The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-26

L
tening. woman's laugh had sounded
at the foot Of the companionway. 1t
was followed by patter of feet on the
loaded stair, and a moment later Miss
Armstrong, attended by De Montpar.
nasse, stepped on deck.
AS the pair seated themselves on the
weather side of the skylight Miss Arm
strong was struck with the expression
on Hawkins face. His forehead wore
a scowl, and his dark eyes shone with
an angry light in i'll accord with his
usual good natured appearance. 1t
looked so unlike the smiling fellow who
puttered about the poop all day and in
his capacity waited upon her with
such uncommon care and thoughtful
ness that she found herself specializing
about the man for the first time.
Though in her natural kind way she
had often bestowed word of encour-
agement or praise upon the poor stow
away" as she called him, she had new
er given him thought in any other
way, and, indeed, why should she?
The average woman never sees q man
who is poorly dressed. Yet now, for
some unaccountable reason, she sud
denly found herself wondering what
the fellows past had been. Under
cover of the darkness she looked at
him closely. "What a strong face"
she thought. ''But for the black stub
BILE on his upper lip and chin he might
be handsome man." AS Hawkins
raised his eyes from the compass card
and looked toward the skylight with
half blinded eyes she gave a little
start
''What is the matter, Miss Arm
strongW asked her companion in his
own tongue. "Are you afraidp
"Don't you think it's rather chilly
sitting here? Shall we walk little?"
she replied evasively.
AT one bell her escort went below,
and Miss Armstrong strolled idly aft
to lean over the taffrail and gaze at
the sparkling wake. AS she watched
the murmuring eddies slip from the
rudder and go swirling away to the
black water astern she kept repeating
to herself, Where have / seen those
eyes before"
She was disturbed presently by the
appearance of a shark under the coun-
ter Of the vessel. A faint, ghostly light
far down beneath the keel was the
first intimation of its coming, gradual
ly growing larger and more bright as it
neared the surface until the outlines of
the great fish could be plainly seen,
and the phosphorescent halo round it
illumined the Dunbarton's stern. I'm
| PEELED by curiosity, not unmiXed with
| fear, the girl stretched farther across
the top rail to watch the movements of
this phantom scavenger of the sea-
On sudden her foot slipped on the
| dewy deck. She pitched forward, lost
her balance and had gone headlong
overheard but for the man at &he
wheel. Before she wholly realized her
danger Hawkins caught her about the
waist and, lifting her bodily, placed
her on her feet again. For a moment
the great fellow held her and looked
down at her frightened face.
"You little fooly' he said at last.
Then, deftly catching the twirling
wheel, he returned to his post white
to the lips.
At the stowaway's words the rush of
mingled emotions that rose in Beatrice
Armstrong; mind was checked by in
dignation. How dare this common
man call her a 'little fool" Humiliat-
ing as her position was, she yet drew
herself up proudly and without look
ing at him said, II will see that you
are rewarded for this, Mr.. Hawkins .
upon which she swept haughtily past
him and descended the companion
way.
The StoWaway smiled.
The episode had taken place SO rap.
idly and with so little noise that the
second mate knew nothing about it. A
few minutes later, however, noticing
that the weather leeches were lifting
and thinking it caused by change of
wind, he ran aft to the compass. He
found Hawkins staring fixedly at the
card and the.vessel three points off her
, course.
"Where are you steering to?' he be-
gan. Hard up, you soldierw And a
stream of abuse followed
Hawkins awoke as from a dream
and, muttering an incoherent excuse
damned the wheel over.
Hardly had the officer returned for
ward before the stowaway heard q
rustic of drapery, and Miss Armstrong
again stood beside him. She had re
pented. The proud girls better nature
had asserted itself. She saw how she
had wronged him and with a noble
spirit had fastened back to humble
| herself to the man to whom she doubt
+ less owed her life.
, Hawkins" she said in a grave
sweet voice, Il have come to apologize
| to you for my rudeness. You must, ]
am sure, think me very ungrateful, but
. / am not. 1 was angry at nothing
: and want you to forgive me- and ]
e want to thank you for saving me from
such horrible DEATH"
The stowaway's dark eyes were turn