Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-27
BY S. TEN EYCK BOURKE AND
CHARLES FRANCIS BOURKE

peans. Reported swamped, stacks down the
big blow. Gee. She'd be fnd."
Il don't what good shed do we're Government
employees" Ford said, his face paling with sudden
premonition as he stared at the peaacketed little
in sou wester and boots-Welshs idea of proper
SKY pilot costume we couldn't claim salvage-'
81 wasn't meaning that-hang the loot!' Welsh broke
in. Its ony she amt ashore an she amt sunk her
bulkheads nd hold her up She's foatin menace.
derlc. an drifting in the lane o an coast
wise skipping, he said quoting from the Service Rules.
"Two double-barreed tunnels with red rims she is,
ayn for murder We got to git her, if we bust that sky
ship an go squash dom it,"
There it was again. the law of the beach that ruled the
unlettered little gunner as 1t ruled his mates But tor
that subimated self sacrifice the Barnegat coastguard
proverbally poor like all life savers might be rich
the best-or worst-of the beachcombers: they had
the opportunities. And they risked death will
ngy for pitifu pay and without hope of pension The
Government was unfair, and grasping.
AS the thought shaped itself, Ford had dawning
ter "The Manila with bullion for the Philippines
Somehow Handy had found out the nature of his pres
ent employment. Knowing he was down and out, and
realizing the tremendous advantage the derelct
hunting aeropane gave him over sealevel searchers,
Handy had brutay offered to bribe him, when he
learned of this richest of the many pickings along the
bleak Barnegat beach-to "whack up" for advance in
formation of the transports whereabouts, before the
Government should locate the wreck There would be
big money In it
Dazed as a man in a trance Ford mounted the ready
machine, with Welsh beside him. AS the aeropane sped
out the slaty the of the surf on the
Grldiron weled up like giant minute guns failing the
reefs. He shuddered raging to think that he too, like
the supplemented surfmen, daily risking death for
pttance-worse than death! And there was Aline.
mere fraction of the Manila wealth would solve the
problem, give him the chance of escape from his pre-
calling put him his feet, man, and make the
girl well woman. He had only to accept Handy's
offer 1t riches, saetyif he found the missing
ship. Already he weighing the chances
NEVER many gus as the is today Welsh
ierked out suddenly, backing brave front. "AIust
be a big blow comm: they know.
The aviator glanced curiously at the little gunner.
having his trouble hanging with death grip to
the wire spreaders. 1t would not be difficult to divert
his attention at the crucial moment if they should sight
the Mana's two murder stacks he spoke of!
Ford chucked-an ugly sound pair of yellow fun
nels, sticking up from the watertha what Welsh.
a boatman accustomed to seaevel sighting, hoped to
the aeroplane those two yellow tunnels would appear
only as black specks the sullen surface. He had
nothing to fear from Welshs forestaing him with the
swamped Manila. And the imminent storm would keep
off other searchers more particularly the L. S. S.
katahdin, the big navy ram, which was down shore
somewhere hunting dereicts just as the aeroplane was
doing.
This gale1l scare off the Katy: she's poor
boat, Welsh said, as though diyning his thought;
Likely it'll hang hoOkers on the Gr1dron, comm
from the east ard, he added gnmly.
at will drive in critters too?' Ford said in sudden
panic. There ID be chance of finding EN- again
twelve hours AFTER" 1t would take about that for
Billy Handvs wreckng tug to come from New York.
"NIostly them kind hang round for days; If coastway
craft don't find en-" Welsh said grimly. "On'y big
wash nd pile the Manila the Gr1diron swamped
ship like her ony her two tunnels showin-f it was
her the Morgan packet thinks she saw.
Fords eyes ginted evlly, scanning the sea ahead
sea that seemed aborng to spawn forth horror
buried in its bosom What that? Something flick
cred far down below. Fish gulls, shmmering por-
pose? The twin spots were too steady tor that, too
troller of the speeding aeropane with whtened knucl
les. A dim shape showed beneath the two spots a
shadowy oblong growing palmer as the machine droned
seaward. What it Welsh said? Her alright bulk
head nd keep her afiOat under level.