Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-14


at the fly too! Huh"
A little later as Elsie passed along
the promenade deck she saw Courte-
nay, Tollemache and Walker deep In
consultation. They were arranging a
percussion fuse Of Illuminating mer-
curry. While she was watching them
Walker dropped q broken furnace bar
on top of a small package placed on
an iron block. Instantly there was a
shart report, and Joey, who was an
interested observer, jumped several
feet. The men laughed, and she heard
Courtenay say:
THAT is the right proportion of full
inmate. Now, Tollemache, I'll help
you to fix them. We do not know the
moment those reptiles may choose to
attack"
So the captain did not leave the Ala
culof menace altogether out of count
Something rose In her throat, some
wave Of emotion which threatened her
splendid serenity She ran rather than
walked to her cabin, flung herself on
the bed and sobbed piteously. 1t had
to come, this tempest of tears. When
desperate odds demanded unflinching
courage she faced them dry eyed. with
steadfast heart. But today in the
bright sunshine and apparent security
of the ship sinister death shadows tor
tured her into rebellion. She did not
stop to ask herself why she wept. Be-
ing a woman, she yielded to the gust,
and when 1t had ended, with the sud-
denness of summer shower, she smil-
ed through the vanishing tears. Her
first concern was that none should be
DWARF Of her weakness.
How stupid of me-" she murmured.
what would the men think If they
knew broke down in this fashion"
She looked in mirror. In the clear
light without any one could see she
had been crying, and there was SO
much work to be done that she did not
wish to remain in her stateroom until
all tokens of the storm had passed.
She searched for powder puff and
was at a loss to discover its where
abouts until she recollected that the
doctor had borrowed it for the use Of
man slightly scalded when his own
supply of antiseptic powder was ex-
hausted. So she went into IsobePs |
room, entering it for the first time !
since the Kansas struck on the shoal. !
The two cabins communicated, as Mr.. !
Barring had gone to the expense of hav-
ing door broken through the parti- !
ton for the girls use during the voy- |
age.
If Elsie had not already given way |
to tears she must have faltered now at |
the sight of her friends belongings
strewed in confusion over the floor,
chairs, dressing table and bed. Isobel
possessed gold mounted dressing case
the size Of an ordinary portmanteau.
1t held an assortment Of pretty and
mostly useless knickknacks, and they
had all been tumbled out in frantic
hurry. At first Elsie flinched from fur.
Their scrutiny. but common sense told |
her that this respondent mood must
be fought. She dropped t.. her knees.
found a mother-of-pearl powder box
and picked up other scattered articles
and replaced them in the dressing
case. To accomplish this 1t was neces-
sary to rearrange various trays and
,'rawers. Portraits of girl friends In
GLIDING her own. and Of men unknown
10 her, letters, memoranda and other
were thrown about in dis
order. All these she put back In their
wondering the while what
motive had led Isebel to make such C
TrenZied search for some special objecl
that she cared not a jot what became
If the remaining articles.
Yet who could account for the frenzy
IF that terrible hour when the captain
the ships danger? Even
courtenay himself. she remembered.
mad emptied a locker in rapid hunt
'or the dogs coat. but he had laugh.
ngly explained his haste later when
ZONE chance reference was made to
his soaked garments.
Anything was applicable In the light
II panic. She gathered up a skirt and
'ome blouses, locked the dressing case.
nut the key in her purse and quilted
he room with heavy heart. for the
of her friends treasures had
brought sad memories.