Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-07

Please SIT down.. said Shli po-
litely, and help yourself to drink
and cigar"
Thank YOU Tankerlane replied
stiffly, as he took his seat on the sofa
which was subsequently to be con-
verified into bed. "Can hand you
cigar?"
No. thanks. have given up smok
ing. 1t gives no pleasure to the blind.
y have heard so. Very curious fact
that. 1t shows that the pleasure OF
smoking is rather imaginary, does IT
not?''
az heard your voice the other day,
said Shi. after a long pause, and
thought Id like to have word with
you.
Tankerlane did not answer. He was
studying Shils face, and noting the
terrible marks of pain and sorrow in
every feature of it.
Il have been very ILL., Shil contin,
ued and am taking this voyage Tor
my health. SO far, I'm sorry to say, 1t
has not done me much good.
I'm sorry to hear that You don't
look we'll
Il wished to see you,' Shil ex,
claimed suddenly, because of Lady
Tankerlane ] want to know how she
is. You can be quite frank with me.
| and Laura are never likely to meet
again"
Tankerlane's face darkened with
passion, and then, as he saw this
wreck of a strong man before him,
he felt ashamed of his thoughts.
Laura is quite well, thank you"
l., s,.I L., t,,,c,
poor, and her schools and cottage hos
pitfalls. BY the bye, | could not allow
her to make use Of that gift of yours
1t was kind of you, but you will under
stand that II was impossible for her
to accept it, even to give it to others.
have allowed her more than its
equivalent to use as she pleases."
I'm glad to hear it,, said Shil quiet
ly Il only wished her to take it, be-
cause | thought you couldn't spare it.
When | was agent to the estates, there
was little to spare for charity
There is plenty now. My father en-
| tertained = lot, and spent great deal
of money in keeping up great house
| in London. We do not entertain at
ALL
Shii was silent.
''This meeting is curious said
Tankeriane, breaking the silence with
the first remark that came into his
head. 1--WE last met on the sea- Rather
different craft this, eh, to the Hope
and Glory of Gorehaven?"
Eyes" replied Shil with a faint
smile, ta bit safer in rough sea. She
wouldn't even rock In the Darkwater."
"Yet you are unfortunate in your
cruises" Tankerlane continued 81
was not pleased to see you on board.
Some sailors would call you a Jonah"
Shil laughed harshly.
There are Jonahs on land as we'll
as on sea- he said bitterly. There
are some men who wreck the lives
OF all with whom they come in con-
tact" He paused, for he was speak
ing of Tankerlane, and he remembered
that he had to control his feelings.
81 am one of them he said hasti-
lily. "but fancy that Canewdon Cas-
tie is too large to feel my influence.
am only like an ant in her colony of
passengers"
at is a calm, dark night replied
| Tankerlane. "and the sea is as smooth
as glass. The barometer is high, and
We shall be in Table Bay in five days.
I don't think, Shil, that you will be
able to wreck"
His speech was broken by shock
which sent him spinning from the
sofa to the floor John Shil went flying
from his chair. and everything seemed
to fall at once from the walls In a
shower of broken glass and scattered
raiment.
Tankerlane sprang to his feet and
made for the door across a floor that
lsloned upwards. Then he looked back
and saw Shil on his knees. CROPPING
with his hands for something to catch
/ hold or He rushed to his side. and
raising him to his feet, placed his
hands on brass rail-
Stay there" he cried; "and I'll see
! what's happened
John Shil chung to he rail with his
hands, and stared wildly into this
darkness He was helpless as a child
Through the open port hole he could
hear a voice yelling out those words
which mark the last moment of {
ship:
(. 1.-THE women and children, The
women and children"
Tankerlane rushed out Oh the decl
and found q struggling mob of people
who seemed to pour from all sides
and even drop from the velvety dark
ness overhead. Lights flashed ant
men shouted orders.
Then one of the crew came fylns
past. and Tankerlane caught him b.
the arm
What is it7" said Tankerlane,
"Derelict-~ seventy foot of sheath
ing ripped up. Let go. damn you
There are women to be saved
There is a man in here who il
; blind and HELPLESS aS a women. Cal
you get him into boat? I'll give yo'
a hundred pounds
Your money be damned" yellet
the man: money won't save you anf
l: she'll settle III FIVE minutes. she i
ripped to pieces."
He is helpless" cried Tankerlane
but the man tore himself from tn
iron grasp.
Tankerlane looked for one nome II
at the black mob struggling NTH
l;ehf re q few ,,il 1an,t,t and then n