Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-04

seriousness, which came at intervals, h
wondered what had become of the tw'
men in that disabled tender. He wait
ed with dread the revelation the dawI
would bring. He rose with the sun ant
looked out of his stateroom window
The bay was a=slaid sheet of glisteninl
ice. The sun was shining from 6
cloudless sky and the great white fielc
sparkled and flashed like sea of dia
monds.
What a mockery that sunshine
Somewhere out on one Of those lionel!
marshes it was shining perhaps on tn,
stark bodies Of the two men wht
were eating and drinking and laugh
ing the day before. What did natur,
care for mans joys or sorrows, hope!
or fears? Beneath that treacherous
ice the tide was ebbing and flowing tc
the throb Of her even, pulsing heart
Tomorrow the south wind would come
and sweep it all into the sea again.
He wondered dimly If the God, from
whose hands this planet and all the
shining worlds in space had fallen
knew or cared? And then a flood Of
gratitude filled his soul at the thought
of his deliverance from the shadow oi
crime. Instinctively his eyes CLOSED
and his lips moved in prayer:
Thank God, for the sunlight thai
shines in my soul this morning and
for the life that is still clean; help me
to keep it SOL"
Nothing now could disturb the Sc
renity of his temper. He dressed hur-
riedly, went into the galley, made 6
fire and called Nan.
He raped gently on the panelled
partition which separated their state
rooms. He could hear her low, softly
spoken answer as if there were moth
ing between them.
Yes, Jim, what is it? Are you ill?'
mo, hungry. You will have to help
me get some breakfast"
THE cook hasn't Gomez" she asked
in surprise.
There was a moments hesitation
and his voice sounded queer when he
quietly answered.:
NO"
She felt the shock of the thought
back of his answer and he heard heI
spring out of bed and begin to dress
| hurriedly.
In ten minutes she appeared at the
door of the galley, her hair hanging In
glorious confusion about her face and
the dark eyes sparkling with excite
ment.
What on earth does it mean, Jim?'
she asked breathlessly. '"Cal could tel
me nothing last night except that he
had gotten wet and chilled and you
had carried him on board against his
protest. When the doctor put him to
sleep with a lot Of whisky he was
muttering incoherently about a quarrel
he had with you. thought you sent
both tenders to the shore for mail and
provisions. Why hasn't the cook re-
turned?"
-"Why-Jim!" she gasped.
They started to tow us in, the en-
gine broke down. l think the carbure-
ter probably froze and they were driv-
en- before the wind, helpless. There's
chance in a thousand that they
reached an oyster shanty and found
shelter. Wen hope for the best. Ir
the meantime you and l will have to
learn to cook again, for few days"
"A few days." Nan exclaimed.
Yes. The bay is frozen. Our old
guide is a good cook, but he's safe In
| harbor ashore. He had too much
sense to venture out last night He
can't get here now until the ice breaks
up"
Nan accepted the situation with girl
| ish enthusiasm, became Stuart's as
sistant and did her work with a smile
1t was a picnic. She laughed at the
comical picture his tall figure made In
cooks apron and he made her veal
a waitress cap which he improviset
| from a Japanese paper napkin.
The doctor pronounced the meal:
| better than he had tasted on the trip
Bivens was still in an ugly mood anc
| refused to leave his stateroom or al.
low any one but the doctor to enter
He was suffering intense pain from hi!
frost bitten fingers and toes and ears
and still cherished his grudge agains
Stuart. He refused to believe there
was the slightest necessity for sucf
high handed measures as he had daret
to use. He had carefully concealed
from both the doctor and Nan JUS
what had occurred between them or
the trip that day.
On the second morning after th'
freeze a light dawned on the little
mans sulking spirits. During th'
night the ice softened and strong
southerly breeze had swept every
piece of it to sea.
Again the bay was a blue, SHIN
mering mirror. rejecting the flying
clouds. and the marshes rang with th'
resounding cries of chattering wild
| fowl
1t was just nine o'clock, and MAI
was busy humming a song and setting
the table for breakfast, when Stuar
heard the distant um-beat of ten
der's engine. The guide was returning
from the shore, or the lost tender hat
come. If it were the guide he woult
probably bring news of the other men
His course lay over their trail. HI
threw off his cooks apron, put on hi
coat, sprang out of the galley, ant
called below.
"A tender is coming, Nan. Don
come on deck until | tell you"
The smile died from her beautiful
face as she answered slowly:
"All right. jim"
In a moment he came back down TIT
companions and spoke in quie
tones:
It's just as | expected. They arr