Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-12
A STRAIN OF ROMANCE.


He felt uncomfortable and disreputa-
BILE. Earlier in the day, having moth
ing better to do, he had set out for a
sail across the bay. They had run in
on the sandy beach of a forsaken spot
called Puenta Majorga. There the
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 it had come on
to rain, with the result that he now
stood a somewhat forlorn looking OBJ
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-
sciously 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 Jovew he murmured, under his
breath. The girl was tall and slim,
magnificently good-looking. He could
not take his eyes from her. There was
a certain air of vigor and independence
about her that fascinated him.
She raised her arm and pointed
across the bay to where large white
yacht lay at anchor.
You mean to say the Scud can't sail
to-day. Captain Flint" she exclaimed.
Her voice sent a thrill through him.
There was the slightest, most delicious
suspicion of transatlantic accent in
1t, and he was enraptured.
In drawing tone the Captain gave
an account Of what had happened. 1t
appeared that the Scotch engineer, Nc
Alister, had gone off on a birthday
frolic, and, as the result of jovial
little excursion in the vicinity of Alge-
ciras, had managed to get hauled off
to local Spanish jail.
The girl was in despair.
"What shall we do? The cable was
urgent-the Scud will have to get to
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-
leased!' she cried with a little stamp
Of her foot. Something will have to
be done"
The man standing behind the crates
had been drinking in every word, his
eyes fastened on the girls face. Sud
denly an idea flashed upon hint was
mad one, but it gripped him.
Without moments further consid-
Grafton he stepped forward and con-
fr0nted the trio.
BEG pardon" he said, touching his
hat. Il happened to overhear. l gath
cred you want an engineer"
The girl looked at the figure before
her in astonishment. She saw tall,
good-looking clean-shaven man in wet,
sodden clothes, with the collar of his
coat turned up.
eAre you an engineer?" she asked,
eagerly.
He nodded.
81 could take you to Alexandria in
the time" he said.
Captain Flint was interested.
Say, young feller, got papers to
Bhow!" he drawled. "And what's your
name?"
The man looked him oack square in
the face.
MY name is Dennis" he said. "And
haven't got papers to show"
He turned to the girl frankly.
You would have to take me on
chance" he said. 81 give you my word
that / am capable of running the en-
gines of your yacht, and getting her to
Alexandria in the time, bar a break
down-but more l cannot say. VIII
you risk it"
The girl glanced at him hesitatinGly.
'1The Scud must sail" she began.
Guess we can see in an hour or so
whether he's up to the job,' said Cap
tain Flint, suggestively.
The man looked at the girl with an
inquiring smile. She gave him one
more glance-then made up her mind.
You're engaged" she said, briskly.
Thus it was In a short time he found
himself at work on the yacht. In
another three hours he had the steam
up, and the ladies having come Oh
board, the Scud raised her anchor and
slowly made her way out of the bay.
AS engineer he was a complete sue
cess, and quickly earned the warm ap-
proval of Captain Jake Flint, from
whom he Cleaned good deal Of in.
teresting information. 1t appeared
that the yacht was the property of
Mr.. Silas Lewison, a rich American,
and that the girl on board was his only
daughter. Her father had left her in
England and, few weeks ago, had
made the journey to Cairo, leaving her
to follow more leisurely in the Scud.
For the first two days ne spent most
of his time in the engine room. Once
or twice as he sat watching the move.