Evening star., 1912-11-24
Drawings by George Wright
IN TWO PARTS-PART I.


In IWO PANlS-PARl /.
~HARK GASCOIGNE. beachcomber and
= Barnegat bayman, sprang cat1ke
MS@GH from the moving car before the
" E&R N shuttle train with its passenger
N@&M, coach and baggage gaSp1ng
7AY6N to a halt at the little Barnegat sta
I1ZAA\ ton, the terminus of the branch
R1l10INN9 shore line. He stretched his huge
MIHtGNI limbs and drew in deep breath, in
VlHA|W hang the bitter cold wind that swept
~GW over the sand dunes of Barnegat
wv Bay, with all the enjoyment of
"a ~ O. diver coming up from deep water.
@ - "Woof That's good he said,
~ "after that confounded stufy old
Q|9 New York. Two days in that burgs
more'n enough for any man.
Full lunged, Shark Gascoyne He was button
ing his heavy peajacket his chest
a precaution against thick wallet he carried in his
breast pocket than as protection against the bleak after
noon wind when voices reached him from the group of
railroad gossping at the door of the baggage car
He listened for moment unnotced and unlnterested,
then with eager attention the talk of the trainmen
"Crooked work somewheres about that Alindora
wreck las night the life say, the conductor was
saying. "Lot O their men hurt. She went smack on
the Gridiron reef Loaded with SALT she was, and you
know what salt does when the water hits it-mion
tons O. sinkn'. There won't be much for the under
writer's to take if they beat the beachcombers
to her. We're in for another blow tonight too
"Her crews over at Ships Bottom Station all stove
up Joe Bronson said when he to send the
Washton report, the station master remarked. The
bulies seem got it all round.
"That the salt bark Mindora, wasn't it-due up
Yesterday from Turks Isand?' Shark Gascoigne for
getting for moment his doubtful standing the
munity, strobe forward eagerly He interested in
wrecks, particularly this one from what he had
just heard
There was silence. Then someone gave mirthless
laugh @The beachcombers won't get much out O. her,
if they did fetch her in. Ware sharks"
laugh followed; then silence again. with the bleak
wind whistling up through the elms the Old Pirates
Cemetery The hill beyond the station.
GASCOIGNE stood for moment with clenched fists,
- then with Shrug strobe away. He was little
surprised at his reception. 1t not usual Beach
comber he was one who made his living of wrecks,
hero of hundred beachcombing exploits and well
known to all Barnegat But whether he deserved
his nickname he had hitherto become pariah like
other beach wolves who battened the bones of dead
Ships before the licensed wreckers took charge oong
them of cordage and cargo, when man knew when
those bones might disappear forever in the deep
AS the massive figure crossed the platform and strobe
up the road with something about solitary and aloof
the station agent voiced the general opinion of Shark
Gascogne in Barnegat:
@Pity he didn't stick to his fishing, and him with the
best sloop Barnegat place O fogatherng with them
confounded beachcombers- specially now That young
fellowd make a crackajack at any surf work
on'y somehow his morals to go crooked Wen
there's beachwork on"
Shark Gascogne contemptuousy dismissed the whole
matter he strobe up the main street of the village.
Railroad Johnnies! That's what talks! he said slap
ping the wallet his broad chest Nevertheless he
instnctivey conscious of something in the wind he had
not yet smelt out something out OF the ordinary that
might yet concern him intimately.
The impression grew on him as he turned from the