The Delta independent., 1896-09-16

given up all hope of repairing the dam
age, whatever it was, and the real cause
or the disaster was as much mystery
as ever. Shortly before lunch it be-
came evident to the people on board the
ship that something was about to be
done. The sailors undid the fasten-
ings of one of the large boats, and
swung it out on the davits until it hung
over the sea.
Gradually rumor took form, and il
became known that one of the officers
and some of the crew were about I,
make an attempt to reach the coast OF
Ireland and telegraph to Queenstown
Tor tugs to bring the steamer in. The
captain still maintained that there was
no danger whatever. and it was only to
prevent delay that this expedient was
about to be tried.
DO you know what they are going
to do?" cried Edith Longworth, in a
I state of great excitement, to John Ken
| yon.
KENYON had been walking the deck
| with Wentworth, who now had gone
| below.
II have heard" said Kenyon" "that
they intend trying to reach the coast"
Exactly. Now, why should you not
send telegram to your people in Lon
don, and have the reports forwarded
at once? The chances are that Miss
Brewster will never think of sending
her cablegram with the officer who is
going to make the trip; then you will
he a clear day or two ahead of her. and
everything will be all right. In fact,
when she understands what has been
done, she probably will not send her
message at ALL"
'By George!" cried Kenyon, "tkat is
good idea. I will see the mate at
once and find out whether he will take
the telegram"
He went accordingly and spoie to
the mate about sending q message with
him. The officer said that any passen-
ger who wished to send a telcgraphic
message would be at liberty TO do so.
He would take charge Of the kilograms
very gladly. Kenyon went down to
his stateroom and told Wentworth
what was going to be done. For the
first time in days George Wentworth
exhibited something like energy. He
went to the steward and bought the
stamps to put on the telegram while
John Kenyon wrote it.
The message was given to the man,
who put it into his inside pocket. and
then Kenyon thought all was safe, but
Miss Longworth was not SO sure Of
that. Jennie Brewster sat in her deck
chair, calmly reading her usual paper
covered novel. She apparently knew
nothing of what was going on. and
Edith Longworth, nervous with sup
pressed excitement, sat near her
watching her narrowly while prepara-
tons for launching the boat were being
completed. Suddenly. to her horror.
the deck steward appeared, and in n
loud voice cried: Ladies' and gentle
men. anyone wishing TO send kilograms
to friends have few minutes now to
write them. The mate will take them
ashore with him, and will send them
from the first Office that he reaches.
No letters can be taken, only tcle-
grams"
Miss Brewster looked up lnnguidly
from her book during the first part of
this recital. Then she sprang sudden
ly to her feet and threw the book on the
deck.
"Who is IL that will take the telc-
grams?" she hsked the steward.
''Thc mate, miss. There he is stand
ing yonder, miss"
She made her way quickly TO that
official.
will you take a cable dispatch 10 be
sent to New York;"
"Yes, miss. Is IL . long one?" he
asked.
"Ycs, it is n very long one"
swell, MISS" was the answer, "you
haven't much time 10 write IL. We
leave now in a few minutes"
"It Ia all written out; I have only 70
add few words 70 IT," Miss Brewster
at once flew TO her statcroom. The
telegram about the mine was soon be-
fore her with the words counted, and
the silver and gold that were to pay for
IL piled on the table. She resolved TO
run no risk Of delay by having tn.
message sent "to Collect Then she
dashed on, a. quickly - she could, a
brief and very graphic account Of the
disaster which had overtaken the
Caloric. II this account was slightly
exaggerated, Miss Brewwster had no
time 10 tone IL down. Picturcsque and
dramatic description was what she
aimed At Her pen flew over the paper
with great rapidity. and she looked up
every now and then. through her state
room window. to see dangliE;y from the
ropes the boat that was 10 make the at
tempt 70 reach the Irish coast. As she
could thus see bow the preparations for
the departure were going forward. she