The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-08-07
The Man of
The Merchant
He Proved His Courage
and Daring.
By PETER VAUx
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

No sooner did the senior engineer
hear the peremptory summons than he
scurried from the crowded wardroom.
Poor devil! Did you notice his
face. Bellamyy said the second en-
gineer, addressing the ford paymas-
ter. HE went as pale as death.
When the deuce does Torshell eat and
sleep, Mayhem? He never seems to be
of duty"
The surgeon twitched his spruce eye
brows.
"Oh. Mebbe. our senior engineer
our man Of the merchant marine!'
said he In his usual fiippant. exasper-
ating tone. He'll go the same as
Chislehurst II worries don't cease. No
human being. much less Torshell. can
stand for any length Of time the state
Of affairs in this boats engine room
and stolseholds. It's enough to drive
any man mad"
"Chisle is really not well. then? We
all know the complaint of Pattenie of
the Farm Furnace. as the fo'castle
terms her."
Mayhem shrugged his shoulders. Our
staff engineer went into sick bay to
let this r. N. r. fellow shine. did he?"
was his tart rejoinder. TOO much
strain and unrest have knocked him
off his legs. And so Mebbe is the man
we must depend on now"
Said the paymaster in his big. rau-
cous voice: THAT is what happens
with these understaffed engine rooms
and insufficient repairs. Here We are.
the lamest of the lame ducks in the
division and tailin' off the column.
with reserve chap out of an easy.
oozy, ten knot merchantmen handlin'
our engines, and rickety old machines
they are. God alone knows whatll
happen with him and his untried nerve
when we pick the enemy up again.
"A jolly good thing for us the enemy
are just as much worried with break
DOWNS was the consoling remark
from the other end of the table. 1.-The
Rurik. the Freya, the Jena and
81 wouldn't indict the dockyard on
the insufficient repairs point. Bellamy."
interrupted the second. My lords were
responsible. They wouldn't enlarge the
yards, make new ones or lease out re-
pairs. so as to have all the necessary
work for mobilization COPIED with ade-
quately. But II is odd how she was
passed out with the starboard cylinder
cover not remedied. OF coUa.se nobody II
be held responsible. as usual!'
ing the harassed steward. He replied
slowly. But yet when an r. n. r.
fellow can pop up and take seniority
over the regular service. as in this
boat, you can't expect
"Oh. here we are again. the sec.
ond broke in with. "Jealousies as
usual. Torshell Is as fit as any engi-
neer. By George" he cried. listening
intently, ''the engines are slowin'
down.
Torshell had approached Captain
Widdrington and the first" who lin
gered In the chart house discussing
recent instructions. The senior engi-
neer had coughed slightly to intimate
his presence. The captain looked up.
frown sweeping his hard face on
marking him.
"Sir," cried the engineer. the port
"One moment, SIR" was the short an
swer. This isn't steam bus" And
Torshell. again saluting. had stepped
back, his pallid face blood red and his
teeth hard clinched and gritting. The
wary. diplomatic first just then cheer
lily nodded aside to him.
He let himself rock to the vessels
juggling among the cumbrous masses of
sea. Since he had joined. off the way
laid liner, his had been hard luck He
felt acutely the general sentiment
against him: but Notwithstanding all.
his mettle was yet strong. 1t was the
snobbish crowd in the wardroom and
the unpleasant bearing Of his subordi-
mates that caused his discomfort of
mind
Suddenly he had held i'm his breath
and unwittingly stepped toward the
bridge ladder. The first drew himself
back from the chart. darting look of
surprise at Torshel. But the captains
steel blue eyes famed with sudden an
ger.
Good heavens. sir. Your engines
aren't slowing down.
Torshell saluted. Port air pump.
SIR
This drives a man mad" cried Wild
drington. crushing his big fist upon the
table. Nothing but defects. defects.
Can We drive engines at all. you mis-
cradle merchantmen? What dye want
to slacken down to: What's wrong
this time? You
That second came a tremendous jar
ring and crunching beneath their feet
The great ship was shaken like thing
Of straw. An appalling hammering
followed. chaotic and deafening. Gray
steam surged through hatchways. ven
tilators and companions.
The senior engineer had rushed from
the bridge. AS he raced amidships he
snatched the sacking off the backs OF
some Of the "black squad" dumping
ashes overheard, grabbed ut n quarter
masters oilskins and showed them all
upon him.
"Garret an Epburn an Mr.. Jerroll
In port alleywayy' was the answer to
xsur,u - -.-s--.