The new South-news., 1908-03-21
The Broken Shaft ;

-
The big homcward- bound liner piow-
cd her way through the Tyrrhcnlan
yea, heading for Bonifaco. Far away
In the siarboard the red fare Of strom-
honenn eruption served a. a convenient
lighthouse. Oycrh,ad In the blue. H.
limiiable vault cleaned countless stars
their pale reflections seemingly caught
up again In the long eddies OF phoa-
phorescent water that raced past on
ether bow.
"a man aud woman came mp the
trst saloon compartment. and. walking
10 the taffrail. looked over the side for
some moments without speaking Pres
entity the man turned to HIS compan-
ion.
We're bound TO make Marrclloa on
Tuesday at this pace. he declared with
unmislakahle dissatisfaction IA his
tone.
+ I'm sorry" replied the girl frank
iy.
80 am H.
"Whyg'
Dear. You know" he protested.
The girl smiled with content
"Ncs. but tell me. she persisted
Because. " by any uulooked.fo for
piece of luck We don't touch Mafscilles
until Wednesday It viii mean another
six days of heaven for me"
Don't bc silly she answered. re-
proyinsly. "hut--well: 81 viii be nice
all the same Just think what hangs
ON it--.ither forty-ciRht more hours
together for us like this and then good
by. or else nearly whole week of be-
Ing together"
There's no altcrnatlvc7"
None. II We get TO Marsciles on
Tuesday. I'm TO meet my people and
go home with them overland. II we
don't get in until the day after I'm
10 stop whore ! am and 40 to sea.
Dearest. can't anything be done to
make us lateg Couldt you bribc the
cap,aln7"
lies too unsympathetic, I'm afraid
The only thing that could do us any
good would be for the engine TO break
down"
"Wcll hope u viii then. think I'd
almo~, give the chief ongneer-ugly
az he is-a kiss for himself II he
does"
The man looked up at the thick
smoke belching from the tunnels and
felt the quick throh Of the screw.
mo ~ich luck. sweetheart" he an
swered. mocdily.
kft. and down below the main deck
where the heat and motion are inten-
sined. the second-class passengers en-
deayorcd 10 make themselves as com
Portable as their stuny, ill-yentilaicd
cabins permitted The majority ot
these were SO near the water line that
the portfolios could not be opened. In
the cheerful assurance. however. that
she voyage would soon be over. this
matter seemed small one.
\ man of little more than thirty. hut
with hair premaiurely gray from pro-
longcd residence IN the East. and a
skin like weak coffee. paced res,lcssiy
up and down the narrow passagcway
between the row of cabins, His face
was careworn and his fingers i,ohed
vestlossiy as he walked Judging from
his clothes and general appearance
one would have been inclined 10 Pot
him down as a storekcepcr. or az any
rate ak person engaged in some sub
ordinate occupation.
At the threshold of the second sa
lo.n the ships doctor me; him. de
sccyding tho companion. Tie WIS al
most the only individual, on board {.
whom the shy. unsociable strange
had spoken. Nearly every one else hel.
aioof or snccred cosertly al his awk
ward ways and roush speech.
"Ws.l.' he said. pleasantly, 'yoi
won't he sorry to se, to Marseilles.
expect?'
Il pray to the Almighty, sir. tha
we're there by Tuesday al latest Wa
the earnest reply
rs 1t so important ~sfha;'' larg'e
the other.