The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-02-02

| Il was the touch OF nature that
makes the whole world Kin.
A sudden cessation OF he thick snow
| showed them rocky coast looming UP
close aboard--a bacSer darkness
while ahead was a ju'ting promontory
The coast Of Maine!' exclaimed the
captain How'd we get up here?
| Can We get sail on herr"
ITO 'galansl's gone, sir--all but tho
mi22en."
set it--ard the royals"
But the dcmouian laughter filling tho
air prevented this order being ob"yed:
no one would leave the quarterback,
and with set faces and curdlinE blood
they watched the jagged coast APP
pIoach closer and closer, while the tri.
umphant laugh tainted their ears. I'M
Ill the Cumberland. with a grinding
crash ana a Jolt that threw them from
iac.r feet struck the rocks a fun
gaartcr-milo from the shore. Rockets
were sent up from the shelter Of the
companion way until the stock vas ex-
aausted But no answering signal was
seen on the shore, and he wet. chilled
and departing men strained their
eyes for n fun hour before ono of them
called attention to Grayish spot in
he darkness astorn which disap
Feared even as be- pointed to H. \ mo.
mcn, later It came into view on the
crest of sea
II was heavy. turtle-ondcd govern.
laoUt i.!. boat. with eight cork lack.
cted rowcrs.
The lee alley-way was crowded with
men eager to descend to the saving
!lic-boa'. and among those nearest to
the rope was Capt Gray, as eager as
any
why don't ye waltz" Erowlod one.
as he hustled him away and threw his
lc- over the rail
Get back suar}cd another Back
vi yc Yer capgcn here. Stan by yer
ship"
Wen have 10 swim for IT,"
screamed H." captain, above the din u
wind, sea AMI crashing wood Have
We any cork Jackets"
In Mr.. Actors room
Get them out"
The third mate descended ard reap
pcarel with but one which he meekly
handed 10 the captain
AN that's left, sir; my room 10
washed away"
The captain began buckling on The
cork Jacket
mo. you don't" shouted the second
mate, climbing towards him on tho
now slOping deck Leave us TO drown.
VIII you? Nc much. Give me that"
His eyes shone as though with incipl.
tnt insanity
NO" was the answer Then the
Jacket was torn from the captains
shoulder. lie cInchcd the frcuzicd Of
licer and they fell, arising each with
firm hold on the life presorver. tho
straps of which were now broken. Tho
third mate watched them with a curl.
Gus light In his ayes The first mate
had gone to his room for cork mat.
trcss which he knew of
As he appeared with It sea swept
what was left OF the half-suhmergcl
hull Just as the struggling men reacnc
,he break Of the poop When 1t hal
passed over. two heads were discerni.
ole In the reccdIng hollow TO lceward,
and the struggle was continued in the
water. then again--loud and clear
H3o"e the bowling OF the tempest.
was heard the hooking laughter and
the frightful ending mic, Die,"
Actors done FOR, muitcred the first
mate. as he sprang overheard with his
mattress.
But out Of the demolished cabin
emerged the third mate, strapping on
a cork jacket.
The light from burning tar barrel
shone ON his face. Looking to wind
ward, at the black outline of storm.
swept coast, ana at the shaking. grind
ing fragment of once stately shin on
which he stood. he smiled But In that
smile there was no sweetness. no soft.
ness. All the agony and despair, the
misery and degradation Of his en-
forced voyage was expressed In It.
rnd in the dark eyes flashing again
and dchant-shone the triumph Of pitt
.ess vengeance, Creeping down TO the
rail he sprang into the sea and. FOL,
ewing his plunge by a half minute
the wrecked ster: rolled shoreward
and the light from the tar barrel went |
ont in a kissing cloud Of steam.
Prospects were good for the first mate /.
Mr. Boswell He was promised n ship. but |.
he could not sleep. Insomnia had seized |
INN. for ar Internal hooking voice |
was in his ears night and day. As an /
offset after week suffering, he |
thought Of the theatcr. Any would do, |
aud he entered the first play house he
came to, where he sat abstractedly |
through variety performance. A
hurst of applause aroused him.
The apnlarse continued and In,
creased and, when man appeared, |
there arose q Gcaf;ning roar. The man
was in evening dress and, contrasting
Cfrnnunl.Y