The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-01-04

,ney were thinking. ina, was a..
chance If ever, and before knew il
I'd spoken.
Yes, there isl Mr.. Truman. I'll
go down and welcome. If you think
there's anything underhanded, leave
it to me-
"'Youi' They d never noticed me-
Who are you thena' asked the sen.
lor duly. What might you know
about itq'
"A good deal. sir-that's to saw.
haven't done any deep sen work to
speak of, but l was five years over
In sunderland going down and stop
ping leaks and strains before thew
had the drydock built. That's some.
thin. sir. was here to ask for work.
and there it is If the silk can be
saved-or that 8,OOO-I'm your
man. Try me-
Well, if this ism t a coincidence. >
says he, incredulous like. Will, what
do you Think There's no time to
lose. that's certain. We must ar
range to have our man down .y;th!.
theirs, you know. Come. I'll take
you at your word, MI. Wilder
spin. l want that fore hold quietly
inspected, you understand. After
that the cargo. Got an outfit Then
we'll see to that. Come in here, will
your l hardly know what I'm
about.
1T seemed past believing one way
and another. lleft that Office, mates,
with my full instructions and a cou-
pie OF sinners as we'll and just sailed
home on air. And, would any one
believe it, when I'd blurted out the
mornings tale to Jess she hangs
round my neck; didn't want me to
do it. There's woman all over for
you. can see her poor, pinched
face, white and gloomerous as any.
thing, just as if it was against my
shoulder this very minute. But,
there, mustn't talk. came nigh
never seeing it again in this world.
dead to the minute i was down
at the docks next morning ready for
anything. Lacy Truman-he'd been
on his feet all night could tell
had made all the arrangements, and
he meant business. So did the other
party, it was plain. Saunders and /,
it was agreed, were to go down
together and report afterward.
They d hired small cutter between
them, and appeared to be friendly
enough on the outside. But there
was something in the air right
enough. Oh, ayei
well, tie moment the tide had
turned off we started, with the sal
wage boat and dozen others after
us to see what there might be to see.
l knew Mr.. Lacy had All idea the
other party meant to hamper us if
possible, but it didn't appear SO. In
less than an hour they'd made the
spot. Saunders and somo of the
Witch's crew were straining their
eyes over the side.
There she lies, mate, in ten
fathoms OF m a Dutchman, he SAYS
quietly to me. Can ye go the depth
Right. Nothing like pluck, chs
Well soon know all about her cargo
now. Get your things on.
dow: below / goes and was
ready as soon as he. Course, being
what he was, he had the sneer of
me the minute he knew / was no
But he seemed affahle
and even q little friendly.
Just before we stuck our headgear
on and Mr.. Truman s.as seeing NV
tube extra fast to the pumper he
pulls out brandy bottle and offers
me mouthful ofhand. had it to
my lips when somehow caught his
ayes and that maxwell, he flinched.
Have some yourself says ! |
it back.
Z" i always do-well, no, / won't |
just yet, he says. with a laugh. and |
foSses the bottle overheard.
II couldn't quite get the grip Of /
that, and perhaps it was this action |
That gave me nasty, sinking sensa-
hon when stood ready. with the |
helmet on and 30 pounds Of solid
lead on my boots, watching him 20
Down the ladder end coolly slide in
tc that green ten sa;.lofns. Il was n !
lot over my old dock depths, and /
felt bit dreamy, 80 to speak, when
heard the engine start pumping
away from me. But there it was.
had no notion of backing out then.
Down ] stepped, let myself GO, and
knew not a thing more till 1 found
myself standing still on the bottom,
lizzy with the depth, sick after the
suspense, and with a noise IN my
head as if hundred throats had
started screeching. That lasted
about half minute. Then pulled
myself together. took another kink
IF the life line and knew l was all
light for Lacy Truman's job.
Where was Saunders9
II looked round. It wasn't like
larbor water. You could see as we'll