Herbert then proceeded to tell the old sailor all about his father, and when he spoke of the mysterious midnight visit and the cloud of false rumors that had arisen therefrom the Captain’s face clouded and he walked up and down the floor of his little cabin shaking his fist.
“The lubbers!” he shouted, “they ought to have been tied to the mast and given a dose of a cat o’ nine tails.”
Having finished this part of his narrative, Herbert then proceeded to tell the story of his own life, and at its conclusion the old salt put out his brawny hand, and taking Herbert’s, gave it a hearty grasp.
“Your story is mighty interesting. I’m mighty glad to hear it, and I think I am in a position to be your friend.”
“I am glad of that,” responded Herbert, “and I’m very curious to find out the real meaning of that midnight visit.”
“I’ll give it to you, my boy, and in mighty quick order. I was a boyhood chum of your father. We grew up together, went to school together, and one never had a thing that wasn’t shared by the other. I had no idea of the sea in my youth; but shortly after I got to be a boy of about your age I was entrusted with a sum of money belonging to another person. I was a sort of trustee. In an evil moment some fellow came along and showed me how it would be possible to double the money without any risk. I tried it, and lost every cent. While I was in this condition, I was called upon to make an accounting of the trust money. In my extremity I went to your father and explained everything. He gave me every penny that he had in the world in order to make good the loss, and my reputation was saved and I had learned a lesson that I have never forgotten since then. I was a wild boy in my younger days. I owed a great deal of money, and finally determined to take to the sea as a means of cooling down my hot blood. During the next ten years I sailed over every part of the civilized globe. I became a master and traded extensively in the Chinese seas. I was fortunate, made money, and finally came home to retire upon my savings.
“The first man I thought of,” said the Captain, leaning back in his easy chair, “was Dave Harkins. I determined to hunt him up and pay him the few hundred dollars he had so generously given me at a critical time in my life. I got to Cleverly late at night; the hotel was closed so that I was unable to secure accommodations there. The thought struck me that I might find Harkins at home. I went to his house, and fortunately found him at a moment when he needed my help just as I had formerly needed his. I compelled him to take that thousand dollars, and I made a condition that he was not to tell of my whereabouts until I got ready to make myself known to the world. I wanted to clear up all of my old debts and to rehabilitate myself before my old friends before I revealed my identity. After leaving him I went to New York, and carrying out a program that had already been arranged, went abroad to settle up some business interests that I had in Liverpool. I came back, only to hear that David Harkins was dead. I was told that the family had moved from Cleverly, and accepted the report without attempting to verify it. Years went by, but I was never quite satisfied. I hunted around in a vague sort of way to find Harkins’ boy. Only last week it occurred to me that a personal in the Herald might bring some results, and thank goodness it did, because here you are with me in the flesh.”
“I am very grateful to hear all of this,” said Herbert after the old sailor had finished; “I can assure you that it makes me very happy indeed. I never doubted my father at any time; but it is a great satisfaction to have the whole matter settled and to have these painful rumors dispelled as you have dispelled them.”
The Captain arose from his chair, took a turn or two around the room, and then putting his arm around Herbert’s shoulder, said:
“My boy, we’ll dispel them in such a way that they’ll never be heard of again. Mark one thing down, and mark it down plain: I’m your friend, and your friend for life.”