The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-01-14

u. s. A. despatch boat SPECIFY siSn'Su
and smoke Admiral Brainerd's most
westerly scout, the Denver, protected
cruiser; and the cruisers were the
last American eyes that she was ever
to see. In the northeast, leagues
away from San Domingo, the Amerl-
can liberation Of which from continual
internecine strife had caused the Eu'
ropean Alliance to declare war against
the States. Brainerd was feeling for
the enemy's powerful fleet, hoping 10
divert its attention from the U. 5. A.
Flying squadron swooping down 10
deystate the western coasts OIL tne
mainland of Europe, and also secure
the Windward passage against its ap-
proach on Domingo and Cuba. mat
afternoon, acting on Information ac-
curately supplied by the captain OF
the r. M. s. Co.'s mailboat, the ad-
miral had flung his scouts, one after
the other. down into the southeast,
and detailed the Quicksteamlng
Speedy for Santiago with dispatches,
and to speak the westerly scouts,
when encountered, with orders to re-
Join the main body Of the fleet.
Her acting lieutenant, getting the
utmost out of her fine engines and
sweaty-browed engineers and hremen,
sighed contentedly when he looked at
the speed dial. Another four hours at
eighteen-a-half gnots should see him
in harbor. He also found relief in the
thought that Lieutenant Durey would
then be in hospital. poor fellow" he
muttered, as he wiped the wet of his
night binoculars. Better shell in
ones innerds. and end up in a scat
ter. than have his complaint"
Below. in the little cramped ward
room. Durey was writhing in fresh
attack Of agony. A suffocating sob
burst from him; he dug his elbows
into his knees. With his face sup
ported between his hands he let HIM
self swing like an automaton to the
vessels jobbling. So eXcruciating
were the flames of pain within his
breast that it was as If thousand
nerves, raw, vibrant, and exposed,
were being plucked out by their
roots. He gritted his teeth together
to hinder himself from shrieking
Sweat beaded his heavily-lined brows
and trickled down over the twitchine
ashen-gray cheeks. Gasping thickly
ne threw himself back, shut his eyes
and stiffened his muscles,
Then suddenly his anguish fiej
away. For a minute or two he sal
there, painting with exhaustion, his
body limp and shaken; but lurch ant
weather roll made him secure himself
in a safer position beside the table
He wondered with fear, when the mex
attack would recur; then the jumpy
tumbling movements of the hurryint
boat diverted his thoughts.
AS the boat, carefully nurset
through the Caicos Passage by he
tired officer, hurled herself up tn,
dark, seething slopes flashing diml.
with kinjling phosphorus, heaved her
self across the widening troughs an
smashed down a growing sheaf Of sea
she Jared and groaned and quiveret
In every inch of her rigid hull. Blu
Dwey was oblivious TO the many
voiced turmoil Within his brain josi
ling thoughts were making a noisie
hubbub. He sat there looking dull
at the shielded glow-lamp, his squal
ish head sunk between the even shou
ders, and his thin, long-fingered hand
gripping the "fddie."
Lieutenant Durey was OF slende
build. united for much hardship Q
physical stress. Nothing but his higl
spirited nature had enabled him I
Withstand the pungent seasoning {
the gun room. However, his seafarin
ancestry had bestowed on him a ten
permanent fearless of the elements;
him at sea 1t came as mere routine
cope with and bear the weight of tn
greatest elemental danger. From tn
female side of his family stock VIZ
the taint developed in him-his inerad
cable adherence OF physical sufferin
At school his cowardice Of canir
had earned the contempt of other ar
hardy lads. However, as years hi
passed and his physique improved,
had partly lost this squeamish nice
of feeling, and through his professi6
had become hardened to the thougi
of possibly experiencing it some day
Nevertheless, this blemish was n
wholly eradicated. and, making hi
look constantly ahead to state
war, 1t had covertly inspired his wit
drawal from the service.
However. when the rumor of W
spread in the land. Durey had offer
his services again. He was comic
ably married by this time, with
charming wife and babes and un
the very last moment had ent
tanned vague innerly hope that
wife or his parents would offer SOL
strenuous opposition to his re-servii
some opposition to which he col
honorably how the head. To their G.
speed he had to join his ship.
As now he sat, clutching the 81
die" tight, he admitted. mentally,
certain secret gladness at his bel
sent into siclS-bay ashore. WI
a.. a.. L.