Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-14

glow in her face. Somehow II was de.
lightful to hear those words from such
a man in the hour Of his supremest
trial, for she realized what It meant
to him, even though his life we're
saved, il the Kansas became a wreck.
She stopped, ostensibly to grasp the
dogs collar.
Before you leave me-" she said, "let
me tell you how sorry 1 am for you"
He ran down the stairs and entered
the small salon, which had been
hastily converted into n hospital. Per-
haps it would be better described as a
mortllary. for It held more dead than
living. Christobal, aided by two sail
ors, was wrapping lint around n fire
mans scared arm. Happily there was
an abundance OF cotton sheets avail
able, and the men tore them into strips.
But the comparatively small supply Of
cotton wool carried in the ships stores
and in the doctors private medicine
chest had long since given out.
Miss Maxwell is here. She asked
me to bring her to you in case she
might be able to render you some as
sistance," explained Courtenay.
Christobal drew himself upright.
with the slowness of an elderly man
whose joints are stiffcning.
Miss Maxwell here:' he repeated,
obviously surprised. If not ~displcased.
He waved a hand toward the men laid
on mattresses on the deck. Most were
quite motlonless. Others writhed in
agony. "She cannot comet is i'm.
possible"
Courtenay saw that the girl could
do no good now in that chamber OF
death. The mere memory of it would
be an abiding horror. He wanted
Christobal himself to send her away,
but the doctor had taken off his coat
and barred his arms. His appearance
was grimly buslnessllke.
Twill you tell her how much am
obliged to her for her kind thought:
But, you see. it cannot be permitted
Please say that I hope to join her in
the sailor in n quarter of an hour
My work is nearly ended. l am sure
you will make her understand that this
is not a place for n woman"
Again he swept the row Of silent
bodies with a comprehensive hand
Yet the trivial thought intruded Itself
on the sailor that this elegant ole
Spaniard delegated the task Of ex
PLANTATION to him solely because he die
not wish to appear before Miss Max
well in a somewhat disheveled state
He dismissed the notion at once.
How many" he asked. glanciug a
ages.
Eleven now. BY the way, just one
word. What chance have we:" Chris
tobal put the concluding sentence il
French.
Courtenay answered in the same Ian
come to the salon and warn you. Tha'
will be only fair, don't you Think"
Most certainly. Well, I may as vel
finish here" And the doctor signed t,
his helpers to lift the next sufferer OF
to the table.
Courtenay returned to the stairway
At the top stood Elsie, looking eagerly
" nIS cdBpCAIdhCC "A cCuoC VI uuut
terable anguish shock him for a secont
as he saw the sweet face, instinct will
life and beauty, gazing down at him
How monstrous it was to think OF sucl
a fair woman being battered out o
recognition against the rocks. He bi
his lip s~avagcly, and it is to be fearc,
the words he swallowed were not thos'
~ et,ryl,anttor Dat bic 1v4r ,.1s
calm and his voice well under contro
when he said:
"Dr. ChriStObal is captain below
there, Miss Maxwell, and he absolute
~ vetoes YOU presence. He was ex
ceedingly distressed at being colnpellc,
to send you such a message. However
he will soon explain matters to you il
person, as he is coming aft almost a
once"
Elsie was disappointed She dreaded
the return to the salon. with its queer
~ assorted company. When she quit
ted them they were in n state Of indie
%scribable distress. Gray and the Eng
ard to adjust life belts, but Isobel wa
in a frenzy Of despair, her maid hat
tainted, De Poincilit and the Spaniard
were muttering alternate appeals t
the saints and oaths Of utter abandon
ment, and Mrs. Somervillc was almos
unconscious, while her husband knel
by her side and wrung his hands il
abject misery. Anything vas bette
than to go back to that woeful Assem-
bly,, vet she choked down a protest an,
said quietly:
Il an ready. I am afraid / hav'
been a bother to you, Captain Courte
nay"
Say, rather, you have given m
hope. l think heaven has work TO
you to do in the world. Let rae 60 on
first. Never mind Joey. He can strue
gle along behind. Steady now. Hea,
: down and lean well against the wind,
Elsie found, to her amazement, tina
there was less sense Of danger in fac
ing the wind than in being drive
along before 1t. Moreover, she ha
greater confidence during this secon
transit over the exposed portion of tn
deck. She felt Courtenay dragging he
, on irresistibly until they gained the lie
OF the smoking room. He let her res
there beneath the ladder leading to tn
bridge. Then q strange revulsiOn O
I feeling came to him. He experience