Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-04-25

I'm the prime Of his belligerent ca
reer the Pet Of Frisco had under
gone many Hercs contests and
withstood some terrible punish
mente, but never had he undertaken
task calling for greater courage and
power Of endurance than the one he
had this night voluntarily assumed.
Overwhelmed again and again by the
waves, each time he emerged with the
child tight against bis breast. Hall
strangled, he continued TO fight on.
But at length even his dogged OBJ
stinacy and determination began to
flag. He felt his strength going, when,
raising his eyes. he saw one Of the
small craft from the lost vessel bear
ing directly down upon him.
The sight inspired new energy and
effort. Nearer, nearer. she drew; now
she was but few yards away. Then
suddenly the sheet Of the lifeboat
went out, and the little sail fiuttered
like mad thing, while the men bent
with might and main over their ash
handles In the endeavor to obey the
commands Of the chief mate in the
stern. But despite skill and strength
she was not easy to steer. Once she
nearly capsixed then eager hands
reached over the side. The convict
held up the child. A voice, the police
agents, called out that they had her,
and then the mate broke in with
harsh, warning yells.
"Pull port, quick, or we're over"
And at once the outreaching arms re-
turned quickly to their task. AS the
child was drawn in oars dragged and
tugged. The lifeboat came slowly
about, shipping several barrels Of
water. At the same time some one
made the loosened sheet taut, the can
vas caught the gust, and the craft
gained sufficient headway to enable
her to run over and not be run down
by the seas. Ar she careened and
plunged, racing down frothing dark
billow, the convict, relieved Of his
burden, clung to the lower gunwale.
BY desperate effort he drew him.
self up, when a face vaguely remem-
bered as part Of q bad dream looked
into his with fash Of surprise.
"Bh7 Gimme hand"
The asked for hand swept suddenly
under the one grasping the side of the
boat and shot up sharply. In the
darkness and confusion no one saw the
act. The convict disappeared, but his
half articulate curses followed.
'gThe fellows let CO." muttered Lord
Ronsdale, with a shiver.
At the steering oar the chief mate,
hearing the cries Of the man, cast a
swift glance over his shoulder and hes
itated 10 bring the boat, half filed
with water, around now meant inevi-
table disaster. One experiment of the
sort had well nigh ended In their all
being drowned. He knew he was per
sonally responsible for the lives in his
charge, and with but an instant In
which to decide he declined to repeat
the risk.
Hes probably gone by this time,
he told himself and drove on.
He's done me done mel' the con-
vict repeated to himself. "And amt
never goin' to git a chance to fix him"
he Thought and looked despairingly at
the sky. "Ain't neverI The slobl"
And with a food Of almost sobbing
invective he let himself go.
But as the waters closed over him
and he sank his hand, reaching blindly
out to grip In imagination the foe,
touched something round, like ser
pent or an eel. His fingers closed
about 1t. 1t proved to be line. He
drew himself along, and to his sur
prise found himself again on the sur
face and near great fragment of
wreckage. This he might have discov-
cred earlier but for the anger and
hatred that had blinded him to all
save the realization Of his inability to
wreak vengeance. Now, though he
managed to reach the edge OF the
swaying mass from which the line
dangled, he was too weak to draw
himself up on the floating timbers.
But he did pass loop beneath his
arms, and thus sustained be waited
for his strength to return. Finally, bis
mind in daze. the convict clAmbered.
after repeated efforts, upon the wreck.
age, fastened the line about him again.
and, falling into a saucer-ltke hollow.
he sank into uncOnsciouHnaes.
The night wore on. He did not move.
The sea began to subaide. Etiu he lay
as il dead. Dawn's rosy lips kissed
away the black shadows, touched ten
derly the waves tops. and at length
the man stirred. BE tried to sit up.
but at first could not. Finally be rails
ed himself and looked about him.
No other sign OF the vessel than that
part Of 1t which had served him 90
well could he see. This fragment
seemed rent from the bow, Yes, there
was the yellow wooden mermaid bob.
Ding TO the waves, but not as Of old.
Poor castout trollop! Now the aeaa
made sport Of her who once had held
her head so hight
The convict continued to gaze ON
over the ocean. Ear away a darl
fringe broke the sea Inca suaeestio,
Of foliage AN island or a mirage
Tantalizing, Il lay Tile shadow. illu
sive. unattainabls az the 'sforaottel
isles" The man staggered to his fsel
His garments were torn. His hal
hung over bis brow. he shooh 81
arms at the leland this phanfasy. thi
i vain nrxaYaf~, sv4al&v. - : ,