And I'm half afraid to go and board her."

"Why?"

"If my wife's aboard, she'll have with her a
fifteen-months-old daughter that I have never
seen. Suppose she, too, greets me with — She's
swinging back — to her anchorage — look."

The green light rolled in a great half-circle in-
shore, and disappeared. A red light curved into
sight.
Wickett jumped up. "Come on, Carlin, I'll
get permission to leave the ship. We'll be there
before she lowers the port ladder."
1 20

3, B ,t,z«isvGoogle



In the Anchor Watch

"No, but drop me at the landing on the way
and I'll see you in the morning at the hotel.
How's that?"

Carlin saw him before the morning. He was
in the lobby of the hotel when Wickett with his
wife, a fine big boy, and a lovely little baby girl,
got out of the hotel 'bus. The boy was clinging to
Wickett' s hand, all the while talking rapturously
of the trip of the Clermont, With his free arm
Wickett was carrying the baby, which was mur-
muring, "Papa, papa, papa!"

Carlin would have known Mrs. Wickett with-
out an introduction or the presence of the boy
and the baby. Merely from the way she looked at
Wickett he knew that this was the girl who had
gone sailing with him in the dawn and become
engaged before breakfast.
"It's all right," smiled Wickett, with his cheek
against the baby's. "This one can't seem to
say anything but papa!"

Carlin nodded, and whispered: "And you
couldn't afford it?"

Wickett grinned. "We couldn't; but we did.
