The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-09-26

ing better to do he had set out for
sall across the bay. They had run in
on the sandy beach Of a forsaken spot
called Puenta Majorga. There the
boatman had taken him on his shout
ders and carried him through the surf,
finally dropping him so that he got
nicely wet. On the return journey the
wind had freshened and 1t had come on
to rain, with the result that ne now
stood a somewhat forlorn looking OBJ
ject, with clothes spoilt by sea water
and wet sand.
1t had just occurred to him that the
next obvious thing was to change his
attire, when the sound Of voices caught
his ear Looking round he caught
sight of little group some fifty yards
away-a girl, a middle-aged lady and
a brawny looking man in a brass
bound" suit. Something In the girls
appearance attracted him, and uncon-
sclously he moved nearer to the trio.
He got within a dozen PAGES of them,
and, standing behind a pile of crates,
enjoyed a view at close quarters.
by Jovev' he murmured, under his
breath. The girl was tall and slim,
magnifcently good-loOking. He could
not take his eyes from her There was
certain air of vigor and independence
about her that fascinated him.
She raised her arm and pointed
across the bay to where a large white
yacht lay at anchor
you mean to say the Scud can't sail
to-day, Captain Flintv' she exclaimed.
Her voice sent a thrill through him.
There was the slightest most delicious
suspicion of transatlantic accent in
it, and he was enraptured.
In a drawing tone the Captain gave
an account of what had happened. 1t
appeared that the Scotch engineer, Nc
Alister, had gone off on birthday
frolic, and, as the result of a jOvial
little excursion in the vicinity of Alge-
ciras, had managed to get hauled of
to a local Spanish jail.
The girl was in despair.
"What shall we do? The cable was
urgent-the Scud will have to get tC
Alexandria by the 22d. Can't we pick
up another engineer in Gibraltar?"
The Captain shook his head
But we can't wait until he's re
leasedv she cried with a little stamI
of her foot. Something will have Il
be done"
The man standing behind the crates
had been drinking in every word, hi
eyes fastened on the girls face. Sud
denly an idea flashed upon hint wa
a mad one, but it gripped him.
Without a moments further consid
GRAFTON he stepped forward and con
fronted the trio.
beg pardon" he said, touching hi
hat. 81 happened to overhear. gath
cred you want an engineer"
The girl looked at the figure befor
her in establishment. She saw a tai
goGd-looking, clean-shaven man in we
sodden clothes, with the collar Of hi
coat turned up.
''Are you an engineer? she asked
eagerly.
He nodded.
II could take you to Alexandria i
the time" he said.
Captain Flint was interested.
Say, young Teller, got papers
show?" he drawled. "And what's you
nameY
The man looked him back square
the face
MY name is Dennis" he said. Gan
I haven't got papers to show"
He turned to the girl frankly.
''You would have to take me &
chance" he said. Il give you my wol
that 1 am capable Of running the e.
gines Of your yacht and getting her
Alexandria in the time, bar a brea
down-but more 1 cannot say. w
you risk it,"
The girl glanced at him hesitatingl
"1'he Scud must sail" she began.
Guess we can see in an hour or
whether he's up 10 the JoD, sald ga
tain Flint, suggestively.
The man looked at the girl with (
inquiring smile. She gave him o.
more glance-then made up her min
you're engaged" she said, briskly
Thus it was in a short time he -four
himself at work on the yacht
another three hours he had the stea
up. and the ladies having come
board, the Scud raised her anchor a
slowly made her way out Of the ba
AS engineer he was a complete 81
cess. anu quickly earned the warm q
prevail Of Captain Jake Flint, fro
whom he CLEANED Il good deal Of