Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-16

closed his books, put the Key In the
Office door, and, paler than usual, step
psd out upon the pavement.
CEAPTER II.
Contrary to Genth Hurley's expeofa'
tions, Tom Harrington took the berth
offered him. A week after the inter-
view in the Office he sailed In the Comet
for the fishing grounds OF the North
Sea. Eight weeks, long and dreary TO
those at sea, soon pass ashore. TO
Genth, in the office, time flew. The
morning the Comet was due,again found
him nervously pacing the quay. He had
made his plans. This trip would prove
Toms salvation. de had found desk
for him In the office, and under
his own eye Harrington should COM
mence the new life. Though Genth's
mind was busy, his eyes kept straying
down the harbor; and at last he heard
the pant, pant, pant OF tug, and saw
her red-handed funnel passing the lower
ferry. Astern was a dandy-rigged trav-
Ter. Scores Of smacks and luggers were
already moored az the quay side, and
what with scandalized sails, masts,
shrouds, and dangling halliards, 1t was
a minute or two before he could make
her out. When the snake-like coil OF
the tow-roDe was cast of and the tug
sheered out, Genth saw the newcomer
was the Comet. He made step for
ward, then stopped as II he had been
shot. His eyes were glued TO her rig
ging. She was flying her flag
hall-mast hight Ii was not the
irst time Genth had beheld that omi-
nous sign, but now It turned him faint.
In his mind ran one thought-suppose
IL was flying for Tom Harrington! He
stood for a minute fascinated, then
walked gloomily back to the Office. He
sat there with his face buried in his
hands, when the opening OF the door,
the sound Of sea boots, and the voice OF
Holmes aroused him. 81 ken see,
owner" be said, ''you ha' been on the
quay"
TELL me-" said Genth, with dry lips,
whom you have lost?'
The skipper OF the Comet passed
large hand through his oakum-textured
hair. "Well, owner" he said slowly,
'sPll speak the truth. 'Twor this way:
the wind were east"
sin Gods name" cried Genth, "who
| is it?"
ITO sail straight to the pint, owner.
tits the new deck chap"
Genth looked at him helplessly. Har-
rington! He had made all his little
plans, and a greater Hand than his had
swept them away. "When did this
take placer" he asked.
"The night afore larst. We wor
comm home," said Holmes, directing
his gaze to a nautical almanac and tell
ing his tale to 1t as it hung on a nail,
"wi' the east. nor'east; l had jest fixed
the port and star-board lights and wos
taking q spell at the tiller. All OF a
suedent 1 sees great green see a-comin',
which knew we'd ship, and Isung out
to the chaps to keep below. Jest as the
werds passed my lips some one popped
out o. the hoodway, companion. The
| sea an him must ha' touched the Com
r us deck at the same time,
| an afOre I could clutch him he
gos swept over the starboard
rail. hulled boat at him an put the
tiller up. Almost as sumo as we gat
about, our boat was launched, an the
chaps were in her. They pulled like
madmeu; but you know, owner, how
fast drowdin' man drifts to wind'ard.
They could never get nigh him; an
when picked the crew o. the boat up,
they wor done for. They couldn't ha'
unlled another stroke for the Indies.
An the deck chap wos gone. All we
picked % wos this"-he held up soiled
/ sou'wester.
you must report it." said Genth,
hsavily-'It's all you can do now"
Holmes nodded, and slouched away.
/ When he was gene, Genth went to his
desk and drew from it sheet of note
paper: on 1t was written tbs number OF
a row"
''And must break the news" he
said.
On bleak January afternoon, two
years later, man came through the
/ tollgate. To save mile or so, he had
reached Herringbonrne by cherries,
treeless cut called the New Road. he
was thin and bearded. His clothes
were shabby and his steps uncertain.
AS he rendered the halfpenny toll his
fingers burned like FIRE. The sun went
down as he came through the gate, and
the traveller shivered. An easterly wind
was blowing. It lay in wait for him as
he rounded a corner, and roaring gust
brought him up gaspIng for breath.
But stiIl he YEARLY plodded on. AT
last he stopped before row." went
I'D it, and then stopped again
| in front Of a house with
the shutters closed. On them
was chalked-"To Let" In dazed
sort Of way be looked at the letters,
then made his way to the quay. Here
be halted at the office Of Hnrley's Fleet.
With trembling hand he tried the
door. It was locked. Then, indeed,
he seemed TO lose heart, and sat mo-
ment on the doorstep. He was looking
at the black Dough OF a tree that
tapped nolsily against lighted lamp,
when q smacksman came past. The
weary object stopped him and asked
where Hurley lived. He was told; and
with q sigh went on again, this time
toward the Drive. The sky grew dark
or, and 1t began to snow, first in light
flakes, that be feebly tried to brush
away, then faster. Soon he
heard the roar OF the angry sea
ned saw the flaming eye OF the