Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-18

tuTu III moment arm IN arm With
Ralph Slade.
Nearly twenty-four hours rest and
skil1ful treatment had done wonders
He was still trife weak and uncer-
tain, was still little glad to lean on
the arms Of his companions, but his
eye was bright and alert and his hol-
low cheeks mounted slight color.
This, with the clothes lent him by Bar
nett, transformed his appearance and
led Captain Parkinson to congratulate
himself that he had not obeyed his
first impulse to send the castaway for.
ward with the mem
The officers pressed forward.
mighty glad to see you out" "Hope
you've got your pins under you again"
AOld man, I'm mighty glad we came
along"
The chorus of greeting was hearty
enough, but the Journalist barely paid
the courtesy. of acknowledgment His
eye swept the horizon eagerly until 1t
rested on the cloud of volcanic smoke
billowing up across the setting sun. A
sigh of relief escaped him.
where are WEI" he asked Barnett,
Il mean since you picked me up. How
long ago was that anyway"
Yesterday" replied the navigating
officer. We've stood off and on look.
ing for some of our men,"
"Then that's the same volcano
Barnett laughed softly. well. they
aren't quite holding caucus Of vol.
canoes down in this country. One like
that is enough"
But Slade brushed the remark aside.
Head for It'll" he cried excitedly.
Eve may be in time! There's u man
on that island!'
"a mani" "AnotherI "Not Billy
Edwards?" Not some of our boys?''
slnde stared ut them bewlldered.
Hold on" interposed DR.. Trendon
authoritatively. What's his name?"
he inquired of the Journalist.
"Darrow," replied the latter. per.
cy barrow. Do you know him7"
"Who in Kamchatka is Percy Oar.
row?" demanded Forsythe.
"Why. he's the assistant. It's long
story"
"Of course it's long story. There's
lot we want to know" interrupted
Captain Parkinson. "Quartermaster,
head for the volcano yonder. Mr..
Slade, we want to know where you
came from. and why you left the
schooner and who Percy barrow is
And there's dinner, SO we'll adjourn
to the messroom and hear what you
can tell US. But there's one thing
we're all anxious to know-how came
you in the dory which we found and
left on the Laughing Lass later than
two days ago9"
II haven't set eyes Oh the Laughing
Lass for-well, don't know how long,
but It's five days anyway, perhaps
more" replied Slade.
They stared at him incredulously.
"Oh. l see!'' he burst out suddenly.
s"There We're twin dories on the schoon.
er. The other ones still there. sup.
pose. Did you find her on the stern
davits?'
"Yes."
"That's 1t, then. You see. when !
left
Captain Parkinson's raised hand
checked him. "If you will be so good.
Mr.. Slade, let us have 1t all at once.
after mess"
At table the young officers at a sharp
hint from DR.. Trendon conversed on
Indifferent subjects until the journalist
had partaken heartily Of what the ply
stefan allowed him. Slade ate with
keen appreciation.
II tell you. that's good" he sighed,
when he had finished. "Real, live.
after dinner coffee too. Why, gentle
men, haven't eaten civilized meal,
with all the trimmings, for over two
years. Doctor, do you think little
OF the real stuff would hurt me? It's
a pretty dry yarning."
zone glass;" growled the surgeon.
mo more"
Scotch highball, then" voted Slade.
s'the higher the better"
The steward braught tall glass with
ice, in which the newcomer mixed his
drink. Then for quite minute he sat
silent, staring at the table, his fingers
atmlessly rubbing into spots OF wet
ness the water beads as they gathered
on the outside of his glass. Suddenly
he looked up.
II don't know how to begin" he con-
fessed. TITS too confounded improba-
BILE. hardly believe It myself, now
that I'm sitting here in human clothes,
surrounded by human beings. Old
Scrubs and the niger and Handy
Solomon and the professor and the
chest and thew they We're real
enough when was caught In the
mess. But warn you you are not go.
Ing to believe me, and hanged II
blame you bit"
We've seen marvels ourselves In the
last few days." encouraged Captain
Parkinson.
"Fire ahead. man." advised Barnett
impatiently. "Just begin at the begin
ming and let 1t go ut that"
Slade slipped at his glass reflectively.
WELL" said he at length. "the best
way to begin is to show you how !
happened to be mixed up in it at ALL"
The officers unconsciously relaxed
into attitudes of greater ease. Over
head the lamps swayed gently to the
swell. The dull throb of the screw pull
satea Stewards s|ea = Eeste M moved