Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-12-30

SyS5 iidd ulcCCEIlCu upon II6 0ICk OF
the unknown vessel. 1t fell far ahead
OF us, a reckless, unmeaning threat.
and yet one which fate ironically might
nave turned to cur destruction. A seo-
ond and a third followed. We stood
as though spellbound. the ~spindrift half
binding us, the monster seas surging
upon our decks In cataracts OF clear
water. Would they hit us, or should
we be lost In the curtain OF the Storm
/ claim no better courage in that mo-
ment OF the ordeal than the good fell
lows who closed about me were so
ready to display. We raced from death
together. and numbered the minutes
which stood between us and our SAL
walton. No thought or deed of our
own could help us The good yacht
alone would answer for our lives.
Now this strange pursuit lasted. I
suppose, g full 10 minutes. That IL
came to premature end must be set
down to the immense speed OF which
the White Wings was capable and the
force OF the gale which still ragged
about us. We had, indeed, now caught
the tail end OF the hurricane, the outer
edge OF the storm cycle; and immed~
lately 1t enveloped us. q darkness as
OF intenser night came down upon the
waters. We held a course with diff
hculty, and must instantly have been
lost to the view Of those upon the
pursuing ship.
Our course had been northward dur
ing these exciting hours. but as the day
wore on, we set 1t full north-north-
west, Captain Larry alone upon the
ship knew my determination TO sail
from the African coast to Santa Maria
In the Azores. I gave him no reason.
nor did he ask one He understood
that my purpose was worthy OF him
and the yacht, and obeyed me unques-
tioningly. AS for the men. they had
been engaged for a service which they
knew to have some measure OF risk
in It. A scale OF pay. beyond anything
expected from the master of a yacht,
tempered their criticism n rewarded
their fidelity.
Timothy McShanus came into dinner
hat night. He lac found his sea legs
and his appetite, and soup, fish and
bird disappeared like l o'clock. TO
watch him drink 80 Bollinger from a
Venetian tumbler might have inspired
even the gods OF thirst. Groomed to
the last hair upon a timeworn scalp,
Timothy would have served well for
the model Of an Englishman OF the go
as Paris used to see him.
"Phwat the blazes does It all mean,
Fan. me bhoy A ship in UGH a hurry
that she fires a shot at we for looking
at her. Larry has told me the story
and, by my soul, it's astonishing! When
I return to London next MONTH"
You are contemplating a return.
then, timothy"
Faith! would we have so much
ganius buried in the dolldrums7"
I'VE shall have to pick up a liner and
put aboard" said /.
He set his cup down With a bang and
looked at me as though l had done him
an injury.
"'Tis to the British Isles ye are
bound. Would we deny it?"
II do deny 1t, Timothy. We are
bound TO the Island OF Santa Maria, in
the Azores"
For phwat the divtl--'
But this mastery sentence he never
finished. I could see that he was
thinking deeply. Presently he settled
himself in his chair and began to talk
almost as one communing with himself.
He takes me from London, me that
Is al orphan II has buried three
wives. He puts me OIL the sea and
shows me a wild mans country. Ach.
tits a wonderful man, me friend Fabos,
and one like onto him. AS a lamb to
the shaaring do I thread In his foot
steps,"
Rather an old sheep, Timothy, is IL
not?'
~apostrophizing the stars In that grand
lose style he had learned from ancient
melodrama, he exclaimed:
Women eternal-the crimes that are
committed in your namel"
DO you mean to say"
II mean to say that ye are going to
the Azores 10 see her."
Joan Fordibras?"
mo other. Joan Fo-d!hras. The lit
tie devil of a shepherdess III the red
dress. Ye are going to see her. Deny
it not, We are riskin much to see her
your duty which bought We this ship.
the knowledge we nave learned out of
Africa, the story we would tell to the
British government. Ye are losing
these because OF the shepherdess. I'll
deny 1t. Fan Febos. when we tell me II
Is not true"
Then deny II now, Timothy. I am
going TO the Azores because I believe
that q house there can finish a story
..hich the SOC has That ia tha
whole truth of 1t. There are men
anoat II a ship, Timothy, who hide
some OF the worlds greatest criminals
and their plumber from the police OF
all cities. That Is what l had supposed,
and this voyage has gratlf1ed my sup
position. I am going to the Azores to
meet some OF these men face to face
And Joan Fordibras?"
II hope from my heart that I shall
never see her again"
"Ye hope nothing OF the kind, man.
IT'S lurking In yer heart, the thought
that we will see n save her. I honor
We for *. Z would not turn ye from
your purpose Ger e fortune pcn the
table, poor divil Of a man that I am.
Go where ye will, Ear Fabos, there's
one that will go with veto the worlds
end and back again and say that
friendship sent him"