Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-09
CHAPTER III.
BY LEOIJ LEWIS.
Ruth's Search for Willie.

ian the right to do as he pleases about
such matters But the young hair
brain, being rebellious, leaped over
board and was drowned, despite all
our efforts to save him, so that none
| of us are to blame"
He moved toward the stern, when
the sound of oars reached him from
boat that was approaching.
"Ah, the major"
But it wasn't the major The figure
that confronted the guilty man was
that of Ruth Lyman.
Where is Willie?" she demanded.
coming to the point at once. Il want
to see him."
Il am sorry to tell you," he then
began, that l can neither take you
to Willie nor bring him to you. He's
drowned"
"Drowned?" gasped Ruth reeling.
These sailors will all tell you So"
They told her accordingly, each one
in his own way.
III show you through the brig, if
you can't believe u.s." offered the guilty
commander.
"Yes, do" said Collins, who had been
looking around distrustfully.
The measure was duly taken, and
Collins assisted the girl back to the
deck, inquiring:
How did it happen?"
Capt. Beeman briefly related the case
as he had given it to the crew.
ba ;,
she said, you will have a great deal
to. answer for-you and Major Topp."
She looked at him accusingly a few
moments, with white and desperate
face, and then returned to her boat the
old sailor following her.
We'll row to that sunken sloop
Nicholas" she said, as he took the
oars. Willie rowed me around it the
day after it sank, and | will not be-
lieve that he's dead until | know it.
He may be clinging to the mast or
something. He could swim like a fish
oh, know he is living Faster, Mich
olas!"
The mast of the sunken sloop was
soon reached, despite the darkness. so
well did the old sailor know its hear
ings, but nothing was seen of Willie
"Home!" was the one word uttered
by the poor girl as she sank fainting at
the old sailors feet.
Sharp eyes followed the two would.
be rescuers; but they did not know
nor care now who might choose to spy
on them.
OF course Willie King was not
drowned. Let us see how he tricked
his pursuers.
swimming rapidly under water in
the direction Of Beeman's boat. as it
neared him he came up under it's stern
TO which he clung, raising his mouth
only above the surface.
And there he remained clinging, safe
and unseen.
The boat being rounded at the ex.
tremities and of good size, the sterr
projected over him, covering him like
a shield
Inc darkness was also in his favor
1t thus occurred that while Beemar
was looking for him and declaring tina
, he was dead, the boy was within a few
feet of him.
And there he continued to stay un
til the boat returned to the brig, ant
even until after Ruth and Collins hat
come and gone, as related.
And then, detaching the boat from
the rope that held it, he stole ava.
with 1t, swimming upon his back ant
Keeping out of sight behind it.
s The boat had not been gone thre
: minutes, however, when Capt. Beeman
intent upon reporting the situation t,
his employer, discovered it's disappear
ance.
Halo, Quilp!" he shouted to one o
his men. where's that boat?"
1t has gone adrift, SIR" reptile,
Quilp, looking over the stern of tn
brig. But can just see it,
He said this in such a loud voic
| that Willie heard it, as he did the re
, sponse.
You see it, eh?" growled Beemar
We'll, your eyes are better than mine
then. Take Newby and go after it,"
! Quilp obeyed promptly, overtakin
the missing boat within a few minute
after pushing off from the brig.
To his intense surprise there was no
an oar in it.
Willie, having seen that he mus
: again take to the water, had taken tn
r oars with him for such support as the
could give him.
For an instant only Quilp had
vague suspicion that something wa
not exactly right in the affairs Of hi
: employer.
, Tell you what, Newly" said he, a
the two secured the runaway boat, "it'
mighty strange current that brough
this craft away so rapidly and in thi
; direction!"
And took away the oars" supple
, mented Newby
The two pondered half-suspicious
another instant, and then Quilp heave
a sigh Of relief and comprehension.