Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

atey 1--we got to get that passenger Oft lite and
death The Captain won't dare refuse you"
Next instant the wrecker had disappeared round the
corner of the boathouse before Johnson could refuse and
hand him back the packet. The surtnan stared trown
ingly at the big blue enveop,-it was addressed, he
noticed, to the Captain OF the Cornwal,-then he
showed it into the pocket OF his peaJacket.
81 reckon it's safe there till | give it back to Mr..
Wrecker Morton-w'en see him again" he said with
grim emphasis. "AIatter o life an death, Ell: Well,
guess Ships Bottom amt got call to be in at the
DEATH anyhow
TT was late in the afternoon after combined attack
BY the the long surfmans amorous hopes
and fears, they thought, that Johnson reused
from his broodng thoughts. With the closing IN OF dark
ness the storm had risen Great rollers were booming
the beach, and from all the nearby life stations
warnings coming in to keep sharp lookout tor
coaswise craft that would hug the shore in the brewing
northeast gale.
From his post in the watchtower Johnson could make
out the slow-moving figure of Yankee Evans the beach
patrol, peering out to sea- The boys were on duty,
faithful and stanch-while he plotting, plotting
to help the girl he loved stand by the he hated,
plotting to help Morton do the right thing. John
son laughed but it was not a good thing to hear He
beginning regret his tact understanding with the
wrecker and he listened to the rising wind with pleas
uTe, even Savagely.
He said nothing when later he glimpsed the specter
of big launch crossing the bay though bound out
to sea in the mist. If Harry Morton proposed to put
through his innocent deception on the crew in the kind
of weather that was coming he deserved what
was coming to him, that's all.
Him an his darn launchll get swamped if he goes
out in that smother-an serve him right. That tub of
a Cornwall can't make head in this It'll be mid
night before she comes down What time IS it, any
wav?'
Eight o'clock. The steamship due to pass Ships
Bottom before eight Well let her pass, hundred or
hundred, Molly or no What that?
He caught his breath, staring into the storn-driven
ocean red CLEAN shot up out there the smoke
Before he could spring for the night glass another thin
line of fire shot up into the black sky.
A rocket! The instinct of the life reused.
For moment he forgot Norton and then from without
came the pounding of boots, the running crying
the alarm.
3D'ye hear it, Johnny They jus give the high
sign for help There goes Coston!'
From locker Johnson pulled out his clothes. He
made for the boathouse the his heels knottng
their westers under their chns and betting up their
boots In the changing of the alarm bell the big
white motorboat swarning with men, Johnson in
the stern shouting orders
well get her. all right-well make board into the
nor east and slam down herr he shouted. take
along the bow gun an plenty o line, Welshy: We'll
likely need EN-. Freeze onto the easy chairs, Bules.
Here's where get mauled good and plenty,
The powerful motor cracked, and Johnson showed
over big steering sweep dsdainng the er with the
heavy that running. In the teeth OF the forty
mile gale he swung the boats head round for the swng
waters of the inlet. The curved bow struck the
coming rollers and shot clear of the shadows heading
straight into the big combers. The sat silent the
thwarts strapped to their seats and staring through
their followed hands for signals of disaster at
For long hour the white lifeboat held on boring
deeper and deeper into the black ocean, breastng
the full sweep Of the gale when the threatened to