Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-11-08

xAl the eVenlnR-a light fall at
|09NS6J first, but growing heavier ev-
G2X25 cry minute-and as the fakes
1ell thicker and faster the wind began
10 blow. and its force increased stead
lily. Ralph. hearing the gusts as they
swooped about the corners of the house
and the "swish" Of the snow as it was
thrown against the window panes, sew
efal times rose to 60 out but Captain
Eri in each instance urged him to stay
a little longer. Finally the electrician
rebelled
Il should like to stay, captain" he
said, but how do you think am 60
ing to get over to the station if this
storm grows worse, as it seems to be
dOing:'
Il don't think" was the calm reply.
You're goin' to stay here
well, guess not
Il guess YES. S'pose we're yoip' to
let YOU try to row over to the beach a
night like this: It's darker'n a Mig
gers pocket, and bl0Win' and snowin,
great guns besides. lest you look out
here"
lie rose. beckoned to Ralph and then
opened the outer door He had to use
considerable strength to do this. and a
gust of Wind and Il small avalanche of
snow roared in and sent the lighter
articles flying from the table. Elsie
gave Il little scream. and Mrs. Snow
exclaimed: For the lands sake. shut
that door this minute. Everything III
he soppin' Vet
SO Ralph did give it up. although
rather against his will There was
nothing of Importance to be DONE but
he felt a little like a deserter npverthe-
less
Perez won't git home neither" oh
served Captain Fri. Hes showed in
too
Captain Perez had that afternoon
gone down to the Mayo homestead to
take tea with Miss Davis.
Cit home. should think not" said
Mrs. Snow decidedly. "Pashy's got too
much sense to let him try it.
In the morning there was little
change in the weather. The snow had
turned to a sleet, half rain. that stuck
to everything and coated it With ice.
The wind was blowing as hard rs
ever. Captain Fri and Ralph. stand
ing Just outside the kitchen door and
in the Ice Of the barn, paused to watch
the storm for Il minute before they
went down to the beach,
..TEipk you want to go over, do
you:" asked the captain.
81 certainly do. if can get there
"Oh. we can git there all right. I've
rowed dory good many times when
twas as bad as this. This amt no
picnic day. though. that's a fact" he
added as they crossed the yard and
caught the full force Of the wind.
Lucky you put on them ileskins."
Ralph was arrayed in Captain Jerry's
dirty weather rig" and although. as
Captain Fri said, the garments fitted
him like shirt OH handspike," they
were very acceptable.
Their dory hit the beach almost exact
ly at the right spot. feat which the pas
senger considered a miracle. but which
the captain seemed to take as a mat
ter of course They beaclied and an
chcrcd the dory. and, bending almost
double as they faced the wind. plowed
through the sand to the back door Of
the station. There was comparatively
little snow here on the outer beach
Mr. Langley met them as they
tramped into the hall. The old gentle
man was glad to see his assistant. for
he had begun to fear that the latter
might haye tried to row over during
the evening and met with disaster. AS
they sat round the stove in his room he
said: I'VE don't need any wrecks in
side the beach We shall have enough
outside. I'm afraid. hear there is
one schooner in trouble now"
''That so:'' asked Captain Fri.
Where is sle:"
"On the Hogs Back shoal, they
think. One of the life saving crew
told Mclaughlin that they saw her
last night. when the gale first began,
trying to make an offing. and that
wreckage was coming ashore this
morning Captain Davis was going to
try to reach her with the boat. be-
lieve."
+..s should like to be at the life saw
ing station when they land" said
Ralph =" 1t would be new experience
for me. I've seen the crew drill often
enough. but | have never seen them
actually at work.
What d'you say if We go down to
the station:" asked tie captain "That
is, if Mr. Langley h2:eFcan spare you"
"Uh. can spar tiia. said the SUI
perutcn.'cnt There is nothing of i'm
p,l1ance Il be ,.o..e lle%e Just now.
In, !, will he "a terrible Walk down the
beach this morning