The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-02-05
Via, y. !.
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Wireless
Nove]ized by Thompson Bueh.
anan From the Successful
Play of the Same Name -
By Winchell Smith,
Frederic Thompson
And Paul Armstrong
CHAPTER XIV.
<~<
Copyright. 1908. by Frederic Thompsen
All Rights Reserved
THE PERns OF THE SEA.

THE PERns OF THE SEA.
"HE steamer Monaghan was
pitching, tossing, pounding along
sturdily as best she could
through the night. For ten
hours she bad fought her way up the
coast In the face Of the worst storm
OF the season.
Now. of Hatteras, the danger spot
in the route from Porto Rico to New
York, the sturdy little liner scarcely
seemed able to make any progress.
She had been forced miles of her
course and closer in toward the dan
gerous reefs than her captain liked.
Not that the liner herself was in any
grave danger, for the old Monaghan
and her experienced captain had faced
too many Atlantic storms for even a
big one to alarm them The matches
had all been battened down. the pas
sengers were below, and the stanch
steamer, stripped as much as possible,
slowly rising to each attack of the
waves, drove on with all the power of
her engines under the storm.
Up in the little wireless room, the
highest point on the ship, Harling. the
young operator. chung to his berth and
wondered what was going to happen.
1t was his second trip to sea and his
first big storm, so no wonder the young
operator felt the thrill Of the strug-
gle and just the faintest fear for the
outcome.
Every officer and man connected
with the liner was on post. waiting
anxiously for whatever might happen.
They had little fears for the stanch
Monaghan, but there were many ships
less sturdy In those waters. and on
such night, with the vessel out of
her course, there was no telling what
might occur. The captains last in
struction had been to look out for
wrecks.
Most Of the vessels Of any size in
these waters carried wireless outfits,
and In case Of trouble they would be
sure at once to send 2out broadcast
their appeals for helps little could be
done in any case, but at least the Mon
golian could stand by to help as much
as she could or, If absolutely neces-
sary, take advantage of the warnings
to keep clear of wrecks. ..>
- For hours the pitching of the ship,
timed irregularly to the roaring drive
of the storm. had held the wireless:
man fast at his post. 1t was now past
midnight and with little chance of
any abatement before dawn.
Harling's nerves were on edge as he.
chung to his berth, wide eyed, alert,
waiting, listening to the faintest click
that might be the forerunner to tell of
disaster and death. Half dozen times
his strained nerves had brought him
struggling from his berth to receive
such message. only to find his imag-
1nation had been playing tricks with
his fear
Suddenly there came from the in
strument clicks so sharp. so distinct
and yet SO hurried that the young fell
low sprang from the berth and stun
bled to the table, sure now that at last
something was coming.
Again the instrument clicked wildly.
To the ears Of the strained operator it
brought a chill, for he knew it was
the sending Of some one wild with
fear. Anxiously, impatiently, be lis
tened. At first he could make out
nothing.
They're crazy" be exclaimed to
himself. whats the matter with
them? They're crazy!
\ The wild rattle of the receiver STOP
ped. and Harling seized his own key.
whats wrong? Don't be q fool.
Keep your nerves. Send sense"
The touch OF the key had brought
him thoroughly to himself. His nerve
frightened and his head grew cool as he
drove his message fercely out into the
storm.
He paused. listening eagerly, and
again the receiver began to click, al
mast as wildly, as insanely, as before.
Only the skilled operator could make
out "O-Q-D."
"A distress signalv' he gasped. TITS
Eome."
Again the Mongol1an's wireless oper-
orator seized his key and drove out
his answer into the night.
As he waited he seized the tele-
phone connected direct with the cap
ta1n's stateroom.
Captain. have just received dis
tress signal!' he shouted. Have sent
them our position in course. but the
fool seemed to have lost bis nerve.
Have not been able to get anything
from him YETI
The answer Of the captain came
back cool and sharp. -
MAKE him tell where he Is and who
he Is at once. I'll be with you.'' 80.
], The receiver had begun. to click
again wildly, and Harling. gripping the
table to keep himself steady. listened
with disgust, for the sending now was
that Of man absolutely insane from
fear. = g:
Help! Help! For Gods sake help
u.s." was all the receiver clicked.