The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-04-23

speech He strolled from a corner Of
American engineer, and said. with a
! contemptuous nod toward the singer:
what rot"'
mot a bit of it. He's all right.
Won't you give us a song next
If Gray showed the face of a sphinx.
so did Mr.. Wood. whose real name
was Tolemache. He bent a little
! nearer.
"Seen the rockets|' he asked.
mo. Are we signaling"
Every minute: have counted If
teen"
You don't say. Things are In a
pretty bad shape. then?"
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
with it.
"Ship will strike soOn.' he said
Gray turned on him sharply. "Oh,
nonsense" he exclaimed. What has
put that absurd notion into your
head"'
Know this coast"
But we are far out at sea-"
Fifty miles from danger line two
hours 90. thirty now
Are you sure?"
Certain"
do you mean to tell me that in
three houIs or less the ship may be a
wreck?'
Twill be-" said Tollemache. Have a
cigar" And he passed well filed
case to his companion.
The American was beginning to take
the silent ones measure. He bit of
the end of 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?
What can they do? We must all sink
or swim together"
Eyes. 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 a man after
his own heart, the native born Ameri-
can having q rough and ready way Of
classifying nationalities when the last
test of manhood is applied by ship
wreck or a fire.
"Got q gun?' he inquired.
"Cabin-going for it first opportuni-
ty."
Same here. But the captain will
give us some sort of warning"
Perhaps not. Die quick, die happy"
Then Gray smiled, and he could not
help saying, "Tell you what, cousin, if
you shoot as straight as you talk these
stewards will come to heel, no matter
what happens"
Fair shot, admitted Tollemache,
and he stalked off to his stateroom,
while the count was vociferating for
the last time:
Duel bon pitt roi c'etait la!
La. la!
Between Elsie and De Poincilit the
chorus made quite respectable din.
Few noticed that the salon main COM
panion had been opened again until
the sharp bark of dog joining in
the hand clapping turned every eye
toward the stairway. Captain Coulte-
nay was descending. In front ran
Joey. who of course imagined that the
plaudits of the audience demanded
recognition. Courtenay had removed
his oilskins before leaving the bridge.
His dark blue uniform was fecked
with white foam, and q sou'wester was
tied under his chin; otherwise his ap-
pearance gave little sign Of the wild
tumult without. Joey. on the other
hand, was very wet dog and inclined
to be snappy.
Il regret to have to inform you," said
Courtenay, with the measured DELHI
Grafton Of a man who has made up his
mind exactly what to say, that the
ship has been disabled by some acci-
dent, the cause Of which is unknown
at present. The unfortunate result Is
that she is in position of some peril"
There was a sudden stir among the
Chilean stewards, whose wits were
sharpened sufficiently to render the
captains statement quite clear to them.
Isobel uttered a little sob of terror,
and Mrs. Somerville gasped audibly.
"Oh, my poor children" Elsie, her
lips parted, sat forward on the piano
stool. Her senses seemed to have be-
come intensified all at once. She could
see everything, hear everything. Some
Of the Chileans and Spaniards crossed
themselves; others swore. Count Ed
Guard breathed hard and muttered,
Grand Dieuw She wondered why the
captain and Mr.. Tollemache, who had
returned from his stateroom and was
standing in the half light Of door
way, should simultaneously drop their
right hands into a coat pocket. Mr..
Tollemache. too, gave queer little
nod to the American, who had moved
near to Isobel and placed a hand on
her shoulder. Elsie was quite sure that
Gray whispered, For goodness sake,
don't cause q scener' And indeed he
did ask Isobel and Mrs. Somerville,
with some curtness, to restrain them
so1voS