The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20
"Still coming. Carteret?"

"Ill be with you"
"Shall we hold the Water Kepie at the pier?"
Don't worry I'll be there in time. l hope you
have the thousand with you"
AS Carter headed out along the south shore in his
oyster boat the afternoon of the 18th he amused
himself with an armful of the evening newspapers.
All of them contained mention of mysterious
concerning Hicksville and Great Eastern. For some
months the stock had been inactive but with the open
ing of the market days before it had jumped up
three points. Later it had fallen SIX in
wholly inexplcablc fashion. Talk of approaching
dividend conficted with prediction of bad traffic
statement and Wall had hatched brood of its
strange tales, to the great delight of the para
graphers.
OUT AT SEA ALONE
1t had been windy early fall and Carter had
counted upon weather favoring his purpose As night
drew in fresh southeast breeze sent the old oyster
boat wallowing heavily, and Carter headed back be-
fore it. He wished to be able to face the
where off Long Beach. After time he picked up the
lights of Coney Island. 1t hazy windward but
luminous bank of clouds overhead made the
rounding expanse clear enough. To the south the
long, powerful hulk of ocean liner, studded with
twnkling points swept in toward the Narrows. An
other coming up from farther east. Two ocean
going tugs conveying massive clump OF lighters
plunged sulenly and ponderously outward. He
glanced at his watch by the glow of his cigar. 1t
o'clock By this time he thought the Water Kelpe
should have left her dock
His craft heaved and squattered among the waves
like hen in the sand. Her engine pounded on in
dustriously missing fire with amiable regularity. 1t
cold, and Carter had recourse to overceat of
ancient vintage which he had had the forethought
bring He made for himself near the wheel
with old awning dragged from cubby hole and
smoked cigars chain fashion. He would have pleas
ant outing of it for his thousand odd dollars and his
trouble if nothing more.
He ran in we'll past Rockaway then turned once
more. The southeast breeze snoring comfortably
and the oyster boat staggered into it without too
much effort 1t occurred to him that with the drec-
ton of the wind it would be better to keep to the
south, and he altered his little He shipped
sea or two in the process and began to find the
adventure so free from spice. About this time
he began to watch the stretch behind him toward the
harbor
1t was we'll past 10 o'clock and he chilled,
hungry and far from confident when he caught the
red, green and masthead lights of vessel slipping
up from the rear, about mile away. He sheered
off south again. Soon he made out the glow of her
starboard ports She came swiftly. As he
watched anxiously he suddenly became aware that
he had misjudged her course in the obscurity and
as result of the loss of the sense of distance and
direction due to his position close the water level
the Water Kelpie, if it she. would pass fully
quarter of mile nshore from him. He headed
about desperately, taking the sweep of the
and soaked with sheeting spray.
He raised shout, but the wind drowned his voice
The oyster boat struggled laborously on with her
waddling gait. He understood that his plan
had gone awry. There no possibility of clos
ing the gap. He was caught in a situation that
was as ludcrous as it was futile. Again he raised
cry. The vessel was nearly abreast OF him and
he could make out the graceful outlines of a yacht
cabin ports brilliantly illuminated He climbed to
the little strip of deck forward, loose his one
battered old lamp and waved it wildly Next mo-
ment that failed him. for the light went out
He sat down sullenly on his bundle of awning.
The yacht had passed when he sprang suddenly to
renewed action. He caught up wrench and
knocked himsy locker door to splinters. Then he
rolled the newspapers into loose bundle, thrust
them his little forward deck and weighted them
against the wind with fragments. He was duly
thankful that he was not dependent upon matches
His pocket cigar lighter at hand and in a mo-
ment he had kindled the paper at dozen points
Still holding to the tapping papers that the breeze
threatened to tear from him, he kicked in the panel
of another locker and added the splintered pieces.
The flames fckered, hared and suddenly broke out
wildly He added more fuel, feeding the locker
doors.
He left the fire and picked up the useless lamp.