Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-09
DAILY SHORT STORY
WHEN THE FOG SHUT DOWN.


Cusker would admit to himself the
truth of the suspicion which for 1.-THE
past half hour had been. momentarily
growing upon him. Yet he dared, not
stop rowing lest the girl should sus-
pect,the tsuth. He shut his teethhard
as he,bentsover the oars.
The gray dreary mist which had
shut down like a pail seemed growing
more dense, and by this he knew that
Darkness was coming on. Somehow in
the fog Tie had missed the yachts at
the moorings, and now the motion of
the tender as she slid over the long in
coming sweils told Thin they were well
out In the hay.
1t was a serious predicament. The
fog gave, sign Of lifting, and, with
darkness ,comfng on, the chances of
spending q night in the open boat were
somewhat more, than McCusker cared
to contemplate.
"Sorry. ,, Miss Carey, but we've over
shot the mark and pulled past the
yachts in the fog. H;ard port. please.
Wen make them in a.trice."
The girl smiled as she brought the
boat about.
81 wonder You can get your bearings
at all in this wretcaied fog" she said.
Something in her, tone made McCus-
ker look up quickly
"And l have my own suspicious as
to our present plight. Honestly, now.
| do YOU know where we areT'
"Oh. there's not the slightest dan
GER" McCusker'began reassuringly.
$50 we are not lost. then" she said
lightly ssrhiS Ia great fun"
/ McCusker looked ut her with undiS-
| guised admiration.
YES" said he: we're really lost.
And, by George. it makes it a lot cas-
| Ter to have some one along you can
tell the truth tn without sending her
| into Mysteries
The worst-tell'it all.'' the girl de
manded.
"Well.'' said he. we're out in1 the
bay somewhere. that's evident. band
| heaven only. knows where we cansfind
the yachts. We may drift round all
night. but not If can help It," he end
ed. with determination.
He pat his hands to his mouth and
shouted ,again and again at the top Of
his voice. but got no answer.
"Humph," he commented. Just as
/ thought. Nothing to do but pail for
II. It's rather uncertain. but it's'better
than drifting anyway"
He took up the oars. and the tender
shot ahead under his powerful strokes
| There xwas no sound save the creaking
/ OF the oars i'm their OaElocks and the
| wash of,the boat as she rode over the
swells.
| Darkness was fast coming on. The
mist wallis which hemmed them in
| changed from CHASTITY white to dull
| gray McCrRker could scarcely make
| out the facesO OF the girl In the stern
| sheets. Then slowly the gray deep
| ened into black. and night was upon
/ them. Every few minutes the man
/ ceased rowing and shouted through
| the mist, but the SOUND OF his voice
| seemed to die out in hollow emptiness.
| Here's a fxr he said at length.
Eve don't seem to be getting any
where Are you cold?"
| Not a bit" she SAID cheerfully.
You'd best stop rowing; and trust to
the tide. 1t must be making in now.
You're firing yourself outtand all to no
| purpose"
Look here" said he, 1--WE simply
must find the yachts"
| "ImpossibiIities admit Of no 'musts,'"
she observed phIosophically.
| II know" he said. but the whole
| future hangs on it. If we drift round
all night-you see-that Is
| "Oh." she said,quickly,' you'd better
| row. think
There was a hint of GOODNESS in her
voice. McCusker dug the oars savage
| ly into the water.
| I'm afraid you don't understand"
he said finally.
The girl said nothing.
Its this way" he said, desperately,
f-if we drift round all night you'll
| think when / ask you to marry me, as
I've been trying to'get up the courage
/ to do for weeks. that I'm prompted to
| do so 10y a sense OF obligation. 1t will
be no such thing, bun you'll think SO.
| Just the same. Therefore 1 want to
| make the yachts and prove TO you'll
/ would have asked you anyway"
The girl was silent. McCusker Can
4 cied he heard n low chuckle. from the
| vicinity OF the stern sheets, but pro-
tracted listening on his part failed to
verify this.
lie pulled away with all his might.
i Presently he noticed that the tender
| no longer rose and fell. They were n
the quiet waters OF the harbor. He
could have shouted for joy. He bent
over the oars with a new energy born
Of hope.
1 Out of the fog there suddenly ap-
| peared a light. There was a shock Of
collision that nearly threw them from
| the thwarts.
We've found the yachts" said Nc
| Cusker laconically. and then to a voice
that hailed them from the dark: Il
say. where's the yesta. old man? Sec.
| ond boat to starboard? Thanks
| A few moments later they stood on,
i tho XaSfa,a daclr roua PaffaHcoxa aaA