Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-10-30
fowed. as be snllenly felt. between lif,

Oned his earnings Tor the stds'h'
Again there was the old result, debt
to the cannery Of 5000 and over. To be
sure. if the season kept up, if a good /
run came in, that balance would be /
wiped out. But the demand that had /
emptied his pockets before. He |
sighed uneasily and thrust the book
back into its place. Helma was the
one on whom IL lavIshed his money; |
Helma, his daughter And Dravhan
would take her with that debt unpaid, |
| and she-he cursed audibly-would go.
The sole object of his hard, somber,
absorbing love loved another. And
that other?
With a quiet word he ronsec The
boat puller, and said: wind up the
alarm clock. Give her three hours.
Dravhan slowly obeyed, and set the
| clock down in a tin basin under seat.
After a look abroad the captain laid
himself down on the bottom grating,
and with his head on a fold Of sail
lapsed again into immobility. The
boat puller also stretched himself out
in the forepart Of the tumbling craft
and was soon asleep.
Within an hour Vragnizan rose
quietly and looked at the clock. Two
hours later the tide would turn lie
peered out into the shadows to fix his
> position, and a savage smile crossed
his face. Inside Of two hours they
would have drifted down into the
Z clutch Of the bar Drayhan figured on
the tides. did hep All, yes! but this
! time he had missed The lights Of a
launch crossed toward Sand island,
and the captain winked at them with
I inert hatred. Then he crouched down
and waited. listening 20 the gusty
P wind the slapping seas, the tense
J. roar Of the nearing surf and feellng
+ with fsherman's instinct the gentle
tug Of the net.
+ An hour later boat w SOB capsized
lust inside the breakers, where the wa
8 ter boils with sand and 10 swim far IN
S clothes is impossible. The time was
h well chosen. None saw; none heard.
y As the deep-bellied craft rolled over
in the trough of the foaming channel
l. surge. Vragnizan came up from be
7. meath. and, keeping one brawny hane
e on the keel. stared out and around
a The net he had cut adrift long before
e and he knew IL would be picked up
IT Nothing was visible but the whlte
l. linped waves. Then, score OF yardi
Ie away. a form rose on sheer eomoei
n and disappeared. Jan Vragnizan wiped
It the salt from his mouth and Whispered
<. a curse. His fumbling hand drew ou
a eask. With his teeth he pulled tn
% cork and drained the liquor in audiol
Iv gulns. Raising himself by swift ef
Is fort, he flung the emptied bottle ia
"a ont 70 where he had last seen III
y STRUGGLING boat-puller. Then with
" raucous intake of his breath ne owe
IN under the boat.
Il The dawn was blowing into da,
"a when the life-saving crew from Pom
a Adams put out into the chops an
:, made fast to an upturned fish boat
- "Right her and bail her out" sal
~ the captain. MAYBE there's poo
T, under her-poor devil"
The men clambered over and unde
y .beir simultaneous effort boat W So
T., tilted and swept upright. As the waite
> washed into the bottom eoughin'
snarling figure emerged from unde
AZ the seats. 1t was Jan Nragnizan.
"a "You're a clever one!" gasped tn
st csntain Of the crew. How did 20
II manage it?"
ge There was no answer, only sodde
= stare. -,
3D. "You Just missed washing up on Il
re spit." continued the captain. "Lueb
nc for YOU YOU didn't"
nu Jan vragnizan shook himself ar
stepped into the life boat. "B'
,es night" he said, briefly, witho'
~ thanks.
by The men looked at each other, al
'eG one said, shortly; where's yo'
~ boat puller?"
he "Bo' pu'? Don know"
Ia when the life boat towing W
us reached the landing on the nv
of b..cb Ian vragnizan stepped ont a
lie. stretched himself. "Likker,"
OF, growled.
pom ..,n said. am make your boat Il
va here, and you can taNe ~ y
tide"
for without a word the fisherman NOV
the M the sand to the station: As
ore crossed the rise Of the beach he ca
-ag- full upon a man sitting against
his IN the sun. He halted, ponderousi'
rob moment. and then said: How
his Won get ashore, Dravhan|
lew. The young boat puller looked
ikes slowly. and in his eyes welled Ia. 7 J,
nos SION that partook Of anger. "Picl
was mn bv launch Triton" he return
sion CURLY.
ugh His captain muttered in his be'
felt and then shook himself again IN
able ~eeking clothes. We'll go up on
ear tide" he said
y a, Dravbsn rose. "I'm going over
- - .be early train for Astoria.