Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-10-24

continue LnlS innocent piece OF QeCeV-
ton. If he asks you anything about
me, which don't suppose he will, you
can tell him my name. William Tran
som, but l wish him to believe that
am part owner of the boat"
Bill Yardley frowned. I'm plain
speakin' man. he said "but l don't
mean no offence, sir, when ask what
game you're UP to. I like dealiu'
straight with folk, so as l can know
where be all the time. 'Tis odd both
you two gents should be wantin' to
go to Con sea, when no one lives out
there but old Sam Dowsett. doubt
if a gent has landed there this twenty
year and more
''If were you," replied Tankerlane,
I should mind my own business, and
earn the money that's been offered
you. Neither my affairs nor the af-
fairs of Mr.. Shil concern you. But
you can take it from me that you
won't get my money Mess you carry
but my orders, and order you'to tell
Mr.. Shil that 1 am sailor like your
self and part owner of the Hope and
Glory I don't suppose he'll ask about
me. He's enough else to think of.
poor chap. But if he does ask, you'll
know what answer to give him.
81 beg your pardon. SIR said Yard
ley. 81 forgot myself, so to speak"
But in spite of his apology. Yardley
went down and ascertained John
Shil's wishes for himself. The blind
man inquired after his previous visit
tor, and learning that his name was
William Transom, and part owner Of
the smack, gave no further thought
to the matter He had, as Tanker
lane had suggested, enough already to
think of in his darkness.
Indeed, it seemed to John Shil, as
he lay there on the hard bunk. and
stared into the night, that God had
at last brought him down to the low
est depths of misery. He recalled his
desperate struggle for life, when the
punt had lurched away from under his
feet and the waters had closed over
his head. He remembered how he had
risen to the surface and battled with
the waves till he reached the cap
sized boat; how he had clung to it.,
and tried to push it shorewards; how
he had been afraid to leave it, and
swim towards the smooth bank Of
mud, barely two hundred yards away,
knowing we'll enough that the water
was less treacherous than the slime;
how the wind and tide had swept him
seawards; and how even the dog had
left him at last, rreferring, In spite Of
popular tradition, his own safety to
death in the company of his master.
And then had come the long hours
of wind and storm-swept sea and dark
ness, and the grim struggle for life,
tfh OF OFT Of a
mans muscles and the endurance of
his body And then the cold and the
hunger, and the thirst and the crash
roar Of surf on the shore, the splinter
ing of wood, the cruel blow across the
face, and the final clinging to the firm
timber of some breakwater, and the
sucking back of the sea, and the for.
ward rush Of the wave, beating out his
, life on the palisade o. wood and stone
And then oblivion, and the half walk
ing in a night, wherein he cried for
water, and crawled landwards seek
ing it.
All this he remembered, and he re
called the greet joy OF knowing thai
he was saved, and that some fisher
men had restored him to live, and thai
ue vas w US tdheu W COudSed lSldud
And now he knew that all the battle
had been in vain, and that the life
which had been given back to him was
barely worth taking. What use has
the world for those who cannot see
What love can woman feel for th@
man who cannot look upon her face
For such there is pity, but no love.
''Tis the Judgment of God" he NUT
tered to himself, as he turned owe
and faced another wall of darkness
II would have sinned, and she woui;
have sinned for love of me. l woult
have broken my word and the hear
Of a good woman. All this / woul,
have done. But God has interviewed
Perhaps she is dead, but whether sh
be alive or dead, shall never see he
face again"
He cried out in his darkness, AM
Yardley came numbering down TIL
ladder.
When can we get Off" he exclain
q - (