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"THE Marine REVIEW "In the Merchant Service" It was around 6 o'clock in the even- ing 'when Carson, one of the junior engineers of the Alroma, arrived on board to take charge for the night. Johnson, his room-mate, whom he was relieving, sprawled lazily on the settee and: beyond 'a careless "hullo" took no notice of his arrival. His appear- ance; _ however, not. at- all' to Carson's liking. "Aren't. you. going ashore?" asked Carson, as he threw his hat and coat on a_ bunk. "Naw," growled the reclining one, "why do you ask?' "Oh, no. patticular: reason," ° said Carson hurriedly. . Then he stepped to the room door and beckoned some one in the alleyway. "Bring it in here," he said in a low tone, and his room-mate sat up to take notice as a porter stepped into the room and deposited what appeared to be a large toolbox on the deck. "T see you've got it with you," said Johnson, as the porter accepted his fee and took his departure. Carson decided that as Johnson was aboard for the night he would take him into his confidence sooner than he had. intended to. "What do you think it is?" he asked, as he produced a key from his pocket and prepared to open the box. "Well," said Johnson, slowly, 'if there are some hooks inside the top of ijt I would say it was a wardrobe. And then again-- was "Aw, cut. it," said' Carson, anxious- ly, "itedsn' tas. bie asa that 1 hope we'll find room for it. It is--in tacts 'an. organ." His room-mate sat bolt upright and stared long and earnestly at the ob- ject of attention. Then he stepped to the floor, peered up and down the alleyway, carefully drew the curtain over the fanlight of the door and re- turned to his. seat. "What did you say it was?" he whispered, hoarsely. "Why," said Carson, with assumed carelessness, "it's only a collapsible organ I picked up second-hand along the water front." "What are you going to do with it?" pursued his friend. "Going to learn to play on it, of course,' answered Carson, indignant at his mate's senseless question. "Well, that is the limit,' murmured his tormentor, "who do you suppose is going to stand for--. Well, open it up, and let's get the worst of it over;" With much exertion and considera- ble argument the diminutive organ was at last hoisted into shape and lifted close to the settee. Johnson seated himself on the starting platform with his feet on the blowers and carelessly ran this fingers over the time-worn keys. "There is a large percentage of slip," he said, knowing- ly. "I knew that when I eae ity said Carson,. anxiously watching the wild paddling of his room-mate's 51 Second didn't raise a howl about the presence of the organ in the alley- way they didn't mind his comments. Then the Second awoke to a sense of duty. 3 "Which of you are on watch?" he asked. Tam ate" said: Carson, promptly. "How are things below?' pursued the Second, scanning the go-ashore garments which still encased Car- son's form. "All. right, sir, said Carson, hesitat- ingly, "I'll just take a run' around now and have a look at things." i (i tf 1h i i Ni} Hh tI i tl \ Wit Wit ( a I} TG iit 7, | | ofa L1G | KN WAN ie it j | Lilli pe "hil, Z, Coe My a LYMMAT: MUM, My Wy MYL, Vy Y/Y feet, "but we'll soon fix iat with some canvas and a little glue." They, had been at work on the relic Ons long-gone camp meeting days a matter... of a couple of hours when the second engineer hurriedly, opened the now unlocked door, do -you fellows: think 1. can write-- 'Then. he noticed the organ. -for - "Say, hew 4 "Well, the love. of . heaven!" » was. his comment. - Ignoring most of his numerous. re- marks the room-mates proceeded with the work on hand. So long as the second .. eee the watch and. have not been _made _the 'ly toiling over the organ. a AT « said the -- "that you "Do. you mean ic. aa engineer 'sternly, down below; two hours: ago, too?" . The owner of the organ hurriedly his escape .down.. the engine room, where 'he had. a look at the donkey, boiler: and . pump, the dynamo, sounded the bilge formed a. -few other services. Then wells, and = per- he returned to his. room -to find that Second . had. withdrawn: to his room and- his. room-mate was diligent- With a few |