't right for such as you”

DRY GIN him help to darn his own divi-doliprs, he quickly lost. Quine/"They tell me I owe you a pot

& CO., LTD.

WINES & SPIRITS

TS/Dept.

dends troubled his fertile brain lan won most of it; and the future. of money," his lordship choked. The chandler's sherry was well Lady Quinlan smiled provocativeSee here, Captain, will you take. fortified with brandy... ly at him between her frowns, for my cheque? Or you, can havel a

No, that'd never-do; I've got, Lord. Bullough. No, she wasn't in bond on the yacht, if you like; I'm to keep a job of some sort," he the same street with Mona, though fed up with her. Did I go for in mused. "If a norther'd break now the pearls about her slim throatz off the deep end last night?... and swing us down aboard that were worth a king's ransom. He Pretty far, sir." Quinlan had nickle-plated contraption" slid another mass of money to his counted his gains and they were

But the weather stayed daź- owner. zlingly fair. After the mean sup- per provided, Quinlan restless, sent to the "chief-engineer to ask

"I'll give you an 1.0.Usald Bullough,

"Credit's good, air-the #Line

someone to spend them on it considerable. If only, there'd been would have been tophole; but — (Continued on Pago 8)