The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-02-07
CHAPTER Nv.

Bering strait, till on the morning OF
the fifth open water showed to the east.
Creeping through, she broke out into
the last stage OF the long race. amid
the cheers of her weary passengers,
and the dull Jar of her engines made
welcome music to the girl in the deck
utateroom.
Soon they picked up a mountainous
coast which rose steadily into majestic.
barren ranges, still white with the
melting SHOWS, and at 10 in the even
ing, under a golden sunset, amid
screaming whistles, they anchored In
the roadstead of Nome. Before the
rumble Of her chains had ceased o.
the echo from the fleets salute had died
from the shoreward bills the ship was
surrounded by a swarm of tiny craft
cIamoring about her iron sides, while
an officer In cap and gilt climbed til"
bridge and greeted Captain stephens
Tugs with trailing lights circled dis
ereetly about, awaiting the completion
of certain formalities. These over, the
uniformed gentleman dropped back into
his skiff and rowed away.
"a clean bill of health, captain he
shouted, saluting the commander.
THANK We, SIR" roared the sailor
and with that the rowboats swarmed
inward piratelike, boarding the steam-
or from all quarters.
AS the master turned he looked down
from his bridge to the deck below full
into the face Of Dextry. who had been
an intent witness of the meeting. With
unbending dignity Captain stephens
let his left eyelid droop slowly. VIII
Q boyish grin spread widely over his
lace. simultaneously orders rang
sharp and fast from the bridge, the
crew broke into feverish life, the creaA
Of booms and the clank OF donke.'
hoists arose
''We're here, Miss Stowaway,' said
Glenister, entering the girls cabin
"The inspector passed us, and It's time
for you to see the magic city. Come
IT'S wonderful sight"
This was the first time they had been
alone since the scene on the after deck,
for. besides ignoring Glenister, she had
managed that he should not even see
her except in DeXtry's presence. Al
though hc had ever since been court
Oous and considerable, she felt the leap
ing emotions that were hidden within
him and longed to leave the ship, to tly
from the spell of his personality.
Thoughts of him made her writhe, and
vet when he was near she could not
hate him as she willed. He overpow-
cred her; he would not be hated; he
paid no heed to her sights. This very
quality reminded her how Willingly
and unquestioningly he had fought of
the sailors from the Ohio at word
from her. She knew he would do SO
again. and more, and 1t is hard to be
bitter to one who would lay down his
life for you even though he has of
tended, particularly when he has the
magnetism that sweeps you away from
your moorings.
''There's no danger Of being seen"
he continued THE crowds crazy,
and, besides, We'll go ashore right
away You must be mad with the con-
Il. ~
As they stepped outside the door of
an adjacent cabin opened, framing an
angular, sharp featured woman, who,
catching sight OF the girl emerging
from Glenister's stateroom, paused,
with shrewdly narrowed eyes flashing
quick. malicious glances from one to
ne other. They came later to remem-
Der with regret this chance encounter,
Aor 1t was fraught with grave results
for them both.
Good evening, Mr.. Glenister," the
lady said, with acid cordially.
"Howdy, Mrs. Champaign He
moved away.
She followed step, staring at Helen.
Are you going ashore tonight or
wait for morning"
Don't know yet. I'm sure" Then
aside to the girl he muttered, "Shake
her; she's spying on u.s."
"Who Is she asked Miss Chester a
moment later.
"Her husband manages one of the
big companies. She's an old cat"
Gaining her first view of the land,
the girl cried out sharply. They rode
on an oily sea tinted like FURNISHED
copper, while on ali sides. amid the
faint rattle and rumble of machinery
scores of ships we're belching cargoes
out upon living swarms Of scows, tugs.
stern wheelers and dories. Here and
there Eskimo oomiaks, fat walrus hide
hoats slid about like huge many leg
ged water bugs. An endless, antllke
stream of tenders, piled high with
freight piled to and from the shore.
A mile distant lay the city, stretched
like a white ribbon between the gold
of the ocean sand and the dun nf ~"
moss covetdA tundra. II was like no
other in the world. At lrst glance Il;
seemed all made Of new white canvas
In week It's population had swelled
from 1900 to 10000 1t now wandered
IN a slender, sinuous line along tn
.a..t g. ,,,ltao haaausa O,,lv tho han f