1940-11-08 — Page 277

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 8, 1940

SHORT STORY

Night Ashore

John Quinlan, captain of the Fellaheen, told the Dago pilot just what he thought of his clumsiness in almost cutting a pleasure-boot in halves; and then handed his binoculars to the third mate, who shared the ugly freighter's bridge with him.

all the ha'pence, and leave the daining further association with kicks to such. as earned the his hireling, Bullough asked the money by hard faring through listening agent: "Can you do any bitter seas? These Bullough boats thing about it?" were run on a shoe-string: pared down to the bare bones; each voy- age their stewards were carpeted for extravagance; the wages paid would flave disgraced a slave- owner.

By Frank H. Shaw

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

see the harbourmaster at once."

"Certainly, your lordship; I'll 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 filthy eye. Their

"See to it, then. What will my drank at, this cantina and that. "Sturrick, you damn fool, come 'unguided ambulations away!! urged the blonde-hér "It's a bonny harbour,” he said, "First time I've been to

gore like this flying my house- brought them within view of the nostrils somewhat pinched. Santa Paula. And that yacht makes it

The agent's sleek launch glided less spent on the yacht and a bit

flag?" In Quinlan's opinion a bit gaudy Casino. lovelier. That's bought out of our towards the freighter, and when more on the tramp might improve arms?" invited Quinlan.

"How about chancing our cut wages."

the port doctor fiad granted prati- the situation; but, he kept his "Gamblin's sinfu'," decided the Amongst so much beauty the que, Frazer came up the ladder: mouth shut. Bad as the job was, it thrifty squattering Fellaheen looked a. The launch looked like a fairy offered bread and a scrape of in- mechanic. mud-smear on a perfect woman's making up to a trollop. face. Quinlan jerked an unshaven Quinlan forgot private dislikes chin, at the yacht Semiramis. and hopefully asked:

"Young Bullough's joy-boat," "Any letters?" There were he explained.

"The owner, sir?”.

"That's right. Our lord and mas- ter; the swab who inherited us, and 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 Fellahcen left 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 u ship was better than being an of- ficer in the swaggerest liner afloat, 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

But he grinned when, passing close to the snappy Semiramis, a sudden cloud of clinker broke from the Fellaheen's funnel and smothered the yacht's awnings and deck with foulness.

A young, calf-faced man in snowy drill dusted himself down petulantly before shaking a wrathful fist at the collier's ob- scenity. Dainty girls fluttered shriekingly away for cover; and, no class-hater normally, Captain Quinlan thought of poetic justice. Why should Lord Bullough spend

GRAND GIN

THIS!"

"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."

"Look out; his lordship's coming alongside," whispered the agent in an awestruck way: and the yacht's lovely gig streaked to the gang- way, with the pomp and circum- stance of a naval boat. Lord Bul- lough's sartorial perfection suffer- ed through his ensuing scramble

up the side-ladder.

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

the mate protested. "The owners "Neither men nor materials, sir," make the crew work cargo out abroad, remember. If I was half the man I used to be I'd board that ice-cream shop and help my self to all that's good. Including that blonde girl by the wheel. Sit- ting opposite her even slumgul- lion'd taste decent."

"Lemme alone; I'm doubling my losses bound to win," stuttered the peer.

"Don't talk to me that way!" and semi-intoxicated Flushed, she forced a way through the press, to fume on the outskirts. ferior butter.

Lord "Who said we'd gamble: we can Apparently

Bullough's "I'll see I can smart her up. watch a bit, can't we? Come on, chances of future happiness were a bit, sir," he

presently offered. Chief, change a saxpence and see about equal to his own, Quinlan Bullough plenty; but all were official; Mona then went down the side to return. tion: the whirl of gay colour al- a cheeseparing, sailor-robbing, nit- sniffed disdainfully, life." They entered without ques- thought. Serve him right for being hadn't relented. Frazer, spoilt to eye-pleasing opulence. Quinlan most blinded men used to dreary wit! He advanced another.. ten bit by contact with the yachting danced the first bitter steps of a drabness. There were exotic scents thousand pesos, almost without crowd, said severely:

"You should have slicked up a his calloused hands. He said all scintillated vividly on

derisive hornpipe, and considered and music; tangoes raged; jewels missing them; they trickled down bit; she looks like something the

shapely the insatiable sink.

"It's a swindle!" Bullough cat brought in. With his lordship's the things he had refrained from necks. Play at the tables; as Quin- yacht_in_port-”.

saying twice over; and the second lan shouldered

a way, appeared yelled. He began to thresh about time was worse than the first.

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 identical day; he'd intended to

"Ye'll obsairve there is a God!” What the hell, anyway? He threw give her a worth-while present. chuckled Macfee.

satisfied Quinlan expected down a five-peso cart-wheel on triumph to warm him. But to see No. 13. The game was roulette; a Briton manhandled by a gang and after calling: "Rien ne va of garlicky. Dagoes wasn't good plus!" the Frenchifled

croupier enough. He crammed his winnings

into his pockets, and called: said: "Treize gagne!""

"Golly-gosh-this is luck!” said "Get him clear, Mac!" Quinlan as the chinking placques The blonde stood half paralysed were pitched on top of his stake. on the fringe of the ensuing The shocked agent said: "That's

a full-sized fight; "Ye'll lose it aay, an' more, melee. It was the future Lady Bullough. His the next throw," protested Mac- because the whole Casino staff rallled to the offensive. The public lordship brought her cruising to fee. persuade her to marry him." "Who cares? Let her ride!" He joined-in. Forgetting professional:

"She

looks like she ought to left the maximum on 13, which dislike for an owner, Quinlan did have a man instead of a stuffed, turned up again. A woman the best a man trained in a blitex "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 coal we've got to burn." Bullough whose temper was frayed, like the Quinlan slid into it. At the table's glittered, her face remained flush- gave the slätternly craft a

wire rope on once-

which he had torn far end he spotted Bullough and ed-with admiration, not rage. over, bit his lip.

open his hand. Quinlan left him that heady blonde. What of it: for Vigilantes,, trooping in, tore the "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 away-a long way off? You're littered cabin. He hated Lord er's equal! That blonde wasn't a Macfee raced outside to find the spoiling the view for everybody." Bullough cordially: a gilt-edged patch on Mona, if you reckoned second mate and a couple of junior "Sorry, sir; my orders were to pup who'd never done a hand's things up soberly; allowing dis- engineers; and these reinforce unload at Santa Paula."

turn of honest work in his spoilt count for Mona's faithlessness.

ments joined in to some purpose." "Don't be impertinent!”

Dis- life.

Better meri than

Lord Bullough was dragged: to himself He settled to steady play, being earned the riches he squandered no novice. It was actually difficult the surface. He looked the worse 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. drabbled. The invited this 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 palm. That ransomed the body of lost to him. He took up Mona's was half-drunk and stubborn. Lord Bullough, which he convoy- portrait to say to it:

Watching the croupier rake in ed down to the water-front. "You're a-money-grabber, too; another maximum from his lord "He'll sober up. by morning," he 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 let me splice red, and won. It seemed impos- gathered, Lady Sheila Waygot. you fast enough. On twenty-five sible for him to make a mistake. pounds a month, you can't save a

"Dinna tempt Providence long whole lot. Presently he went er!" protested Macfee. "Come ashore in the agent's boat; enter- awa' are ye aimin' to buy the

the shop, drank a glass of whole o' Santa Paula?” sherry with the shipchandler, "That's

"See here, my man, what do you mean by smothering me with your infernal filth?" he demanded, without preface. Quinlan saluted stiffly.

YES ISN'T IT!

I ALWAYS DRINK IT AND IT'S ONLY FIVE BUCKS A BOTTLE!"

The Best of Gin

$500

Yet compare

the price bottle

per

FINDLATER'S

DRYGIN

Findlater's Silman

APM

DRY GIN

& CO., LTD,

WINES & SPIRITS

Dept

ed

was torn; his

"I don't care a cat's curse if he stays tight for a year!" she blazed. "You're a man!" Obviously Lord Bullough's matrimonial. hopes were dissipated. "I'm proud to A notion, Mac. How have met you," said Lady Sheila. who had been instructed from about buying the Semiramis? We Her

eyes invited; for Quinlan, 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 blaz of something better to do. The that. Poetic justice, eh? His blon- ing gaze, he felt no thrill. She chandler's water-clerk offered to die looks as if she'd like best the wasn't Mona---she wasn't Mona, act as guide.

"Thata da Casino," explained his cicerone, indicating an ornate building. "Good gamblin' place, Capitan, S'pose you like-a, you win lots of dollars."

"I bet a white man's never won

man with the biggest pile. Get "Get him aboard," he suggested, yourself a drink." He pitched a He carried the inanimate hulk up gold piece to the chief, and went his own gangway and to his sum- on playing. Twice he lost, then he ptuous stateroom, where he ex- won a sequence. Money piled high pertly bedded him down. The ca- before him, fat placques worth a bin was scented, full of useless thousand pesos apieos were plenti- kick-shaws. Silk pyjamas pro- a bean; trust the snuff and butters ful Lord Bullough went on losing mised effeminacy. He went into to see to that!"

But the guide heavily; his blonde grew fretful the alleyway, protested that the games within Losing obviously quickened his "Come and get a drink?" Lady were fair. Himself had won quite noble thirst; the waiters were kept Sheila invited. a capful only a month ago. Not busy. His face grew dejected. His "I have some Al stuff aboard the that now was the time to see the white mess dress grew creased and Fellaheen, if you like plain, hon-

stained. He snarled at the blonde est liquor." girl for her pusillanimity.

rooms at their best.

""Ay de mi-at night-a-ah!" He kissed his stained finger-tips. .."Lovely senoritas-plenty da

swells!" he enthused.

"Help yourself, sir-we don't stint anything "

t

"Sen here: I'll give you my che que. Ten thousand of these darned dollars, what?"

She did like it. But for Mona's portrait, Quinlan might have lost- his head. He forced himself to say: ship, lady. This hooker isn't right "Better go back to your own

for such as you.”

ጓ

Quintan had just pulled off an- 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 to soup-and-fish togs with me,' shin, what?" Bullough stuttered. demurred Quinlan; and was told "ff duty, though, sir!" the sumptuary laws were easy. He "Well, see here these damned. "M's" streets ahead, than that turned it over in his mind as the Dagoes won't cash my cheque and floating night-club. How about sight-seeing progressed. Return- I want some money." Quinlan: boolding a passage home with you, ing aboard. he had an inclination grinned, waved to the pile of Captain Quinlan? 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

might marry Bullough, but" news from Mona hurt like the de-

Dizzy, Quinlan said: “There's no vil, Mona would indubitably be to

passenger accommodation. I see blame if he overstepped the limits

you aboard the yacht." of prudence in the many drink

She sobered to say: “My father's shops and dancing. houses. A Twenty thousand, if you, like, a shareholder, you know if I can binge of sorts was indicated. sir!" There'd be a yarn to tell the: do anything

Then he contrasted the yacht Communistic mate!

Quinlan was on deck next with the freighter, and a wild idea. The neighbouring seat was morning when the agent's launch of Shanghai-ing his lordship vacated, Lord Bullough slumped. brought Bullough board, He still aboard the Fellaheen and making into it. Accepting twenty thousand looked the worse for wear him help to earn, his own divi- dollars, he quickly lost-it, Quin-.- They tell me. Lowe you a pot 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 provocative "See here, Captain, will you take, -fortiffed with brändy.

bly at him befween her frowns for my chequa? Or you can have, a "No, that'd never do; I've got: Lord Bullough: No, she wasn't in bond or 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 tak in.. mused. If a norther'd break now the pearls about her slim throat, off the deep end last night? and swing us down aboard that were worth a king's ransom. Ho.Pretty far, sir. Quinlan had nickle-plated contraption "slid another mass of money to his counted his guins, and they were

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

"I'll give you an 10.U., said Bullough, b

Ling

"Credit's good, sir-the

considerable. If only there'd been someone to spend them would have been tophole;"

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