Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-20
The Broken Shaft .


The big AFOREMENTIONED liner plow-
I'd her way through the Tyrrhenian
Bea, heading for Bonifaco. Far away
n the starboard the red fare of Strom-
oonean eruption served as a convenient
lighthouse. Overhead In the blue, IL
nmitable vault cleaned countless stars,
neir pale reflections seemingly caught
Up again In the long eddies of phos-
phorescent water that raced past on
either bow.
A man and a woman came up the
arst saloon compartment, and, walking
10 the taffrail, looked over the side for
some moments without speaking. Pres
entity the man turned to his compan-
bn.
Were bound to make Marseilles on
Tuesday at this pace he declared, with
unmistakable dissatisfaction in his
lone.
I'm sorry" replied the girl frank
b.
so am l."
~why?"
Dear, you know" he protested.
The girl smiled with content.
Yes, but tell me-" she persisted.
Because, II by any unlooked-for
piece of luck we don't touch Marseilles
until Wednesday it will mean another
six days of heaven for me-"
Don't be silly" she answered, re-
Eovfngly, "but-well; 1t will be nice
nj the same. Just think what hangs
N it-either forty-eight more hours
bogether for us like this and then good
~, or else nearly whole week of be-
ing together"
There's no alternative?"
None, IL we get to Marseilles on
Tuesday, I'm to meet my people and
% home with. them overland. II we
6on't get in until the day after I'm
10 stop where l am and go to sea.
Dearest, can't anything be done to
make us late? Could't you bride the
aptain?"
Hes too unsympathetic, I'm afraid.
The only thing that could do us any
Dood would be for the engine to break
town.-
We'll hope 1t will then. I think I'd
almost give the chief engineer-ugly
~ he is-a kiss for himself IL he
does"
The man looked up at the thick
smoke belching from the tunnels and
felt the quick throb of the screw.
mo such luck, sweetheart" he an
swered, modify.
Att, and down below the main deck
where the heat and motion are inten-
siied, the second-class passengers en-
to make themselves as COM
Iortable as their stuffy, ill-ventilated
cabins permitted. The majority of
Ehese were so near the water line that
he portfolios could not be opened. In
'ha cheerful assurance, however, that
ne voyage would soon be over, this
natter seemed a small one.
A man of little more than thirty. but
nth hair prematurely gray from pro-
onged residence in the East, and a
kin like weak coffee, paced restlessly
lp and down the narrow passageway
Ietween the row of cabins. His face
vas careworn and his fingers itched
as he walked. Judging from
Ms clothes and general appearance
me would have been inclined to put
Inn down as a storekeeper, or at any
ate as person engaged in some sub
,rdinate occupation.
At the threshold of the second sa-
Don the ships doctor met him. de-
cending the companion. He was al
most the only individual on board to
rhom the shy. unsociable stranger
lad spoken. Nearly every one else held
loof or sneered covertly at his awk-
rard ways and rough speech.
WELL" he said. pleasantly, you
ron't be sorry to get to Marseilles, |
xpect?"
II pray to the Almighty, sir, that
'e're there by Tuesday at latest" was
he earnest reply.
rs II so important IS that?" laughed |
be other.
Il believe a life hangs on 1t, sir. My |
life is in London-dying. It's eleven
ing years since left her and the
hild-the little lass that won't know
er father when she sees him. Two
,onths ago my poor Mary met with a
ad accident The matron at the hos
ital she was taken to wrote me in
ombay, and said as how mus, corne
once, II wanted to see her alive.
,r paralysis had set in. Well, l got
ave and raised the passage money
1t was a hard pull, but I
Id II. At Port Said there was a tele-
ram saying she might last till Thurs