The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-03

In the little cottage on the southern
slope of Telegraph Hill, Nita was re-
peating many Ave Marias before an
| atrocious Autograph of the Madonna.
The fog horn had been growing all
| morning, and her father and her lover
were out with the fishing fleet. For
every Ave she offered up for Louis
the lover, she offered two for her
father the Padrone Everyone con-
nected with the fishing industry in
San Francisco knew the Padrone, and
his advice was the law of the fisher
men. Even those who had incurred
MS dlSfaVOr at times bore him no i'll
Will, for the heart of that gentle, gray
haired giant was as soft as his bfceps
were hard. Mia loved him as only a
petted but unspoiled child could. Even
Louis was not half so dear to her as
the father-her method of praying
showed that
Just at that time Louis and the
Padrone were greatly In need of pray
err or perhaps more material assist
ance tug boat-certainly steaming
much faster than the half speed
prescribed by law for vessels in the
fog-had made matchwood cut of their
little boat Louis and the Padrone
plunged almost simultaneously into the
cold water just in time to avoid be
ing entangled in the debris. The tug
may or may not have returned to in
vestigate the damage. at any rate, it
did not find Louis or the Padrone, who
were left fioundering in the sea-
Boots off, Louis" called the Pa
drone, almost cheerily; I'VE must swim
till we reach the islands, or till the
fog lifts" He wanted to keep the
younger man from realizing how hope
less was their condition. In a short
time they Invested themselves of their
boots and their outer clothing, for they
were both good swimmers.
This way. The Farallones are this
way. Follow close, but save your
strength said the Padrone. He was
completely lost. but there were vol
umes Of confidence and hope in his
voice. The men struck out, breasting
the waves with strong, sturdy strokes.
They swan for several hours, but
the fog did not lift or thin in the least.
Louis began to tire, and the Padrone
heard his gasping for breath "Cour-
age, boy, for Nita," he cried But
Louis strength was fast giving out.
Put your hand on my shoulder"
yentured the Padrone; Il can tow
YOU
mo" painted Louis; 81 cannot last.
Save yourself
1T is for Nita. boy. You must be
saved" said the Padrone, sharply; 'in
the name of God, listeni-the break
ers! There is land ahead
The young man struck out deSper-
ately, and the Padrone, swimming be-
hind, with one powerful arm, pushed
him forward. holding him by the hair
with the other hand. A heavy roller
caught the pair hurting Louis up on
an exceedingly small area Of sandy
beach. But the Padrone was not so
fortunate. He was dashed against a
high rock on one side of the beach,
and though he managed to crawl over
to Louis, his left knee was painfully
crippled. They lay breathless on the
sand for some time.
Apparently they were in a little gully,
with walls running perpendicularly.
and the floor sloping upward at sharp
angle.
Holy Mary." whispered the Pa
drone. Out Of the mist came the sharp
bark of the seal. Louis was too much
exhausted to realize what it meant.
But the Padrone knew. The seals
would soon become alarmed and come
sliding down that narrow slope seeking
the water, after their custom when
alarmed. Several more commenced to
bark. The Padrone looked upward in
despair. Several feet above, on one Of
the walls, little ledge of rock jutted
outward like a shelf
Thank God" muttered the Padrone;
i can save him for Nita. Yes, the old
man will save her Louis for his little
girl"
He dragged himself quickly to his
feet, though the sharp pain in his knee
made him vince. The seals were thor
oughly aroused by this time. Rapidly
gauging the distance with his eye, the
Padrone seized the unconscious young
man in his arms and tossed him softly
up on the ledge
The Padrone could hear the sound of
the seals fipperS as they began their
descent. He bowed his head to receive
death, with a prayer on his lips. But
in the Kaleidoscope flashes of recoI-
lection that come to men at such times,
came the momentary remembrance of
the days when he stood shoulder to
shoulder with the red-shirted men in
Italy to receive the charges of Pho
Nono's troops. He lifted his head with