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Updated: May 29, 2025
Joe could hear him fumbling about, and a little later heard his own name called softly. On going into the cabin, he saw 'Frisco Kid sitting on the edge of the bunk, a sailor's ditty-box on his knees, and in his hand a carefully folded page from a magazine. "Does she look like this?" he asked, smoothing it out and turning it that the other might see.
It's a ditty-box; rather a superior one, and a good bit bigger than usual; almost a chest; brass bound and a nice bit of poker-work on it; a girl's head. I've put it in your bedroom." "Ah!" I said. "Ah-h!" He wouldn't make this fuss over a bit of poker-work, I knew. "The mate of the Saucy Jane brought it here," he went on. "It belonged to the captain.
He felt an irresistible desire to laugh, and tried to smother it down. "No, no; don't!" 'Frisco Kid cried, snatching the paper away and putting it back in the ditty-box with shaking fingers. Then he added more slowly: "I thought I I kind o' thought you would understand, and and " His lips trembled and his eyes glistened with unwonted moistness as he turned hastily away.
The whole shore and back land thereabout was deserted; the edge of the city was four miles distant. Hoang returned to the forecastle-hatch and went below, groping under his bunk in his ditty-box. "Well, what is it?" exclaimed Moran a moment later, as the beach-comber entered the cabin, and shut the door behind him. Hoang did not answer; but she did not need to repeat the question.
He said he was cook on the Anne Traylor, just come in, and he believed he'd done time. If he hadn't I'll swear he ought to have, from the look of him. "About half an hour afterward in walks an oldish chap with a stoop and a gray goat's beard. He wanted a ditty-box, too; something extra large and old, and strong, and a tray with a lock-up till in it.
She shook her head at me when I was on top of the 'bus; but when I took off my hat she waved her hand, and laughed as if she was a great mind to cry. It's hard for an old woman and a young girl when they're left like that. I had the corners of that ditty-box off as soon as Isaac had gone for the night. The lid was double, as she had said.
He was second mate of the Anne Traylor, and he'd heard of the death of her old captain on the Saucy Jane, and that we'd bought some of his effects, and he'd like to have a memento; just a matter of sentiment, he explained. I asked him what form the sentiment took, and he said a ditty-box; and if we had the one that belonged to the old man he'd give two pounds five for it.
I had an anonymous letter that I put down to them written in red ink that I suppose they meant me to take for blood. It warned me against keeping "a ditty-box that others have a better claim to, and is like to cost you dear." D-e-r-e they spelt it, and one t in ditty. Two days later they called to ask if the box had come my way yet. "Yes," I said, "and I'm going to keep it.
My own children, when small, used to troop into my room while I was dressing, and the gradually accumulating trinkets in the "ditty-box" the gift of an enlisted man in the navy always excited rapturous joy. On occasions of solemn festivity each child would receive a trinket for his or her "very own." My children, by the way, enjoyed one pleasure I do not remember enjoying myself.
It occurred to me directly that the tramps were some of the men who had come after the ditty-box. I persuaded him at last that I'd lock up all right and he let me go alone. I soon spotted what would be the best bedroom. I fumbled up the chimney and lit a match or two, and found a heavy canvas bag and a smaller one that rustled like notes.
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