Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

T T Is a mighty long way from the Rue de Ri
vol at Papeete to old Broadway We hadn't
thought much about distance till we gathered
IN thos6 pearls at PRlong Aitu but after that we
got a crouch against the Pacific. Spirits Of
nitre! Doesn't memory torment you when the
home longing gets proper 1iu jitsu your
emotional center? Every night we'd dream of
the reelection in the sky way up over the queen
city Of the world. and then we'd wake up to find
that old ocean humping itself around like
big animal that is pleased because It has got you
In corner.
Captain Jack Cameron stood four days Of
waiting then he made an arrangement with
Octopus" Bailey. of the Annabel Lee, who was
taking load Of copra up to Sydney. Bailey
had a reputation that yeggmAn wouldn't swipe
II he saw the thing lying on the sidewalk. He
earned his nickname of Octopus" by clutching
everything that came within reach Of his hands,
and he cutched 1t that tight that few Of the
rightful owners were able to get 1t away from
him He assayed SO per cent pure villainy; the
other l per cent wooden hand that took
the place of chopped off by Mauke native
The Annabel Lee wasn't much Of an ocean
ripper. She had got sorter tired pulling loads Of
copra and shrinking pearl shell, and she moved at
a gait that made Cameron curse. She just but
ted against those oily rollers as If she was in
different whether she got over them or not but
Octopus" Bailey looked as pleased as If he were
giving the Lusitania his stern wash.
She can hum along as If a strong wind
catches her." he grunted when Captain Jack
cursed the old tubs slowness on the fourth day
out.
We'll. she's giving the weakest wind a
chance to catch her now. snapped Captain
Jack. The porpoises think she's anchored, and
races. Hello! What's that?"
Something had out of the darkness
like the cry of lost soul, and we rushed to the
That cry came again then like a thread of
steel flying out of the soft night and Gamer
on grabbed Octopus" by the shoulder and gave
him a shake that jerked the pipe out Of his
mouth Boat to starboardl" ne roared. Bring
your old tub around!"
Tr11Lr FIvr o4rcrx at "a An
mabel Lee rolling over the water hummocks
at three-knot speed, and when the cry came
third time, Cameron's grip frightened a little
Bailey's throat
Don't play your old stunts while I'm
aboard" yelled Captain Jack Pull your scow
up or I'll Jerk you overheard"
Baileys carelessness about human life was
common gossip In the Islands He had as much
hope OF earning the Humane Societys medal as
a Dyak head hunter has of scoopng the Nobel
Peace Prize. Twenty years before he had pick
ed up the captain OF schooner that he had run
down in Auckland harbor, and Just because the
captain got verdict against him he went out Of
the rescuing business for all time. But he knew
enough about Jack Cameron to give the Anna
bel Lee a pull, although he cursed mighty husk-
fly as we poked around in the darkness looking
for the boat that hailed
Il told you It was bird" snarled Octopus
Some of them old mollyhaws can scream out
that natural that you'd swear it"
He stopped mighty short when he got that
far. One Of them snaky swels with its phos-
phorescent comb came lurching along from the
South Pole and from the top Of It there came a
woman's shrek that sent that curly-wurly feel
ing up and down your spine.
There she isl" yelled Cameron. "A woman
by the beard Of Buddha Hang on to this rope!
Hold it now!" And then before we could stop
him he had slipped the rope around his waist
and sprang overheard.
The Annabel Lee dragged herself out Of the
way of the snaky wave, and the woman IN the
little cockleshell was carried astern. Captain
Jack had also been swept into the darkness, and
we paid that rope out mighty breathlessly. The
ocean gurgled around US like ssifi IT was smack
F4w.g duet Ma Inc
ious there came a sho ut from Cameron. and we
knew from the way he called out that he had
He came over the side holding her In his
arms and Octopus" flashed q lamp upon her
face just she reached the deck She opened
her eyes just as he did II. and We took double
grip on our breath. Sanctihed sinners, wasn't
she dreaml The lamp nearly tumbled out Of
Bailey's hand and Murphy nearly choked Cap
tain lack bv tightening the moose on the rope
Just when he pulling II over Cameron's head
I guess there have been women as lovely as
that one, but haven't seem them. No, sir!
She was Helen Of Troy, your pet novel heroine
and the special numbers OF the fashion books
like a batch of rubes TIN Cameron got his wind
and swept out Of the way
Lend a hand, you fools!" he roared. Help
me carry her TO the ca bin"
Octopus" didn't seem to enthuse much over
the rescue. He led the way with the lamp, but
grumbled like a sore-footed Tamil while doing
it. Halfway down the stairs the girl opened her
eyes again. struggled a little in Captain Jacks
arms. and then gave gasp as II she remem-
bered something unple asanL
Where am II" she cried.
ron board the Ann abel Lee" replied Cam
eron. Lie down here and rest yourself"
You saved me-" she said, looking up at
Cameron. Tt escaped" She stopped speak
ing and slipped TO her feet, then she burst into
tears and started to sob at full speed.
The tears annoyed old Bailey. He slammed
the lantern on the table and giared at Cameron
with his little eyes that looked as If they were
stitched into his head with real thread.
Picking up woman at sea is the uniucldest
thing that can happen" he snarled. You'll
see that I'm right"
I'M be unlucEy for you II you don't get out
Of here" snapped Cameron; then he turned to
the girl as Bailey rolled out Of the cabin. Don't
upset yourself" he said. soothingly. Was II
a wreck?"
The girl shook her head and kept sob
ing under fun steam.
well take a rest" said Cameron. The story
win wait"
We made for the door when he said that but