Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04

straining at her anchor chains n white-
hall boat swung out of the little ouaran-
tine pier and moved quietly over the dark
waters. II was black night The boat
made scarcely a darker shadow than the
water on which 1t fioated. Practiced hands
at the oars manipulated them so perfectly
that the ripple OF the water about the bow
was the loudest sound they made No one
would have noticed the boat-none certainly
on the great passenger craft which was
en- fete In celebration of the safe termlna-
ton of the voyage.
She was alight from stem to stern Along
the black hull. like big beads. were the
Illuminated ports of the cabin. In the rig
ging hung lanterns. and there We're fes-
ICONS of electric lights above the upper
deck strung beneath a canvas covering
On this deck the steward band was playinv
lively airs, while the passengers auioVed n
farewell frolic. They We're all third-class
passengers, for the Hcgenlanden brought
no cabin ones. So there were no dead
lines All were on an even footing
UnobserVed by any one on board thu
champion rowboat of the harbor bore down
upon the steamship. and soon the hoat
hook was clinging to the Sides. Ned Rack
stay held the hook while Lars Larsen cat
like scrambled up where nothing but a
cat or sailor could find n foothold
Drop down stream" he whispered
All right, my boy was Ned Is answer
NOW, remember the gals Instructions ana
keep your weather eye open. The captain
Oh inns snip Is tartar He'll heaVe YOU
overheard If he finds you aboard
moment later the oarsman was min
gling with the passengers. He attracted no
attention from them. His rough clothing
was much like theirs. and there were many
SwedeS on board. He was looking FOR M,
one face in all the world for him
1t was not far to seek. for the face Of
Christina Andersen was a very pretty one
and she was one of the bellies OF the bail.
When Lars first caught sight OF her sba
was in the brightest part OF the Illuminated
deck, with three of the ships officers court
ing her favor.
Lars waited patiently in the shadow
while the girl danced and chatted and
laughed, innocently happy. But after a
time she stole away from her admirers and
sought a dark spot against the rail aft
where she could look out upon the darken-
ing hills of the place which she hoped
would be her home.
Suddenly she was struggling In giant
arms, while n hand as hard and cruel as IL
it were of leather and driven by machinery
was pressed against her mouth and nos
trils. sitting sound and almost life itself
But the eyes which looked into her own
We're mild and gentle as a womans, and
had the lovelight in them.
BE stlll. my Tiny, the man whispered.
Don't you know me? 1t is Lars Larsen.
Are. you quiet now?"
oh. Lars she said
Hush he said. Not sound. You are
in danger. The law is on your track. |
am here to save you from it
Why. what is the natter she cried
affrighted
Lars explained the case briefly.
Listen" he said There is but one
thing to do. am going to throw you over
board. In the dark water down there you
Will be lost to every one but me-"
Before she half understood the drift OF
his words the strong man lifted her over
the rail and dropped her into the dark void
below. AS she felt herself falling her yvo-
mans nature asserted itself in one shrtn
scream The next instant Lars Larsen WIS
by her side, his strong arms assisting The
swirling tide to carry her beyond the circle
of illumination made by the lights upon
the ship.
The womans cry and the sound of the
double splash caused great commotion on
the Hogenlanden. There was a cry OF
Man overheard" and a rush of sailors To
the lifeboats. But long before the swiftest
of these had dropped into the water Back.
stays strong arms had carried his boat FAR
down toward the point of Fort Wadsworth
Towing behind it was Lars Larsen half
drowned, but laughing in triumph. while he
chung to the stern sheets with one hand
and with the other held the form of his
sweetheart above the waves.
See 'em searchingi'' cried Ned. pointing
to the lanterns in the lifeboats. waving to
and fro their occupants searched for
the person who had gone overheard by ac-
cident or design.
Search away, old fellows" he cried.
IFS a clear case of suicide. Old Skeln-
hardt will be mad when he finds his pris-
oner has gone to feed the fishes
A month later, long after the incident of
the suicide OF a woman, fugitive from jus
tice, by jumping overheard from a steam
ship anchored at quarantine. had been for
gotten, Lars Larsen invited his friends 10
a housewarming in the little cottage on the
hill.
But he neglected to tell them where he
got the pretty fiaxen-haired bride AS
Mrs. Larsen could not talk English she
had not word to say about ii. Ned Back
stay and the diabolically merry Maria Sol
ferino might have looked wise. but they
were pretty busy deciding whether to wait
a week or two for their own wedding