Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-05

Passed p. NJ. this date 129 west 1910 north
ship Constance Bevan hence S. F. seventh in
slant MAN. and n1izzen masts gone. Declined
assistance. Wind increasing southeast. High
confused sea.
Thus a Japan liner spoke to the Table
Bluff radio station. Pericles O'Brien waited
to hear no more than that. A hundred miles
to the westward of him lay the Bevan in I'M
doubted distress, and five minutes afterward
he was driving the Electra toward her.
THE next light of day was two hours old
in a low gray sky when the wrecking
steamer rounded to under the ships lee,
where she rode by wing of her foresail in
the teeth of southeast gale. Main and
mizzen had gone by the board; but the
steel foremost and foretopmast were stand
ing. With his glasses Pericles made out Joe
FCarver, in yellow slicker and sou wester,
leaning against the afterhouse complacently
smoking long cigar.
There was nothing that Pericles could do
in that blow and high sea, except stand by.
This he did all that day and until the follow
ing morning, when tie gale abated into a
strong, fair breeze from the northwest. The
time had come to put a line aboard the
Bevan; but to Pericles' surprise Carver re-
fused not only hawser from him, but
from everyone of the fleet of towboats
that the wireless reports of the Japan
liner had brought seeking the dismasted
ship. Under foresail, lower topsail, and
staysail he went standing down toward the
Gate.
"Well, what do you think about it?" asked
Carver, with grin, as Pericles boarded him
that night and followed him below into the
after cabin.
II think you're luny,' answered Pericles
grimly, and at the same time marking that
a new panel filled the space that had been
occupied by the portrait of Constance Blan-
ding's mother.
@Maybe am, Pericles," said he with mock
seriousness, and then he gleefully added
"'That which is given for all shall be made
good by contribution of all.
And herewith smoldering suspicion famed
into confirmation in Pericles' mind. 1t was
the Rhodian law of the sea that Carver
quoted, the ancient law of general average.
He was claiming that he had cut away the
Bevan's nasts and rigging to save ship and
cargo. In proportion to the respective
values of the property saved, Nillsen and
have to pay the greater part of the cost of
giving the vessel the new masts and rigging
she had needed so long.
you're doing the insurance companies,
not Nillsen and Rosenthal," said Pericles Sc
riously.
@No, I'm not Blackstone wouldn't in
sure the ship, and so the companies wouldn't
cover the cargo
"But can you prove the cutting away?'
asked Pericles, his face lighting with devil
ment.
Got an affidavit from every mothers son
aboard. You see, Pericles, Con-Miss Blan-
ding-in the beginning thought | cheated
you. Then she began to get after me for
cheating Blackstone, and | took an oath I'd
get new sticks and rigging for the old packet,
orwell, I've done it.
CEVENTY-TWO hours later the Con-
stance Bevan dropped mudhook off
Meiggs' Wharf. Hardly was it down when
Constance Blanding and Jonathan Black
stone came over the side.
"Now tell him what you told me yesterday
when you thought you'd never see him
again, said the chandler tenderly, putting
the girls eager hand into Carvers.
Taking Pericles by an arm, he led him for
ward to the break of the poop. He was 81
lent for several minutes the while he studied
the wreck of things about decks, and then
in a musing way he murmured, am kind O
sorry sold you, old ship"
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