The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-04-02

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filling the air with alternate prayers
and curses.
With death at hand, Norwood ceased
TO desire it. Springing toward an exit.
he remembered the two women and re-
turned. The girl who was trying TO
raise the elderly woman to her feet,
looked at him appcalingly. MY moth
er's heart Is weak" she said hurriedly.
THE shock has brought on an attack
1 can't move her."
Just a moment" cried Norwood.
Don't stir from here, and I'll see what
can be DONE"
When he gained the slippery deck he
found order, coming out of chaos,
through the nerve of the officers and
the calmness Of some of the passengers.
Boats were lowered, but only to pick
up few progressive spirits who in the
first panic had seized life preservers
ard thrown themselves into the water,
Lines had been cast from one steamer
TO the other, lashing them together;
and men, working like madmen-or
he"ocs-were quickly passing the
women and children to safety over the
rail.
Norwood ran back. AS the girl turned
her white face mutely toward him he
felt glow OF admiration for her self
control.
'All right" he said clcourag gingly.
"Thcre's no danger. Arc you strong
IN hnl
She nodded, and together they raised
the almost unconscious woman. She
was no light weight, and Norwood was
still weak, but they succeeded in half
leading, half carrying her on deck.
The doomed steamer was rapidly
settling, and the water was running
into the cabin when they left it. Nor
wood shouted 10 the deckhands who
We're beginning to east Off the lines,
and dozen brawny arms lifted the
women to the opposite deck
The men followed, and almost immc-
diately the boat they had left plunged,
bow first, and with rush through the
blackncss. disappeared.
AS the girl had been drawn over the
rail after her mother, there was a cry
of why. Dorothy! Dorothy Moorem
Instantly the two were the centre OF an
excited and solicitlous group, and Nor
wood went below.
lie was among tac first TO land when
the boat entered the slip, but he lin
gered on the outskirts of the throng
until the face he looked for appeared.
Although occupied with her mother.
the girls eyes more than once rovcd
eagerly over the crowd. and with q
quicliened beating OF his hcart. Nor
wood felt instinctively that she
searched for him. The idea cheered
him-he felt less frlendless; yet he
kept out OF sight until they entered a
carriage and We're driven away.
The events of the past few hours had
added no brilliancy to Norwood's pros
pctts; nevertheless, as lie turned to-
ward Market street, he no longer felt
life TO be an Improbable episode dis.
turbing the blessed calm of non-exist-
ence. He egulted In the mere fact that
his will controlled his movements
that he was not thing for the sport
of the waves; and, squaring his shoul-
ders TO tine wind, he thrust his hands
deeply into his shabby pockets. with
an astonished stare he drew them out
again. Dangling to one finger by
gllttering chain was a little purse OF
gray suede-thc Kind women affect
For moment he looked at II in be-
wllderment-the memory stung him.
He had twice picked 1t up. once to re-
store 1t to It's rightful Owner-the sec
ond time to pocket 1t himself. In the
excitement he had forgotten 1t. Opened,
1t revealed the unaccustomed glitter OF
gold and silver, and at tho sight Nor
wood realized now famished he was.
He transferred some of the silver to
breast pocket, replaced the purse
and boarded an uptown car.
Some hours later. warmed, fed and
comforted, he sat down In a decent
room and made an inventory. The
purse contained $40 In gold some sill
yer and attached to bit Of ribbon, =
little silver Filipino coin. A card IN
scrlbed with Miss Moores name In full
and a number on California street OF.
fered every facility for the return of
treasure trove.
Tint hight the young man was too
worn out for reflection. but over his
breakfast the next morning he resolved.
TO break a commandment-and the