The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-13
TIE EVENING STORY
..DRTvTNG HER ALONG. .

which she had come close to founder |
I ing several times. When the captain /
went IN 10 the office to report he found
a new man at the desk. Bliss the elder
had died, and Bliss the younger had
taken his place. He was man OF ~
who had Just left cricket and college
and a life of do nothing, and he had
come into the firm to teach it how to
do business. He was waiting Tor Cap
MY lame is Bliss" he began. 1.-THE
governor died of old age While you
were making this trip, and I nave
come into the firm. You are two days
! over your time"
s'NIr. Bliss. we have had the worst
gale for ten years back. A part OF the
| time the Arab was actually driving
astern with every pound OF steam tAs
| boilers could bear.
What the boat evidently needs is q
now captain and engineer
best, sir. and it was touch ana go Win
her half dozen times on TINS TRIP.
Some of the big liners waited a Gay De
fore going out
other employee Of this firm!' exclaimed
the young man as ne brought ms nst
down on the desk. IF the old one was
in business for the fun OF the lnlnB
the new. one isn't have been looking
uD the record of the Arab for the lasL
two years and find that you maven
made your time once where you nave
dawdled along twenty times. Inefe mas
got to be a change. If you have got TOO
old to make time I'll get younger
''Yes. sir replied the old captain as
he turned pale and swallowed at the
Hump in his throat
saThe weather will be no excuse after
this The Arab will either come IN on
time or you get your ticket doh I
care a farthing for gales or logs Sne s
got to be pushed. She's got TO pc Ioad-
ed right down to the mark and driVen
through everything. on can Aaik i
over with the engineer. That's ali.
"Is the son of his father fool or
Iunatfcl" exclaimed the engineer when
he had been told what time was 20 pc
allowed the collier for her 1uluFe
trips. ITO make that time Weo W4Ile
a mill pond of sea all the way 70
Newcastle and back. and then the en-
gines would be jumping out Of her or
shaking themselves to pieces Is thefe
no allowance for gales or logs
None whatever.
But there are laws to compel us to
half speed for fogs.
: 'They are not to be minded. You
: are a single man and can go, but I've
; got a family and am IN debt ana must
stay on a.,
land you know what it means ?"
Captain Kegs nodded his head ana
sighed and made no answer.
I'm sorry TO leave We, sald the
other after a time, and holding OUT
! his hand, "but I'm not ready for a
: voyage to the bottom of the sea yet
He'll insure the old hmpy for more
her value expect you to drive neI
through or over everything and Wnen
: a fog comes and she rams ner BOWS
into some craft and both go to the
bottom together he'll smile to himself
> over it. Not any for me-
Captain Kegs knew that his engi-
neer spoke the truth, but he was SO
circumstanced that ne dared not lei
go. He would simply hold on and
4 trust to luck. The end would come
: eventually. That is, the Arab would
be caught in some gale that would
prove too much for her as she wal
lowed among the seas, or night and a
( fog would bring about crash lhal
4 would give no one chance TOT nus
2 life The old man could only hope
that it would be deferred until he had
e seen to the comfort of those he musf
leave behind.
The Arab did not make schedule
time She would have required new
e engines and increased coal bunkers tc
do that Young Bliss scolded anc
1 threatened. but he did not really ex-
pect her to make time. He simply
2 wanted to keep all hands anxious anc
mate would remain by her after each
trip The way she was overloaded
d and the recklessness with which she
= was driven were too much even fol
.
y in the face of the heaviest gales, anC
n she ran at full speed in the densest
b fogs, and her captain stood on tht
| bridge and silently prayed to heaven
: a dozen times IN six months ne
r escaped collision by the narrowesf
[ margin. On one occasion the other
S craft made out the name Of the Arak
and reported her to the board. The
board warned Captain Keggs that
! he did not heed the law his certificate
Z would be suspended. He went tc
| young Bliss with the notice, and the
4 latter seowIed and said
: you ought to be discharged on the
:, spot! When running through q fog
q haven't you got brains enough to teach
= you 10 cover up the name of your boatY
z, Six full months had passed away Wher
d / q November night came rnowling down
to catch the Arab off Flamborough Head
= on her way to the Thames. Night brought
\ a rough sea and fog as thick as cheese
= There were a hundred craft sailing thai
/ route coming and going. and when 81
t f9inps had been blotfed out Of sight Cap
e tain Keggs stood on the bridge in RS
S dripping oilskins and communed witt
i've a fun months pay due me. an6
that clears uD the last dollar of debt
p The Lord has been very good to me
p | humble mariner that I am. and can
ask Him to do more If it comes to
night the family cant be turned adTlIt
e bnt I'm PRAYING that the loss of life may
G he small. If it wasn't asking too mucf
Y I'd ask that it would be only me, anc
l. that the others might have a show.
q | We would strike big steamer with hun
? dreds of passengers aboard then"
! long and lonesome blast of Golfers Whis
= tie broke in on his sohloquy; There Were
e other whistles blowing and horns toot
ing around him other vessels had re
l. duced sail or shut off steam. but ths
+ Arab was plunging ahead at her regular
a -'iItl be this tripl'' whispered the mate
= as he climbed the stairs and stood beside
; his captain.
: yes, tonight
And life won't eount?''
Not at all shipowners don't weigh
human life against dollars any longer
q Goodbye, Captain
They stood with hands gripped wher
fhare was a terrible crash forward. fol