"Mister," said he addressing the stylish looking clerk, who at first barely glanced at the lad, "I was sent here from Columbia to see a man who stops here called Captain Gary. That nigger over there, when I asked him where the man was, told me to hunt him up myself. I never was in your tavern before. How can I find him, I'd like to know?" Before Ralph had concluded, the clerk was inspecting his person curiously. Ralph again thought of his clothes. "I don't look very stylish," said he, "and I know it; but I've got business with Captain Gary all the same." "Front!" called the clerk, without addressing Ralph. A smart mulatto boy, uniformed in blue and red, sprang from a bench where several others similarly clad were seated. "Show this--this person to forty nine," directed the clerk, then turned to another inquirer as if he had already forgotten Ralph's existence. "There's one thing certain," thought the lad, as he followed the call boy down a long hall, up one flight of stairs and into a richly carpeted corridor, "we mountain folks can beat these city dudes on manners, if we can't in anything else." The boy knocked at a door and a voice almost feminine in musical softness bade them "Come in." "Some one to see yo', suh," said the messenger, pushing Ralph inside and closing the door. The mountain youth found himself alone with a slender, exceedingly handsome man, so slight of figure and fair in complexion as to fully bear out in his appearance the womanly resemblance suggested by his voice. He was dressed in a walking suit of a subdued gray tint, with patent leather gaiters, and his hands were white, while his fingers sparkled with one or two jeweled rings. His linen was spotless and in his lemon colored neck tie shone a large diamond. He was reclining in an easy chair, smoking a cigarette, and as he languidly surveyed Ralph, the boy felt that here was a sea captain different from those he had read of or imagined. "Well, my lad, what is it you want of me?" inquired the man. "My name is Ralph Granger. I have a letter for you from Captain Shard. He said you would understand." Gary took the missive which Ralph now produced, opened it, and glanced through it carelessly, then extended his hand. "Glad to see you," said he softly. "So you want to try the sea, eh? Well, any one coming from my cousin Shard is always sure of a welcome from me." Here he smiled very sweetly and waved his beringed fingers. "Stand more in the light, please. I want to take a good look at you, Ralph." As he inspected the boy from under his half closed lashes, his eyes shone curiously. "Now, Ralph," continued he with lazy cordiality, as if he had known the youth for weeks instead of minutes, "what do you know about a sailor's life?" "I don't know anything, except--except,"--Ralph hesitated. "Well?" suggested the captain inquiringly, and with an enchanting smile.