The Springdale news., 1909-02-20

ward with the men
 The officers pressed forward
 Mighty glad to see you out" Hop, you've got your pins under you again "Old man. Pm mighty glad We came along"
 The chorus of greeting was hearty enough, but the journalist barely paid the courtesy of acknowledgment Hi, eye swept the horizon eagerly until il rested on the cloud of volcanic smoke blllowtng up across the setting sun. 4 sigh of relief escaped him.
 Where are wet" he asked Barnett 'I mean since you picked me up How long ago was that anyway
 Yesterday" replied the navigating officer. We've stood off and on look ing for some of our men. y
 .'Then that's the same volcano
 Barnett laughed softly Well. they aren't quite holding q caucus of vol canoes down In this country One like that is enough. :.
 But Shade brushed the remark aside
 Head for it." he cried exeitedly. "We may be in time, There's a man on that islandr'
 "A man." "Anotherr' Not Billy Edwardsf" Not some of our boys?"
 Slade stared at them beWidered.
 Hold on," interposed pr. Trendon authortatively. Whats his name?' he inquired of the journalist.
 ."Barrow," replied the latter. Per cy Darrow. Do you know him?a
 .'Who in Kamehatka is Percy Oar row?' demanded Forsythe.
 "Why, he's the assistant. It's long story
 "Of course it's long story. There's lot We want To know" interrupted Captain Parkinson, "Quartermaster. head for the volcano wonder. Mir. Slade we want to know where you came from. and why you left the schooner and who Percy Darrow Is And there's dinner so we'll adjourn to the messroom and hear what you can tell Us. But there's one thing we're all anxious to know-how came you in the dory which We found and left on the Laughing Lass later than two days ago.
 'I haven't set eyes OH the Laughing Lass for-well, I don't know how long but it's five days anyway, perhaps more.s replied sladc.
 They stared at him incrednlously.
 "Oh. l seer he burst ont suddenly. "There were twin dories on the sehoon= CT The other ones still there, sup pose. Did you find her en the stern davits? -
 Yes"
 That's 1t, then. You see, when I left
 Captain Parkinson's raised hand checked him If you will be so good MT. Slade, let Us have it all at once after mess
 At table the young officers at sharp hint from Dr. Trendon eonYersed on indifferent subjects until the journalist had partaken heartily of what the phy- sician allowed him. Slade ate with keen appreciation.
 II tell you, that's good,' he sighed when he had finished. Real. live after dinner coffee too Why, gentle men haven't eaten q civilized meal. with all the trimmings, for over two years. Doctor, do you think I little of the real stuff would hurt me- It's a pretty dry yarning
 One glass" growled the surgeon. mo more"
 Scotch highball. then" voted Slade the higher the better"
 The steward braught tall glass with lee ia which the newcomer mixed his drink Then for quite q minute he sat silent. staring at the table. his fingers rubbing into spots of wet ness the water beads as they gathered on the outside of his glass. Suddenly he looked up.
 'I don't know how to begin he coll fessed Its too confounded imProha ble. l hardly believe it myself. how that I'm sitting here in hunan clothes by human beings Old Scrubbs and the nigger and Handy Solomon and the professor and the chest and the-well. they were real enough when was caught in the mess. But l warn you you are not go= ing to believe me. and hanged if blame you bit .
 We've seen marvels ourselve, in the last few days" encouraged Captain Parkinson.
 Fire ahead. man advised Barnett Just begin at the begin. ming and let 1t go at that -
 Slade slipped at his glass rehectiyely
 Well" said he at length. the best way to begin is to show you how happened to be mixed up in 1t at all !"
 The officers uneonseiously relaxed into attitudes of greater ease. Over head the lamps swayed gently to the swell The dull throb of the screw pull. sated. Stewards clad in white moved filling the glasses. defer entialiy striking lights for the smok- CTS, clearing away the last dishes of the repast.
 I'm a reporter by choice and a de tective by instinct" began Slade, with startling abruptness Furthermore, I'm pretty well of. I'm what they call a free lance. for I have no regular desk on any of the journals. l gener- ally turn my stuff in to the Star be cause they treat me well. In return 1t $ pretty well understood between Ills hat I'm to use my judgment in regard to stories and that they'll stand back ,f me for expenses. You see. I've been with them quite awhile
 He looked around the circle as hough in appeal to the comprehension )f his audience Some of the men nodded. Others slipped from their glasses or drew at their cigars.