Sonnie-Boy's People   By: James B. (James Brendan) Connolly (1868-1957)

[Illustration: "Look here, Sonnie Boy. Here's a man says your papa is the greatest man ever was in his line."]

SONNIE BOY'S PEOPLE

BY JAMES B. CONNOLLY

ILLUSTRATED

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK :::::::::::::::::::::: 1913

COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

Published September, 1913

CONTENTS

PAGE

SONNIE BOY'S PEOPLE 1

TIM RILEY'S TOUCH 51

IN THE ANCHOR WATCH 95

CROSS COURSES 123

LEARY OF THE "LIGONIER" 167

HOW THEY GOT THE "HATTIE RENNISH" 199

KILLORIN'S CARIBBEAN DAYS 231

THE BATTLE CRUISE OF THE "SVEND FOYN" 261

THE LAST PASSENGER 285

ILLUSTRATIONS

"Look here, Sonnie Boy. Here's a man says your papa is the greatest man ever was in his line" Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

"And of course your brother is laying great plans to assure his future?" 6

"That two faced chairman of yours he never tipped me off you could fight any way except with your hands." 90

The Orion proved to us that she was faster off the wind than we were by rounding Cape Cod before us. 156

It was Drislane she had, his head cuddled on her knees till the tug came and got us. 164

"Just then one came right under her forefoot and another under her counter. And I looks back to the gunboat." 226

The strangers out with revolvers, back my men into the fo'c's'le, and lock them in. 268

'Twas me she walked home with. 276

SONNIE BOY'S PEOPLE

The man with the gold headed cane had been headed for the cottage, but espying the boy at the water's edge, he changed his course. He crept to within a few paces of the lad before he hailed: "Halloo, little boy! I'll bet I know who your papa is."

The boy looked casually around. Seeing that it was a stranger, he faced about and stood respectfully erect.

"Mr. Welkie's little boy, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir. But I'm 'most six."

"Oh h, I see a big boy now. But what have you got there?"

The boy held up the toy steamer with which he had been playing.

"Oh h, I see now. What are you going to do with it?"

The boy looked sidewise out to where in the bay a fleet of battle ships were lying to anchor.

"Load it with sugar and pineapples, and ship 'em to the States, are you?"

"But it's a gun ship. See where the turrets 'n' the fighting tops will be when papa makes them."

"Oh! and so you want to be a great merchant?"

"I want to be a fighter" articulating slowly and distinctly "on a big gun ship."

"Well, if ever you do, little man, I'll bet you'll be a game one, too. Is your papa home?"

"No, sir, but Aunt Marie is."

"And is Aunt Marie busy, do you think?"

"I don't know, sir, but she's making a battle flag for my gun ship."

"That so? I think I will call on Aunt Marie, then."

Swinging his cane and advancing leisurely, the stranger headed for the screened veranda door.