Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-22

Sir Kenneth. The table, brilliant with
lights and flowers, the menu prepared by
the Alceste's chef, and Lady Moncrieff in
a white evening gown looked seductively
beautiful. All were in great spirits and
rather more champagne was drunk than
usual by the party, but there was nothing
approaching drunkenness. After dinner
Lady Moncrieff and the two men went
out of doors and walked down upon the
beach. There was no moon, but the sky
was radiant with stars. Both yachts
had steam up, and it was settled that the
Moncrieffs and Langton should sleep on
board their respective yachts that night.
while standing upon the beach in the
moonlight Lady Moncrieff did what Sir
Kenneth had never known her to do before
in the presence of third person-she
passed her arm around his neck, drew him
to her breast and kissed, him, Langton
looking on. Sir Kenneth was surprised
and embarrassed at her action, and, glanc-
ing toward Langton, saw an expression,
in his eye, not of amusement, but of men,
ace. After that Sir Kenneth remembered
nothing more until he found himself lying
fully dressed in his berth on the Alceste,
in the midst of a CONFUSION of all thej
elements.
"He knew not whether it were day or
night, whether he were awake or dream
ing, or if it were time or eternity. Ire
mendous reverbera-
The Siren Had tons Numbered from
Been Engulfed. sky and sea. The
air was black and,
the Alceste trembled and plunged like al
living thing in an agony of terror. SirI
Kenneth managed to crawl upon the deck.l
and the sight which met his eyes appalled,
him. The island was about five miles,
away and seemed now one great, glowing,
red hot furnace, with masses Of lava and
flames that leaped almost to the low over
hanging, black sky. A furious wind
seemed blowing from ali quarters at once,
and ashes, rocks and trees were being
hurled In every direction miles outward
upon the black ocean.
1.-The sea was evidently agitated and huge
CULTS and mountainous waves were on ,
every hand. The Alceste one moment
tossed high upon the great green crested
mountain of watee, the next moment slid
down into black and seething abyss.
Two of her water tight compartments
were stove in, her upper works were a
mass of wreckage, but still she floated like
a log upon the convulsed ocean.
Suddenly between the Alceste and the
ro rno y;no fnrpopa ,,f tbo ic1o nd !
which cast a red glare for twenty miles
upon the black sky and sea, appeared what!
seemed to be the ghost of vessel. It'll
was the Siren, flung so close to the AL
ceste that it was as if some giant hand
had hurled one yacht against the other. !
Both were completely helpless, and every
soul on the Alceste waited for the moment !
when the two vessels should deal each
other mortal blow that would send them
both to the bottom. A sudden chasm
opened in the ocean into which the Alceste
fell head foremost. The same gigantic,
CONFUSION changed the course of the !,
Siren, and she passed directly across the
her gunwale almost touching the stump
Of the Alceste's mainmast
''The Siren was silhouetted with unearth- i
~ clearness against the blazing glare that
illuminated the coppery heavens and the !
storm swept ocean, Only one living soul
was visible upon the Sirens plunging deck. .
this was Langton, who stood with arms
outstretched and head thrown back, as If
inviting destruction and retribution The
next moment came crash which seemed i
to rend the ocean itself. The Siren dist
appeared. and Sir Kenneth knew NO more