Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-17

mo. Are we SlSnallnSE
Every minute; have counted fif
teen"
You don't say. Things are in
pretty bad shape, them"
Rotten
well. like Br'er Rabbit, we must lie
low and say nothing"
This opinion was incontrovertible
Moreover, Tollemache was not one who
needed urging to keep his mouth shut
Indeed, this was by far the longest
conversation he had INDUCED in since
he came aboard, nor was he finished
IT. -,
ship VIII strike soon." he SAID.
Gray turned on him sharply. "Oh.
nonsensew he exclaimed. What has
put that absurd notion into your
head?"
Know thistcOast."
But we are far out at sea"
Fifty miles from danger line two
hours ago; thirty now
Are you sure:"
Certain
DO you mean to tell me that In
three hours or less the ship may be a
wreck:''
"Will be-" said Tollemache. Have a
cigar" And, he passed a well filed
case to his companion.
The American was beginning TO take
the silent ones measure. He bit off
the end of a cigar and lit it.
whats at the back of your head?"
he asked coolly. The other looked to-
ward the Chileans.
Those chaps are rotters." he said.
You think they will cut up rough?
or swim together"
Yes. but there are the women, you
know. They must be looked after.
You can count on me. Tell the chief
steward and the padre"
| Gray felt that here was man after
his own heart, the native born Ameri-
can having a rough and ready way of
| classifying nationalities when the last
test Of manhood is applied by ship
wreck or fire.
Got q gum" he inquired.
| "Cabin-going for it first opportuni
| ty"
Same here But the captain viii
| give us some sort of warning
Perhaps not. Die quick, die happy
Then Gray smiled. and he could no
help saying. Tell you what, cousin, Il
you shoot as straightas you talk thes,
stewards will come to heel, no matte
what happens
Fair shot" admitted Tollemache
aud he stalked off to his stateroom
while the count was vociferating fol
the last time:
Quel bon pitt roi cetait la.
| La, la,
Between Elsie and De Poincilit tn,
chorus made quite a respectable din
Few noticed that the salon main com
panion had been opened again unit
the sharp bark of a dog joining il
the hand clapping turned every ey'
toward the stairway. Captain Courte
nay was descending. In front raj
Joey. who of course imagined that tn,
plaudits of the audience demanded
recognition. Courtenay had removed
his oiskins before leaving the bridge
His dark blue uniform was f1ecket
with white foam, and a sou'wester wa
tied under his chin; otherwise his ap
pearance gave little sign of the wilt
tumult without Joey, on the othe
hand, was Il very wet dog and inclined
to be snappy.
II regret to have to inform you," salt
Courtenay, with the measured DELHI
Grafton of a man who has made up hi
mind exactly what to say, that tn
ship has been disabled by some acci
dent, the cause of which is unknown
at present. The unfortunate result 4
that she is in position of some peril
There was sudden stir among tn
Chilean stewards, whose wits wer
sharpened sufficiently to render tn
captains statement quite clear to them
Isobel uttered little sob of terror
and Mrs. Somerville gasped audibly
"Oh, my poor Children Elsie, he
lips parted, sat forward on the plan
stool. Her senses seemed to have be
come intensified all at once, She coul,
see everything, hear everything. Som
of the Chileans and Spaniards crosse,
themselves; others swore. Count Ed
Guard breathed hard and muttered
Grand Dieur' She wondered why tn
captain and Mr.. Tollemache, who hat
returned from his stateroom and wa
standing In the half light of a door
way, should simultaneously drop thei
right hands into q coat pocket. MI
Tollemache, too, gave a queer littl
nod to the American, who had move
near to Isobel and placed a hand o.
) her shoulder. Elsie was quite sure tina
Gray whispered, "For goodness sake
: don't cause a scener' And indeed b
did ask Isobel and Mrs. Somervillt
with some curtness, to restrain then
selves.