Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-13
JAWS OF THE PIER
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Continued from page
the largest door and knocked. There was no
answer, and she knocked again. Then she
heard curse, and the door was opened, to
disclose Black Jack. His face was stupid
from sleep and angry from the Weakening.
whats the matter?" he demanded
"JaCk, said Mabel, her heart beating and
her voice trembling, we've never been real
good friends; but l want you to do me
favor tonight"
"You, Mabel-you want favor? Here,
first come in out of the storm. No, back to
the engine room where it. warm"
TACK put on his cap and jacket, stepped
> out, and led her along the slippery deck
to the engine room door, which he opened
cushioned, athwartship bench, and above it
lighted lamp. At one end of the bench lay
the sleeping engineer. And at the other
Mabel and Jack sat down.
"What is it," asked Jack, with eyes di-
lated. For the first time since he had known
and loved her, she was with him alone, and
in some kind of trouble.
Bills out tonight" she said. "He wired
me that he had left Port Dalhousie, and I've
been awake all night. l was over on the
west bank and saw his torch, then the green
light. He depends upon you, Jack, and
asked me to do my work.
"Your work." he repeated "That is,
asked you to coax me to drown myself and
my men in the effort to get him in? l always
thought him good seaman, though a fool;
but never thought he'd depend on his wife
to save his miserable life. If he's coming
down tonight, he's going on the beach. He
can't get in without a tug, and no tug can
live in the sea out there. Why should l
drown myself and my men just because he
plays the fool? He ought to have held on
until this blows out"
"But, Jack" pleaded Mabel, "he may
have started before it began, and did not
know. Here is the telegram. Read it."
Jack read. MAY want tug" he quoted
"That shows that he knew the danger. And
he sends his own wife down to ask help of
man who doesn't like him, but always did
like his wife. DO your work that means
but one thing"
Mabel stood up and shrank toward the
door. Jack also stood up, and backed
toward the sleeping engineer.
"Don't be alarmed" he said. "I'm Black
Jack, and a coward; but l want nothing
from woman or man that do not earn, or
that is not given freely. You have asked
me to die tonight, and refuse-that is all.
Do you want my escort home?'
"Then you will not go out and catch Bil?@
asked Mabel.
II will mott"
"Not even for me?' she ventured, think
ing of the command, "Do your work."
Eyes, if lit was for you; but it is not for
you: it's for a man worse than a coward,
man who would sacrifice his wife. But
therell be no sacrifice. l know tugs, and |
don't care to drown; and know Bill, and
I'll let him drown, because he doesn't de-
serve to live. But l II take no advantage of
a wonnans love for her husband"
Jack" said Mabel vehcmently, II knew
"a girl always knows and, Jack, you must
do it for me: not for Bill, but for me,
and III pray for you every night of my
life!"
Then, before the nonplussed man could
forestall it, she had sprung toward him, en-
circled his neck with her arms, and kissed
him on the lips.
"Save my husband, Jack!" she said as she
withdrew her arms, and Jack sat down on
the cushioned bench, and partly Weakened
the sleeping engineer, who grumbled inco-
herently and kicked.
Mabel, flushed and embarrassed, sat down
as far away from Jack as the bench would
permit. Jack looked stupidity at the floor,