Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-08-04
/ Waiting For Farquar.
BY CHARLES 7. WHITE.

| fakes. Still it would be like Farquar
to put out with the Andalusia in
such bitter weather.
David went down into the tiny cab
in and lighted a lamp, as soon as he
had watched Brand Tatlock out Of
sight. He told himself that he would
brush his hair, put on his best suit,
and follow his whilom companion to
Mechanics Hall, where the entertain
ment was to be held. He made no
movement to carry out this threat,
however, for, though David was de-
cidedly "out of Sorts" he had not,
at heart, receded from the position
taken, when he refused Brands in
vitation. The entertainment would
be pleasant break in the monotony,
and he felt little sore at being tiled
up" but there wasn't a doubt that
the Josephine was the place for him,
until he heard definitely from Far
quar- That might be early the next
morning. 1t certainly couldn't be
later than the 1ext afternoon, when
Farquar was holding his promise to
watch out for the Andalusia. Far
quar- must know that watching out"
was anything but agreeable business
in this kind of weather. Most fellows
wouldn't wait a minute beyond a
reasonable time, David assured him
self, letting his discomfort make him
momentarily boastful. Hadn't Brand
Tatlock laughed at the idea? And
Brand had been on board a Kanawah
schooner almost from the day he
could handle a rope, manly, clean,
Trustworthy fellow he was, tco.
David perched On the edge of his
bunk, and picked up .hree-days-old
newspaper, running lis eye idly down
the columns Of the wrinkled sheet.
His secret grumhling was a mere es-
cape valve for his feelings, evidently,
for h, showed no signs of leaving his
post. 1t was folly in which David
seldom INDUCED, but it's what one
does, not what ones talks abouG do
ing, which really counts. He listened
now to McHarg's heavy boots clump-
ing down the si- steps of the COM
panion-way.
"Wa-aitin' up for Farquar, eh.
la-ad?" the engineer shouted in jo-
cosely. His voice was heavy, like
his shoes, and h. fattened his vowels
after the fashion of a Cornishman.
Hell ha-arly put in the noight. The
winds roisin' a-and shiftin' a bit
1ro' the sou-west. It'll be blawin'
dead offshore fore maernin', I'm
thinkin'."
''I'll keep watch till midnight-or
later" David replied. without looking
up. McHarg's jesting tone nettled
him. Why must everybody treat his
waiting for Farquar in the light of
joke? There wasn't any joke about
it, that was sure. Look after the
fires, and turn in, when ever you get
ready"
David divided his time between the
snug cabin and the comfortless pier.
The former was much more to his lik-
ing, but he found himself growing
drowsy now and @hen in tae close at
mosphere, and, besides, it was nee
essary to keep an occasional eye out
for signals from the offing. For lack
of something better to do, he amused
himself by smiling at the improbable
ity Of seeing any. The wind was
blowing a gale now, and the air was
thickening with damp snow.
1t was late, and David must have
fallen into drcwse. He came up
with a bound. flashing an alarmed
glance at the little nickel clock over
his bunk's head. 1t was long past
midnight, and he rushed on deck,
without putting en- his heavy jacket.
He had the shamed sense of having
slept at his post. and it seemed to
him at the instant that Farquar
must be just outside the piers, sig
mailing frantically for the Josephine.
Strangely enough the fancy and the
reality blended almost as soon as his
feet struck the wet planks. A flare
shot up out of the snow-misted dark
ness, and David only paused to note
the direction of the wind before he
dashed down tue companionway,
shouting to Jacobs and McHarg.
'The windll be dead against 'er
in an hour" he warned, counselinS
haste. Start the engine the minute
it'll move 'er. If the Andalusia's
driven out night like this. she's
done for. Well iave the wind with
US till we come UP with 'er."
"It's reesky, laad," McHarg
growled under his beard. "a fool
head thot Farqua: has to be abra-ad
the noight. Who'd ever "a drained
ov it." But David was out of hear
ing.
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