The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-04-21

on in spite OF cracking wood and sails
threatening TO tear loose from the
b~olt-eyes. taking shrewd advantage OF
each slant OF wind, and lowering can
vas only when danger was deadly. He
had come into his own. he was At
home. and the -reiuvenated Sea Queen
leaped forward at his will, as though
/ endowed with fresh life. He seemed
TO understand her moods. her caprices
as though he had sailed her in every
sea, and I watched him test her. loos
ening a rope here, tightening another
there. striving to discover her good
and bad qualities. until my admiration
for his s~eamanship almost overbal
anced my growing detestation OF him
| otherwise.
Lady Darlington became positively
afraid Of him. dreadiug his approach
shrinking from his address. yet not dar
, ing to withdraw wholly from his pros
enco. His sole topic OF conversation
was -psychomancy. and every time she
endeavorcd to lead him 10 some morC
| pleasant subject he would return with
dogmatic persistence TO that n rath
or dismal theme. His blatant seif-con
ceit saved him from realizing her utter
WEAKNESS. and he never seemed 60
tire OF his own u%nctuous. nasai. tones
Heavens. bu. the fellow was an Insult
I ferable bore. Celeste would slip away
uno5served. but her mistress and my
self had no means OF escape. ! re
NAMED quietly below for three days.
and even then was not released by
any formal word OF mouth. ! simply
became so tired Of the s~enseless i'm
prisonment that ! mounted TO the
deck. taking Lady Darlington with me
] determined 10 be confined 10 the cabin
no longer eXcep, by physical force. De
Nova was upon the bridge when we
emerged from the companion. but he
merely glanced at us %curiously Tut
tie. coming aft a little later. retained
sense enough TO remain silent. The
three days passed below had thrown
me much into the society OF both mis-
! trcss and maid. although the frank
Intimacy OF that FIRST conversation
with Lady Darlington was never 70
sumed. There aoemed an intangible
barrier OF reserve between as. al.
though We talked freely enough re-.
Earding our situation. the p~cculiaritica
Of futile. and the constantly changing
wonders OK the deep. Il was as II
neither Of us quite dared 10 probe be
meath the surface, opening up nee
more the depths each cudeayored TO
conceal, rather we're We content TO
drift as the tide ran.
I saw comparatively little OF De
Nova, the second officer. during this
period. and gained an impression that
he vas endeayoring TO avoid meeting
me. Yet ! ran across him twice IN
I company With Celeste. once IN the
I cabin. and again Ia the narrow deck
space overhanFing the stern. and be-
"A TO hope vaguely that the girl was
winning him over TO our interests.
With the others ! sought to approach
/ made no progress Mcknight sell
dom showed his nose above deck. and
then only TO smoke In sullcn silence.
seated Eloomily on the edge OF the
main hatch or TO the lee OF the chart.
house. Olsen was undoubtedly honest
enough. yet without Intelligence. hiH
eyes those OF a faithful dog The
Chilean. "a amooth.faced young fellow
wonderfully deficient in chin. | learned
had been assigned as assistant 10 the
cook, and Was thus kept too busy in.
side the galley I'VE to be approached.
indeed, 80 Tar I had not seen HIS face
on board the ship.