Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-08-04

Ine searchllgnt, however, was ALSO
coming, and so was the cutter.
Nearer and nearer came the glare
across the water until first one arm.
then the body. of one OF the terrified
Cinnamon was within its focus. Pres
emily the entire beat was in the broad
path of light
BOAT ahoyi" came from the cutter.
Pull, Joe. pull" growied Lawton
"Well make it yet !"
BOAT ahoyi'' came down the breeze
The only reply was binding fash,
which came simultaneously with a
by the rending of timber and cry of
agony
The cutters mainmast had been
struck
For moment all was confusion
Then the commanders stern voice was
heard: Take him below 70 the lightl
Don't let those men escape.
The brief interval Of confusion had
given the tired rowers an advantage of
which they were not slow toavail them
selves
Give en- shot across their bows,
Tom. Easy, man. easy Aim close. but
DOM shatter them this time. =
Scarcely we've the words out of the
captains mouth when tho small gun
belched forth fiery order to stop.
Whistling through the atmosphere
the leaden messenger. true to the gun
ner's aim, buried itself with thud in
the seething water about ten feet ahead
of the boat.
Egad, they re neryy setI' said the
commander as the smugglers only re-
doubled their efforts to gain the shore.
Hard a-starboard, there! Quick r.
he reared Run inside of them and
shut them out Bear down close, but
watch out and don't run them down. I"
The last hope of the fugitives had
fed. Lawton turned in his seat and
said calmly to Joe, ''It's all up, part
ner; we're caught like rats in trap"
Suddenly, like one seized with the
frenzy of despair, the desperate speaker
gave quick, vigorous stroke with his
right oar, thus throwing the frail craft
directly III the steamers path.
The captain saw the move and rang
the backing bell, but too late tho sharp
PROV of the vessel cut through the boat
like knife. cleaving her in two.
A wild shrek of despair rang out on
the night air and was borne away on
the wings Of the storm The turbulent
waters embraced six struggling forms
Life preservers were quickly thrown
into the stream, while the pinnace was
lowered in hurry. The crew went Wig
orously about the work of rescue and
succeeded in getting four out of the six.
One Chinaman and Lawton were
missing. Nothing could bo seen Of the
former, while the latter's head could be
discemed bobbing up and down on the
waves as he struck out for shore. The
cutters boat at once gave chase, when
suddenly the swimmer threw up his
hands, and, with one wild cry, disap-
peared from view and was seen no more.
He deliberately sought death rather
than be captured. So the officers thought
In a small cabin nesting amid the
timber on back road some miles from
Windsor sat woman Her once hand
some face showed the lines of care.
While rocking the baby to aud fro her
dark eyes kept wandering to the door
with an anxious expression as she lis
tened to the storm without. From her
faithful heart prayer went up for the
safety of her husband. the daring snug
gler.
Lawton was a lawhreaker, an enemy
Of society, and should be suppressed,
but he was all in all to this woman in
the woods. who watched for his coming
SO eagerly 1t was to be his last trip
and they would again seek their home
in Virginia. His father had forgiven
the marriage against his wishes. Wealth
and comfort awaited the pair.
Twill he never Gomez she said as
she lard her sleeping infant OH the bed
The wind sang mournfully around the
corner of the cabin Hark, there were
the swapping of twigsand heavy foot
fall on the doorstep.
The flood of light from within shone
on the dripping figure of the smuggler
as his wife opened the door. The ex-
preston of savage triumph gave way to
love light i'll his eyes, as unheeding his
dripping garments she clasped her arms
around him with murmured. "Thank
God, you are safe.
"You will stop now, won't you?" she
continued. gazing at him with her soul
in her eyes
Softly he stroked the brown hair,
thinly streaked with gray. and whis-
pered in her ear
A bright light spread over her face as
she led the drenched man inside and
closed the door,
The storm was over The rising sun
caressingly touched the top of the hum
bic home. A squirrel scurried out of
the open door. The hut was empty A
new day had also dawned for the daring
lawbreaker. now on his way to his
southern home. Detroit Tribune.