The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-24
NANCY'S
LOVERS.
How They Fought For Her
Under Water.

| Duy Tor nef-
ooh, no, Bill, didn't forget Nancyl put
two ten dollar bills in an envelope, one
from you and one from me, and gave
them to the young chap for his mother.
But say, Bill, l think that on the next
! job we'd better dress the boy and let
him make a dip alongside of either one
of US, while the other tends him. My
word for it, he will make a good diver
after a little practice, with such men as
you and to teach him the business"
81 guess you're right, mate" answered
Bill. 'If Neddy has a liking for the
work and the widow don't object, the lad
might as well commence now as any
time. I'll take a walk up to the cottage
tonight and see what Nancy has to say
about it. She may think it's most too
dangerous a business for her only boy;
but, LORI Tom, amt you and l spent
half our lives under water and are none
the worse for it nowW
That's so, Bill. Why, a diver in his
armor, with a good tender at the sur
face, is just as safe as a parson in his
pulpit. Yes, you'd better go and see
Nancy" continued Tom refectively. "and
have a talk with her And, say. mate,
see if she wants anything, so that we can
get it for her afore we go away again"
"All right, old man. So long"
Bill had just disappeared when the
captain of the schooner emerged from
the cabin and approached the solitary fig
ure on deck.
"Ah, Tom," he began loosely; count
ing the stars or thinking over your past
sins?"
"No, cap; you're wrong about the stars,
for l haven't cast an eye aloft for the
last half hour, but as for the past-yes,
was beginning to think over that lit
tie. l often think over it. Sometimes
I'm pleased with the recollection and
then, again, wish it had been somebody
else that had gone through what Bill and
have and not u.s."
"Why, man, what is it that you and
your mate have done that you dislike to
recall to mind? I've known you both for
nearly 20 years, and, though l say it to
your face, l never saw two squarer men
on salt water in my whole life."
'Well, cap'n, | think we have done
pretty near what is right since you sailed
in our company, but shortly afore you
fell in with us there was something that
happened which both Bill and l would
give all we are worth If it hadn't, al
though I'm beginning to feel that it
might have been for the best, as 1t
brought forth what little there was Of
good in the characters of two men,"
81 have always believed that there was
a page in your histories which would
prove Of deep interest, but one which you
have hitherto carefully guarded. Now, if
it is not asking too much, l beg that you
will make a confdant of me and accept
the word Of a sailor that l will never re-
veal the secret"
At this Tom hesitated ere he began.
cap, although Bill and l never said
that what happened that day we wouldn't
talk about, yet we have mutually kept
silent on the subject, more because it
wasn't real pleasant for either of us to
think Of than because we were ashamed
to let the world know what COMPOUNDED
fools we made Of ourselves. Yes, cap'n,
I'll tell you. 1t was way back In '65,
when Bill and / were working together
on a wreck just inside of Chesapeake
bay, between Cape Henry light and
Hampton Roads.
1--WE had come down from New York
and were pretty spruce young chaps in
those days. Now. it seemed, although nei-
their one of us knew it, that we were both
thinking considerable of the same girl.
We had been aboard of a wrecking
schooner about the size of this one for
nearly two weeks when one Sunday /
was overhauling my things in the fore
castle and was just taking out a picture
Of the little one that I'd left up home.
Bill came along and, looking over my
shoulder, says: Hello chumI Who have
you got therep
Says l, as honest as could be, handing
him the picture, That's the woman l
hope to be my wife some day.
"'Your wifep says he as he took the
photograph. My God! That's Nancy
Stewart And, glancing up, l saw Bill
staring at the picture with his face as
white as a new gaff tops'l. Then, thrust
ing the likeness into his pocket, he Kissed
through his clinched teeth, No, Tom
Baxter, she will never be your wifep
And, turning, he sprang up the steps out
of the forecas'le before could stop him.
"As you may imagine, was boiling
mad and surprised as well. / followed
Bill on deck and saw him sitting on a
water cask. with both hands up to his
face. / approached him, and, touching
him on the shoulder, asked as gently as
could for the return of the picture.
'As he looked up to me the expression
of his countenance was that of maniac.
His features were distorted with either
anger or anguish, know not which.
"'Come, come l said after a pause,
during which my chum glared vacantly |
at me. Give me back the photograph
"The answer received was a blow,
and down / went as though shot, with |
Bill on top. was considerably stronger |
than he in those days and soon got the |
best of the affair. l held Bill down on
deck with one hand at his throat and
with the cher pulled the picture from his
pocket, but in doing so it was torn in
two, and 1 only secured one-half. AT
this instant out shipmates separated US,
and for the rest of that day we avoided
each other as much as possible.
ION Monday morning, as we were
dressing ourselves side by side, as usual,
ready to go down to work, could hear
Bill muttering under his breath, and just !
as his tender was screwing on the face
piece to his helmet l caught most ma !
lignant look upon his features, but he ut
tered no threats aloud.
MY companion had scarcely reached
the bottom ere l was in the water and
rapidly descending. l had made up my
mind to give Bill as wide berth as pos
sible during the day and began my la
bors, stripping off the copper from the
wreck well aft, while he was amidships.
1--WE had been down perhaps half an
hour and l was commencing to feel a
little more at ease when all at once l
heard a slight tapping on my copper he'll
met, and a hand was placed upon my
shoulder had been kneeling, but quick
" rose to my feet and, turning, saw Bill
standing before me- but his aspect sent a
chill to my very heart. He was extend
ing toward me a knife, the blade of
which he touched with one finger and
then pointed to my weapon, which hung
in its sheath at my belt
II comprehended his meaning. 1t was
a challenge to mortal combat. But what
a place for such an encounter l am
ashamed to admit, however, that after
the brief first instant of surprise began
to feel an insane desire to overcome and
subdue my rival, even though 1t was IN
a struggle to the death.
$50, dropping the short iron bar with
which had been previously working, |
drew my knife in turn. On seeing this
move Bill reached forth one hand and
grasped mine, which he gave a convul- /,
sive pressure, and then waved me back
to prepare for action.
''Now began the battle. The thrusts,
as YOU must know. were somewhat i'm