The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-18

We can bear away north with safety
Nothing can harm Us now unless
he opened the last chart OF the Eyor0-
graphic Office and noted some lines
again and his drew his breath
'COnfOund that degslict,'' - muttereo
Allowing for drift, she SIid be cloSe
TO this very spot II we should str e
The sentence was never finished
With & shsveTiug shock like that OF q
abroad train in a headOn collision the
Queen stopped dead. hurting the cap
below.
The first officer waH cIutching the rU2e
Of the siren when the crash CAM
The slight support T. afforded before II
gave way saved him from following ms
commander. and al he same time sent
raucous warning through the snip
10 close the collision DUlkheads.
As he chung desperately TO the ran,
the Queer rose in the air and come
down with another crash, then went
forward over something that grated
and tore ar her hull as she passed
But her bows ere buried IN the waves,
while her screw i2shed the air madiy.
Had not the involuntary warning OF
the siren sounded, and had Il not been
obeyed instantly. the Queen would have
plunged IN that heartbreaking moment
10 the bottom As Il was her shrift
seemed short
The force Of her impact on the lum-
Der-laoens Water-lOEEed dereliCt had
shattered her bows and ONLY the for
ward bulkhesd. strained, split, gaping
n hundred seams where the rfve1s
had been wreuched loose. kent out the
sea A hurried inspection showed that
even the fran protection would prob
ably not long suffice.
It's only ar hour 70 dawn" gasped
the first officer If she can last til
she lasted. but dawn showed a des-
perate state OF affairs. The Queen had
swung round, until her submerged bow
pointed 20 windWard and her high
stern, catchinE the gale. plunged DULY
nOTJhWard- The seas, rushing Up from
the southeast, broke on the shelving
deck IKE rollers on beach, and sent
the SAT- spune writing up the Dlanks
! and into the deck stareroons-
The engine and all the forward part
I OF The ship were drowned, but the great
dining saloon and the staircase lead
! ing 10 the social hall above were ETH
Z comparatively dry IN the latter and
Z on the deck just outside OF Il the pas
/ senEers were hCdGled- The captain had
Z pPeared, licked away BY the drsl
tongue Of sea that haG f-llowed the
collision
/ with the earliest streak Of light the
Z first officer decided % take 70 the boats
: only three remained and these had al
ready been fitted out with provisions
As the crew and passengers fled iutc
TIE first, Officer Jackson. who had sew
ersl times come on deck, only 70 wan
Z
I plunged down into the darkness
( Rapidly. yet cautiousl., he lowered
himself Gown The siOpIrg paSsageTFay
/ CIutChing II the Jambs q empty state
! rooms to keep himself from sliaine
down against the bulklead. on the
/ other side OF which the sea muttereC
I angrfly- At last he gained the door
{ he sought. and chung 20 y while ~
/ fTten g key into the lock
/ The electric lights had gone out wher
{ the engine stopped, and not a Trims
! could be seen IN the blackness, but
stir within told that the room W.
{ tenanted- Some one was there. StaTlFs
! toward the door
I Jackson lost no time
Here. you," he clustered n volct
! into which there crept A CULVER IN spite
} Cf him Last CALI Tne ships Sick
1 ing and they're taking 70 the boats
! You zotter decide mighty quick
/ you're going 10 come Just gimme YOU
/ parole and III turn you loose 70 fg.r
3 for your lie
/ A voice answered promptly:
I'll give no parole. I'd a deal sOone1
can do 5ust as you please about releas
ing ne It's matter OF indifference
. 10 me"
: The OFFICER tried to protest
II don't want yOuT death on III
shoulders. Mr.. Howard" he mUttsred
. ''JOn't put me 10 1t"
Howard laughed sardonicslly,
What the devil 40 care about YOU
loose. quick or get out Your companl
isn't exhilarsti-E- MY good Jackson
Both men had raised their voices 81
as to be heard above the boom Of m
storm As Howard ceased. there Caut
. an imuaCt heavier than before follOTvel
by faint despairinE shrieizs-
4 With an oath. Jackson felt his u-sv q
thu voice and bent over the berth Il
. which his prisoner was lying Ours
youI' ne snarled- For two cents T
take you at your word and let 70,
. drown But I can't Here"
The Clink Of q key and The rattle O
metal told that the handouts fell away
You're loose now" continued the OF
fcer- But by heaven. II YOU Try {,
/ escape, III see that you don't miss tn
I death yOu say Is welcome Come on
( Howard swung his legs over the edE
Of the berth.
That's fair he said. GO ahead
III follow"
The Continuation Of This story VII
BE Eouui In TomGrrovvfE Tszu-