Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-14
OR, THE QUEEN OF THE FACTORY.
by j. NOME FOSTER,
IAN Rights Reserved. ]

edge of the water, so that can GRASP
him as he drifts past. Be quick, fol
| God g sakel'
| In couple of moments one OF the
| strong lines was knotted about Eliot
waist, and he was dropped down the side
| of the building to the surface of the
flood. The next instant the raft fioated
past, just shaving the corner of the
building, and as if was passing Mark
sprang forward, seized the mute figure
tightly in his arms, and the next moment
they were both being drawn slowly up,
and were landed safely IN the room.
Before Mark had unwound his arms
] from the man he had saved the latter
opened his eyes and glanced about him
in a confused, inquiring way, and as
those in the room pressed around to
question the rescued as TO where he had
come from, Eliot fell back and began
talking to Charlie Hesketh.
A little later, as Mark and Charlie
were again gazing through one of the
windows at the still swiftly running tide,
the former felt someone lightly tap his
shoulder, and looking round, he was
confronted by the man he had fortu-
nRtely snatched from the flood.
81 believe, sir, that owe my life to
you?' the man began, land 1 should
like to know the name of the gentleman
TO whom l owe so much.
The speaker was evidently a person of
means. He was sparely built, rather
ta !, and must have been nearly seventy
years of age. His hair was almost
white, and being worn long, it gave him
2 patriarchal appearance, and the heavy
mOustache he wore was as snowy as his
hair. Still, he was upright and agile as
many a much younger man, and his
wrinkled, cleanly shaven cheeks were
the color of ripe winter apples. His
bearing was gentlemanly and his speech
was filed with pleasant ring.
''It was nothing" Mark said quietly.
81 had been saved little while before,
and could hardly do less than try to
save another.
"But they tell me that you alone be-
lieyed was alive, and persisted in max
ing an attempt to save me. l thank you
very much. 1 may, some day, be able
to repay your kindly service. This is my
card. -
Mark took the piece of pasteboard and
read upon it-"Paul H. Linwood, City
Solicitor, New Orleans. -
"My name, D." said Mark, after Rlanc-
ing at ths card, sis ElIot''
"Eliot!' the old gentleman murmur-
ed, and his eyes dwelt upon the others
face with new interest in them ''Not
Mark Eliot, Supposed he added with
a twinkle of his deeply set, warm grey
eyes.
at is Mark Eliot!'' our hero cried,
glancing at Mr.. Paul II. Linwood in
some surprise. He was wondering how
the old gentleman had guessed his Chris
tian name without knowing, until mo-
ment ago, what his surname was.
"a coincidence "a strange coinci-
dence, 1 suppose, Mr.. Eliot, - the old
man rejoined, as he stroked his long,
frosted mOustaehe. Then he added,
''What a terrible thing this flood is!
What ravage it has made!''
What the strange coincidence might
be, Mark could not even imagine, and
his curiosity was not sufficiently ex-
cited to impel hun to ask Mr.. Linwood
to explain it. He replied to the gentle
man S last remark about the flood, and
for some minutes they stood there watch
ing the dark stream flow past, aud spoke
of the immense damage to life and prop
erty the flood had already wrought, and
was still wreaklng.
Suddenly MIR. Linwood turned toward
his rescuer and remarked:
'You will pardon me, Mr.. Eliot,
but L think you are not an Americana
mo. 1 am an Englishmau. came
from Lancashire.
Mark felt as he spoke that he had
given a description of himself that was
accurate, but he did not think it
necessary TO render any further particu-
lars Of himself TO a stranger.
81 thought so, the old gentleman
added. "Well, Mr.. Eliot, if ever l
can do anything for you, rest assured it
shall be done. l am not one TO forget |
such claim as you have upon me-
Mark shook his head and murmured !
something TO the effect that the others |
was ample payment for what |
le had done. Then Mr.. Linwood sud-
lsnly recognized some one in the crowd |
It the other end of the room, and nod
ling to Mark and Hesketh he left them. |
GA fine old fellow Charlie re-
marked, nodding in the direction of Mr..
"but rather strange, isn't |
t?'
"Perhsps the flood has upset him, -
lark replied. 81 wonder what he |
meant when he talked OF some strange |
''He takes a lot of interest in you,
old man, " Charlie responded. !
Well, let's hope that he il g wifeless |
nd childlsss millionaire and that he will |
cave you his dollars, as a solid reminder
# his gratitude to you for fishing him
ut of that torrent there. That would
,e fitting end to this adventure,
Fculdn't it?
Mark made no reply to his friend s
words. At that moment he
7as thinking of Nellie Pembsrtou, aud
wondering why he had fought so fiercely
o preserve his life when it was so devoid
pleasure. In the thrilling excitement
f the past hour or so his trouble had
eased to overshadow his mind, but now
hat the great peril was past aud safety
7as assured him, his Thoughts few back
0 the old care, and he was miserable
nd melancholy again.
The twilight was now fast settling
own over the land, and presently the
tsrs came out, and the darkness of
loonless night fell upon the face of the
1shing flood.
There were now over two hundred
ersons in the hotel which held Mark
Hot and Charlie Heskelh, and they
ere distributed over the whole of the |
bird, fourth aud fifth stories. Before
arknesI set in the men held a meeting,
nd drew up some rules, which slI were
Ound TO observe, Then the charge of