The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-11-29

y
upon the Baltic, where the wind tore the
surf at the foot of roaring cliffs, of idle
weeks to the northward, where the pro-
poise played in the cool, deep fords, of
drowsy watches as the ship swan lazily on
the Gulf Stream, of leaned comfortably
before the steady push of the Trades.
And, in the reality of his dream, he
would start to his feet, striving to feel the
planking of the deck. and, far above, to
see the towering spars of the Helga. No!
She was gone, and with her the old life
that he loved so WELL
A month had passed, and he had re-
duced to few cents the little money left
him from the wreck; it was imperative
that he should have more; he "signaled'
to the "boss' when the whistle blew at
noon the next day, but the man, though
well comprehending the pathetic gestures
of the mute giant, disregarded them, There
was, however, among the men, q German
who volunteered some knowledge of Olaf S
tongue, and, through his Interpretation,
Olaf could ask directly for the money that
was due him.
Thus confronted, the "hoss'' listened
calmly, and then said that Olaf had been
paid at the end of each week, and he sup
ported his statement by showing receipts
which bore 0laf's "mark. Olaf then
recalled that, from time to time, a slip of
paper had been given him to "sigp," but
he said again that he had not received his
pay. At this the ''boss' smiled slightly,
and then the other knew; he had struck
this man, and, in revenge, he was being
cheated of his pay.
For moment he looked quietly at the
scoundrel before him, quietly but with So
ominous CLINT in bis blue eyes that the
man stepped well beyond his reach.
Yes, he knew, but he resumed his work,
His head was reeling his great form cried
for food, which, for long day, had not
passed his lips, but he toiled blindly on,
tottering as he moved but moving still, the
great muscles faithfully, but sadly, obey
ing his will,
That night, supperless, weak and des-
perate, Olaf passed again down the hot
street to the deserted dock. Half uncon-
sciously, he saw the ''stern lights break
out, and his ready eye caught their swing
as the rising breeze brought the bows into
the wind ''fve-master,' obedient to
her tug, slipped smoothly down to her
moorings just inside the breakwater, and
he knew that, by noon of the next day,
she would be ''hull down. to the east
ward. And then he dreamed again of the
old life, the memory of which brought new
longing to his lonely heart
Suddenly, he sprang to his feet. A
small boat had come in, was already max
ing fast to the dock, and the words of her
men fell clearly and Ooh, the music of it!)
intelligibly upon his ear. eyes, in one
hour, we 60 out with the tide, "a tall
form sprang from the boat, and Olaf looked
joyously into eyes as blue as his own. "I
am Olaf Olafson,' he said simply, "and
need food,''
For secand the stranger gazed at him,
and then strong hands met, the two yel-
low heads held close:
Ten minutes later, tue two men sat at a
well-flled table, they ate much, and as
Olaf told his story, his friends hand
clinched, and his fists set the plates rat.
tlingi and then they rose and passed qui
etly from the room. Together they strobe
along, grim smile on each bronzed face,
and then left the sidewalk to step into the
street, where an engine, picks and wheel
barrows were standing under their canvas
covering. A glance around them showed
that they were unobserved, and then two
picks were raised, and fell and fell again
Five minutes later, policeman, in the
distance, heard the sound of crashing blows
and hurried to what he looked to find a
scene of strife; but when he reached the
spot, the street was void of passers- by.
1t is true that he saw TWO blond giants,
dressed as seamen are, but they seemed
orderly, and smiling in their quiet north
ern way, passed onward toward the water
front.
When the whistles blew, at seven the
next morning, the engine which mixed
broken stone with wet cement on Water
Street, in the city of Boston, did not re-
sumo its work, and this was after all not
wondered at by those who saw the thing =
it had been attacked with fearful power,
for not wheel or chain or bar was left in
tact, and into each side pick was driven
deep. Such ruin seemed the fury of nc
human hands, and that was all they
knew.
The newspapers called it "The Work
of Vandals," but, we'll out to sea, after
the bold outline of the Monument had
faded in the blue, the staunch schooner
Lief, bound for Christiansand, carried two
towering sailors, who beloved softly in
their loved jargon that it was the work Of
Justice.