EMILIO'S TRICK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 295, 13 December 1899, Page 6

EMILIO'S TRICK.

A STORY OF THE "LITTLE PORTERGEE."

BY SOPHIE SWETT.

When the little Portergee, Manuel Silva, came home from New York, Scanset people began to wonder, as they had done the winter before, what he was going to do with himself. Even now that there was a "building boom," Scanset was not a very lively place in the winter, and Manuel was what the townspeople called "up and comin'." Gustavus -s'ickerson, Manuel's "heart's friend," \va.s the most eager to discover what the little Portergee wan going to do. because, whatever it was, he meant to do it too.

Manuel and he had accomplished great things together in New York. or so Gustavus felt. They had brought the bear home in triumph— the. bear that Gustavus had found in the woods and fhat was said to be the great Mezul, a famous performing bear, worth many thousand dollars. The circus company, on

whose .steamer the boys and the bear had been carried away, did not believe it was MezuQ, for whose return it had offered a large rewardold Guiseppi, the animal-trainer, was a simpleton in Gustavus's opinion— so they did not claim the bear, aud never could do so again, and Manuel had paid tbe rascal Michael! Fereda, who claimed him, so now Gustavus was in joyful, undisputed possession of the bear.

Of course he meant to pay Manuel just as soon as possible, and he had cleaa-ly proved to Ms mother and his brother Ludovieo —his sister Viola, who wanted to manage everybody, was married now, and Cyrus Donee, the schoolmaster, had all the trouble of her—that he must go info business rather than to go to school. He further declared that schooling did not, "take" with him any more than vaccination, which he had suffered three times in vain. And in fact there, were reasons to suppose that the education of books would always prove a failure with little Gustavus. Yet. Manuel earnestly advised him to go to school. "To try to make your way in the world with no learning in your head, it is like sailors that go to sea with nothing to steer by," he said.

'"Twould be kind of a. joke on you if Manny should go to school now, wouldn't it?" Ludovico said to Gustavus. "And if he should go away from Scanset, you don't expect he would take you with him, do you? I guess he'd look out that you didn't go tagging after him, as you did before."

T.udovico was lame, aud hardly saw how he was to find "a breathing chance" in the wprld, and that made him cross sometimes. And brotherly Frankness is not always the most agreeable thing in the world. Gustavus'* heart burned within him at these dreadful words of his brother J.iidovico.

, He dropped his axe; he and Ludovieo were chopping wood 'in their wood-shed, and it was about that time in the afternoon when a boy who, has chopped all day feels that lifei.s hard enough without, any such candid remarks from--his big brother. Gustavus dropped his axe and ran as fast as he could to the wea-Iher-bcaten house oh the Point, whore Manuel lived with Cap'n 'Siah Doane. who had adopted him when the. sea had flung him from a wreck into his dooryard.

Manuel was not at home. Caddy Doane said that she had sent hiim to the' Store, and after he had accepted one of Caddy's doughnuts and sc.owled at Anita, with the baby in her lap, because she was Emilio Feredo's sister, and Emilio had run away with the bear, Gustavus ran cm lo the store.

Now the post-office was in the store, and as Gustavus reached it, Manuel was coming out with a letter in his hand, and as he read this letter lie. allowed the sugar to trickle out of the great paper bag under his arm. And when he saw it, Gustavus knew that there was some very important news in that letter. He took the paper bag from Manuel, and carried it so. that the sugar would not run out, and did not say a single word until Manuel had hnished reading his letter, which was ce.rlainly the part ot" a faithful friend. Manuel looked up from the letter with his peaked, tawny face all aglow. "T, had thought to go to school to Mr Deuce," lie said, with a slight touch of regret in his tone. "Although I am almost nineteen, and my legs grow long under the small desks, and Sissy Baker, -with her hair in pigtail, she spell me down, yet I had meant to go, for it, is better to be laughed at for what you do not know in the small school than in the great world! But now I go sailiugvnaster again—sailing-master of a fine new yacht, as big by two times as the other! Mr Carmichael think of it when 1 see' him in New York, but his plans are not ready—he is not sure. We. go in the fine new yacht to Southern waters—perhaps to Havana, to Santiago, to Manila, even to the Azores! Though lam Yankee, as good as any on Cape Cod, yet my heart it, draw me there!"

Little Gustavus pricked up his ears at the sound of those names, made familiar by the reports of the war with Spain.

Many a Cape Cod boy had seen those places. The little Portergee had found at that time that he was all Yankee, and yearned to go. Now it. was Manuel's turn to rescue the siigov. for a great stream was running out upon the snowy road'!

Manuel pat.hed up the paper bag and. tied it up, while Gustavus turned his head away to hide as wretched and despairing a face as he had ever turned to the wintry waters that were always luring him away, from Cape Cod.

Ludovico was right! Gustavus had never read about the unhappiness or the man who hangs on prince's favours, but he felt, with a cruel pang, that Manuel was becoming' far too great a man for him to hope to be his friend. He was going away on this cruise to places whose very names stirred a longing in his heart, and he had not a thought for any one but himself!

"To go to school and to help Assher Baker with his knitting machine, that is what I meant; and they will grieve at home to have me go. But it will be much money that I bring home: the anxious bump of Cap'n 'Siah I smoto him out. Young Josiah he go some day to college.

Little Israel shall, I hope, be captain of a Cunarder, though now he think he desire only to ride "the elephant in a circus," said Manuel, with an indulgent smile at little Israel's childishness. "Almost any Cape Cod boy he have it in him to be captain of a Cunarder," added Manuel, with enthusiasm. !

"Llewellyn Briggs, of Fleetwell, that run away to sea when he was a boy, b'longs to a show," remarked Gxistavus, in an agrieved and sullen tone. "It's a big show, and 'twas going South this winter, but it got stranded—that means the money gave out —up to Rockton. The folks are all there, and the animals, too, in a great, big kind of a stable they've built. Llewellyn he takes care of the animals and trains 'em. He lived here in Scanset one time, and he couldn't spell any better'n I can! But it's orfle hard to begin to be a. great manwhen you hain't got any friends to help you—but a bear."

Manuel laid his hand affectionately on Gustavus' small, sturdy shoulder. But Gustavus still kept his face turned towards the wintry sea to hide tho briny drops in his eyes, which one cannot allow even one's heart's friend to behold.

"Cape Cod boy he find friends everywhere," said Manuel,consolingly. "On board the yacht and in my beautiful islands you will find many, for you .are Cape Cod boy, and my friend. Of course I make him all right in New York when Mr Carmichael talk about it first! And they let you go; you will not need to run away; for it is as sailing master's assistant, with good wages, that you go! For I have said to Mr Carmichael that Cape Cod boy it is born in him, like Portuguese, to sail a ship. And I go not unless my heart's friend Gustavus Nickerson he go too." Gustavus did not throw himself into Manuel's arms, as he would have done if he had been another little Portergee. He gave vent to his overcharged feelings in the only way that was possible to him—by turning asomersault on the snowy, litibly road.

And Manuel understood all that the somersault meant, and was quite satisfied. .There was grief in the little house at the Point, but Cap'n 'Siah consoled himself somewhat by thinking, and saying, with a grand air, that they could not expect that Scanset would be quite big enough for Manny nowadays. Gustavus Nickerson's mother laughed incredulously, and then wiped her eyes. Little Gustavus, not yet fifteen, assistant to the sailing master of a yacht! She thought with regret of the switch that hung behind- the wood shed door. Gustavus was anxious lest his bear should become lonesome. He occupied the wood shed chamber at Cap'n 'Siah's, and there was such a prejudice against bears in Scanset that he had to be confined there most of the time. Manuel and Gustavus save him much of their society, but it certainly would be very dull for Mezul in the wool shed chamber when' they were gone. _ Gustavas had a bright idea. He wrote to his old friend Llewellyn Brio-o-s, now Sign or Brignosi, of the "Grand Educational Menagerie and Panorama," and Llewellyn replied that he would be glad to take care of the bear for the winter, if he were really the great Mezul, with the agreement that he should appear at a certain number of his company's performances in the spring. Llewellyn hinted that this might lead to a' permanent engagement for the bear, and Gustavus's heart thrilled with an unconfessed hope that It might mean an engagement for him also.

He did not confess this hope, because Manuel did not seem to have a very high opinion of the show business. He thought that a fellow- ought to do great things for Scanset or something to "make himself a man," as he said. And the sea, was always "the road of the bold" to Manuel.

But Gustavus wrote with enthusiasm and unmentionable spelling to Signor Ilrignosi. saying that he would bring the bear* to him at Rockton on his way to Boston to sail in the yacht; and he added, in a postcript, that he felt within himself a talent for taming lions and "edgeucateing bares," When the day ot departure arrived the two boys arose very early to take the four-o'clock train up from the Cape. Scarcely a mouthful of the nice hot break-fast that Caddy had prepared could either of them eat, Manuel thought it as well" that the leave-tak-ings should be hurried, for Cap'n 'Siah was old and feeble now to bear the strain of parting, and Anita, who was Portuguese, wept aloud as a Cape Cod girl does not permit herself to do.

The bear, sleepy and reluctant, had to be, dragged down the wood-shed stairs, and actually growled at Caddy's doughnuts, of which Gustavus carried a bagful, as there was no time to give Mezul any other breakfast.

"T never knew Mezul to object to make a journey before." said Manuel, wonderingly. "And he delight himself, other limes, in the good doughnuts of Caddy."

"It's orfle early, and I s'pose a bear has,his feelings," said Gustavus, with a sympathetic yarn. "T 'most wish 't we'd taken a lantern." he added, for it was still very dark, as they plunged into the Fleetwell road —they were obliged to walk to Fleetwell, where they were to take the train, as they could find no,conveyance for the bear. The stars blinked frostily in the far-off winter sky. and Scanset was still soundly sleeping. No. one person was stirring; a short, thick-set figure appeared from the . Striped Marsh road.

"Mr Dence?" called Manuel, for he thought it would be like the schoolmaster to come to say good-by to them. , • But instead of answering, the figure took to its heels. Manuel's sharp eyes, peered into the darkness. "It look—the size and the way he run —like Emilio," he said. Now when they had left Emilio in New York, less than a fortnight before, he had said that his father and he were going South with a show, and it did not seem probable that he had returned to Scanset. .And yet Gustavus echoed "Emilio!" in a tone of conviction. "If he's come back, it isn't for any. good," he added, seriously. "But, any-

how, we've got the bear!" And Gustavus threw his arm around the great beast's neck as they walked. The bear growled a little.

"It's hard for an old 'bear to be dragged out so early," said Gustavus, apologetically, when Manuel expressed his surprise—for Mezul had never- before growled at his friends. The train stopped but a minute or two at the Fleetwell station in the frosty darkness. They were forced to hustle the bear into" the baggage-car with their trunks. It was cold, but the baggage-master was kind, and- gave them an old overcoat to cover him.

The two boys went into the smok-ing-car adjoining, where there was then no one but themselves; and both were aroused from a sound sleep by the banging of doors and the conductor's shout of "Rockton!"

It was not yet seven o'clock,, and was still dark in the cloudy winter morning. Sig-nor Brignosi was at the station, as he had promised to be. He was dressed in ordinary, somewhat shabby clothes, and he was, as Gustavus said to himself with some disappointment, only Llewellyn Briggs, just as he used to be.

The boys both talked together in their eag-er haste to tell Llewellyn what a wonderful bear Mezul was, and just how he should be cared for. The train rushed off'again so soon that Gustavus still shouted charges from the •platform when he was beyoud Llewellyn's hearing. He had not trusted himself to take leave of the bear, that was still cross and sleepy.

At half-past two o'clock that afternoon the fine new yacht wras almost ready to sail. Gustavus, in a new suit almost as handsome as Manuel's,'and a gold-lettered cap, was trying to answer, without .blushing, the nautical questions of Miss Stella Carmichael, aged sixteen, who was all over the yacht, so wrapped in furs that nothing human was visible except a pair of pink cheeks and a pair of bright eyes. Gustavus might be weak grammatically, but he knew the ropes. And he said to himself that ho was not afraid of a girl; not he! although he knew that he was blushing furiously, and felt as if her bright eyes were turning him into a jelly-fish. Gustavus did not like girls, but one is not going to allow his satisfaction in sailing as an officer of a yacht to be affected by a trifle like that! An officer! Yes, sir; Manuel said so!

And in his pride and delight he had almost stifled the pang that he had felt ever since he had- left Mezul to the care of the trainer, when a strange and unexpected thing happened.

A man in torn and soiled clothes, and with a handkerchief bound around his head, came limping hurriedly down the 'wharf. Signor BrigNo, you would not believe he could ever be anybody but Llewellyn Briggs! "Talk about 3'our bear!" he cried, as soon as he caught sight of Gustavus. "The great Mezul, do you call him? He's a young, grtjen bear and as savage as a wolf! He has torn me most to pieces, and if anybody can train him, I don't want the job! li: you don't get him away I shall have to'put a bullet into him!"

A bullet into Mezul! Even Manuel's dark face turned white.

"Mezul never hurt, anybody in the world—never!" cried Gustavus, angrily.

"Mezul!" repealed Llewellyn Briggs, scornfully. "I tell you he is ai young bear that has never been trained."

" 'There is always bear in bear,'" quoted Mr Carmichael. "Tiring him on board, boys, and let us hear what he has to say."

Llewellyn told a tale of fierce encounter with the bear, and his clothes bore -witness to his truth telling, as well as his bandaged head. Manuel listened, with the line deepening between his brows.

"Emilio!" he murmured. "Emilio!"

But Gustavus could not see what Einilio could have had to do with it. He turned to go down stairs and change his handsome uniform for the clothes that would make him again only a common Scanset boy. "I must go back and take care of Mezul," he said, in a voice that he kept steady though it had a sob in it. "Him and me are friends. We took care of each other in the woods."

"You will give up such a line cruise for a bear?" exclaimed Mr Carmichael, with a wondering laugh. "Tell him better, Manuel."

But Manuel shook his head, firmly. "It is strange thing," he said. "Something must have been done to Mezul to make him savage like that. Now I remember, he growl this morning, not like himself. Tl' Gustavus did not stay, I must. Mezul is not common bea.r."

Llewellyn said he should think not, and put his hand to his bandaged head ruefully. He added that if he had a chance to go as a sailor again, he would prefer it to training bears. And Manuel's mind was not so bent upon the bear but that he could say a. good word for Llewellyn to Mr Carmichael, who at once engaged him on condition that he should be ready in an hour. One of the crew that, he had engaged was missing, so Llewellyn's arrival was opportune.

As Llewellyn hurried on to make his preparations, other unexpected visitors were seen making their way along, the pier towards the yacht— Anita, with the baby in her arms, and dragging a-long on one side of her Mezul the great bear, on the other side her reluctant brother Emilio.

"it is only trick', bad trick of Emilio!" she cried, frantically, from the gang plank, "but he say he mean no harm. He change Mezul in the wood shed chamber for a. young bear that my father buy. He come to Scanset to make me go on the street with tambourine and bear again. My father .can tntin young bear, but he will hurt somebody else, I fear, so I run away' when I find Emilio in the road aiid hear what he have tloue. I irtust bringMezul to you, and I have not time to take the baby home. Oh, if Mezul were not angel I could not have got here! And Emilio he only want to know where is his bear."

Emilio was struggling, as if he did not really care even to wait for that information.

"It's in Boqkton, at the show,'' called Manuel, **and if he do not get himself out-—"

"Oh, bring that delightful bear on board!" cried Stella Carmichael, impulsively, "and the girl and the baby. They look so cold.' Mezul insisted upon licking the faces of his friends, and took dancing steps upon the deck, to the great delight of every one on board the yacht, especially of the owner's daughter. "We deserve not to see Mezul again," said Manuel, with feeling, "when we could be deceived by a stupid common bear!"

"It was so orfle dark and we were so sleepy —and who ever would have thought'of such a thing? Nobody in

the world but that rascal Emilio would have dared to do it! He meant to get away with Mezul after he had been paid for him!" "He would have if it had not been for Anita," said Manuel. . "Yes, sir, if it had not been lor Anita," said Gustavus, and the boys looked at each other—a look that meant they must not forget Anita.

But at that very moment some one else was looking out for Anita. The young mistress of the yacht had warmed and comforted her in the cabin, and Anita had confided to her that the longing of her heart was to o-et to her grandmother in the Azores, so that she need never again go on the streets with a performing bear, nor have her baby sister brought up to such a life. Now did it not seem providential that they were going to the Azores in that 3'acht? That was the question that Stella asked her father behind the cabin door. And would it not: be delightful to have both a bear and a baby on board?—so lively! And if, as he said, the cruise was intended to restore her health—for it seemed the pink cheeks had only a little while before been pale—why, such lovely -omoarn would be sure to do it!

And although papa Carmichael shrugged his shoulders and frowned and said it was ridiculous, the result of the private conference was that he yielded—as is apt to be the way with fathers.

A telegram was despatched to the little house at the Point, that there might, be no anxiety about Anita and the baby. Stella was sure that, with the help of the stewardess and her maid the .deficiencies in Anita's wardrobe and the baby's could all be supplied.

Gustavus was restored to his uniform, and Llewellyn Briggs was given a position fhat h.e felt suited his talents better than bear-taming.

And only an hour and a half late, after all, the Alfarata sailed away with a favouring wind, Anita weeping- tears of joy that she was going to the Azores, mid tears of grief that she was leaving Scanset, and Mezul

dancing jovially to the strains of the darky cook's banjo. "Me V you will always stick to-g-ether, won't we, Manny?" said Gustavus, under cover of the music. "Me V you and the bear—and Anita and the baby," he added, with a sudden noble enlargement of heart.