The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-07-25
Written the ApVo,
A BOLD GAME;
WOVEN OF MANY THntADS.
~ WELDON J. COBB, JK.
CHAPTER Ill.

The moment the body of the man had
struck the water, the duh thud Of his fall
had not ceased echoIng along the quiet
beach, when "A little boat. containing but
one occupant, hitherto Ind in the shadow
Of the chtf, shot out t. the spot where the
would-be suicide had disappeared. It's
occupant, young, Intelligent looking man
Of perhaps twenty four. peered eagerly at
the water, awaiting the reappearance # the
man.
The tramp came up few feet from
where he had sunk, his arms striking
wildly. He had come up at a spot where
clrclng eddy revolved small hits Of sea
grass, paper, wastechlps and the like, the
current being formed by two contrary cur
rents of water. He battled against the
waves desperately, striking out for life with
"a determination that evInced a newborn
desire to regain the existence he had
solved to fling away worthless He
would have sunk had he relied upon his
own individual efforts but he had no
sooner come to the surface than he was
caught by his arm 10y the stranger in the
boat, and was drawn into the little skiff
| From sheer exhaustion and weakness the
tramp lost all consciousness a. he was
drawn aboard, and the stranger, resuming
his oars. soon drove the little skiff upon
the beach Then he lifted his lnanimate
companIons form ia his strong arm and
lay him upon the sand
| Tie noticed IN one ot the tightly clenched
hands Of the man whose life he had saved
wet, soaked package one the man in his
struggle had evidently caught at and held,
It being III the vortex Of waste paper and
wood. The stranger, however, did not
stop to notice the package, but, anxious
for his companions welfare, applied all the
natural means in his power to restore HIM
to senslbllity. In a few moments he
seemed to feel the effects of these minis
trations, and a low groan issued from his
! lips. His eyes gradually unclosed, he
| lifted himself up upon his companion $
arm, and then assuming sitting posture,
with Wild look in his eyes, mechanically
exclaimed
Where am n
'ln good hands, was the strangers re-
sponse ''Old Neptune came near having
a ready victim. You were foolish to at
tempt to wrestle with fate. Destiny is
stronger than desire
He spoke IN a clear manly tone, tinged
/
noticed neither his manner nor tone, but
seemed to be lost in a wild maze.
How came you To- try II :" again spoke
the stranger
The tramp looked askance
''What r he asked, simply.
In response the stranger pointed signif-
cantiy to- the water
The tramp looked and shuddered chill
lingly. He seemed to realize the full hor-
ror of his former situation, and seemingly
comprehending the full import Of the situ.
alton. turned his head away in desperate
contrition.
As his head druoped his eye fell upon
the package, still held tightly in his
clenched hand He placed it, wet as il
was, mechanically in the inner pocket d
his ragged coat Then some new impetu.
Of emotion coming into his mind, he arose
to his feet and looked his rescuer full il
the face.
"You saved me from that r. he queried
The stranger nodded his head.
t'For what Do you know =
"To live"
The tramp laughed a hysteric, harsl
laugh-s grating coarse laugh.
ITO live As you call it-yes as
know it-no, You might better have lef
me to my doom. The world would hav
been rid of q miserable and, to it, profit
less wretch, and ! of struggling, wearing
existence.
He sighed drearily enough as he spoke
turned his face to the fast-setting sun an
e raised his hands in a mute agony of de
spair Some intense food Of feeling ha
: overcome him momentarilv, but only mo
| mentarily, for as he felt his companion
hand upon his shoulder he turned, show
ing the same natural hard lines in hi
,r swarthy visage.
What do you want 7" he asked, roughl
shaking of the kindly toucAof the stranger
IF money, have none if thanks, ow
you none, for you have done me no benef
in saving my worthless hfe."