The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-20

~ in her eyes.
"Cc~1e in, Peggy, and I'll read
aloud was Monty's cheerful greeting
as he stood before her.
s'No; 1 must go," said Peggy con-
fusedly. 81 thought you might be
i nervous about the storm-and'- -.
"Aud you came to let me out?' Mon
ty had never been so happy.
'sYes, and I don't care what the 9th
ers say. I thought you We're suffer
ing But at that moment the boat
gave a lurch which threw her across
the threshold into Monty's arms. They
crashed against the wall, and he held
her a moment and forgot the storm.
When she drew away from him she
showed him the open door and free
dom. She could not speak.
''Where are the others?" he asked,
bracing himself in the doorway.
..Oh, Monty" she cried, I'VE must
not go to them! They will think me a
traitor"
7sWhy were you a traitor, Peggy" he
demanded, turning toward her sudden
~.
.Oh-oh, because it seemed so cruel
to keep you locked up through the
storm" she answered, blushing.
"And there was no other reason?" he
persisted.
3Don't, please don't!w she cried pite-
ously, and he misunderstood her emo
ton. It was clear that she was merely
sorry for him.
"Neyer mind, Peggy, it's all right.
You stood by me, and I'll stand by you.
Come on; we'll face the mob, and I'll
do the fighting"
Together they made their way into
the, presence Of the mutineers, who
were crowded into the main cabin.
"Well, here's a conspiracy cried
Dan DeMille, but there was no anger
in his voice. "How did you escape? I
was just thinking of unlocking your
door, Monty, but the key seemed to be
missing"
Peggy displayed it triumrhan
"By Jove.." cried Dan. ''Tais is rank
treachery. Who was Oh guard?'
A steward rushing through the cabin
at this moment II answer 10 fra25ic
calls from Bragdon furnished aI eio-
quent reply to the question.
cit was simple" said Monty. 'sThe
guards deserted their post and left the
key behind"
.'Then it is up to me to pay you
$1,000"
'Not at all,' protested Monty, taken
aback. Il did not escape of my own
accord. 1 had help. The money is
yours. And now that I am free," he
added quietly, 'let me say that this
boat does not go to Boston,
Just what I expected" cried Van
derpool.
"She's going straight to New YORK.
declared Monty. The words were hard
" uttered when heavy sea sent him
sprawling across the cabin, and he con-
cluded, "or to the bottom
'Not so bad as that" said Captain
Perry, whose entrance had been some
what fastened by the lurch Of the boat.
'But until this blows over must keep
you below" He laughed, but he saw
they were not deceived. 'The seas are
pretty heavy and the decks are being
holystoned for nothing, but / wouldn't
like to have any of you washed over
board by mistake"
The matches We're battened down, and
it was sorry company that tried to
while away the evening in the main
cabin. Monty's chatting about the ad-
vantages Of the North cape over the
stormy Atlantic was not calculated to
raise the dropping spirits, and it was
very early when ne and his shattered
guests turned in. There was little
sleep on board the Filter that night.
Even if it had been easy to forget the
danger, the creaking Of the ship and
the incessant roar Of the water We're
enough for wakefulness. With each
lurch of the boat it seemed more in
credible that it could endure. 1t was
such a mite Of thing to meet so furi-
ous an attack. Through the night
the fragile little craft fought it's lone
ly way, bravely ignoring its own weak
ness and the infinite strength Of its en-
emy. To the captain, lashed to the
bridge. there were hours Of grave anX-
ietv-hours when he feared each wave
as it approached and wondered what
new damage it had done as it receded.
AS the wind increased toward morning
be felt sickening certainty that the
brave little boat was beaten. Somehow
she seemed to lose courage, to waver
a bit and almost give up the fight. he
watched her miserably as the dismal
dawn came up out Of the sea. let II
was not uatil I o'clock that the CRASH
came which shook tie passengers out
Of their berths and flied them with
shivering terror. The whirlinS OF the
broken shaft seemed to consume the
ship. In every cabin it spoke with
- III