The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-01-10


He dressed hurriedly, went into the
galley, made fire and called Nan. He
raped gently on the paneled partition
which separated their staterooms. he
could hear her low. softly spoken an
swer az IL there were nothing between
them.
Eyes, Jim, what is 1t? Are you lily
EMO. hungry. You will have to heip
me get some breakfast"
"The cook hasn't Gomez? she asked
in surprise.
There was n moments hesitation. and
his voice sounded queer when be quiet
~ answered:
! "No"
In ten minutes she appeared at the
door of the galley, her hair hanging In
glorious confusion about her race ana
the dark eyes sparkling with excite
| ment
what on earth does it mean. Jim?'
she asked breathlessly. "Cal could tell
me nothing last night. Why hasn't the
cook returned?'
HE may never come. Man..
"Why, Jim?" she gasped.
"They started to tow us in, and the
engine broke down. l think the car
b,1retor probably froze. and they were
| driven before the wind. helpless
| There's chance in a thousand that
they reached an oyster shanty and
| found shelter. Well hope for the best.
! In the meantime you and l Will nave
to learn to cook again for a few days.
"a few days" Nan exclaimed.
Eyes. The bay is frozen. Our OLD
| guide is a good cook. but he's safe III
! harbor ashore. He had too much sense
to venture out last night, He can't
get here now until the ice breaks up.
Nan accepted the situation with girl
| ish enthusiasm.
The doctor pronounced the meal bet
ter than he had tasted on the trip.
Bivens was still in an ugly mood and
refused TO leave his StaterOOm or al
low any one but the doctor to enter.
He was suffering intense pain from
his frostbitten fingers and toes and
ears and still cherished his grudge
against Stuart He had carefully con-
cealed from both the doctor and Nan
just what had occurred between them
on the trip that day.
On the second morning after the
freeze light dawned on the little
mans sullling spirits. During the
night the ice softened, and a strong
ho, 4 nil
of it to sea-
1t was just 8 O'Clock, and Nan was
busy hummng a song and setting the
table for breakfast when Stuart heard
the distant drumbeat of tenders en-
CINE The guide was returning from
the shore or the lost tender had come.
If it were the guide he would proba-
bly, bring news Of the other men. Stu
art called:
"a tender is coming. Nan. Don't
come on deck until tell you"
In a moment he came back down
the companionway and spoke in quiet
tones:
Its just az I expected. They are
both dead. The guide found them on
the marsh over there, frozen"
'"The marsh you and Cal were on?''
she asked bPea thlessly.
Eyes. Both OF them were kneeling.
They died with their hands clasped
in prayer"
"And you saved Cal from that?''
she gasped and, turning. fed into her
Stateroom.
He went in to change his clothes
and help lift the bodies ON deck.
Through the paneled wall he heard
Nan softly sobbing.
Bivens refused at first to believe
the doctors startling announcement.
He hurriedly dressed. came on deck
and for I'VE minutes stood staring into
the white, dead faces.
Without a word he went below and
asked the doctor to call Stuart.
When his old friend entered he took
his hand quietly. and for once in his
life the little. black. piercing eyes
were swimming in tears as he spoke.
You're a great man, Jim, and.
what's bigger. you're good one. If
God will forgive me for the foolish
things I said and did I'll try to make
it up to you. old boy. Is it all right?'
Stuart's answer was a nod, smile
and a pressure Of the hand.
When they were back in New York
the stirring scenes Of Virginia brought
Stuart more and more into intimate
personal relations with BivenS, and
he had taken advantage Of the fact to
draw away from his wife. He ceased
to see Nan alone. Bivens' increasing
devotion made this easy, and on Har-
riet's return from Europe with an en-
gagement as understudy in grand
opera his life settled down once more
to the steady development Of his
ideal Of service to the common people
Scarcely day passed without bring
ing to the young lawyer some remind
er Of Bivens' friendship. Two great
lawsuits involving~-the principles on
which the structure of the modern
business world rested were begun in
the federal courts At the f1nancier's
secret suggestion the more important
of these was placed in Stuart's hands
Bivens hoped to beat the government
in this suit. but in case the people