Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-09-04
The Trey O. Hearts

* seemed certain al in
even louder volume.
Vainly straining his vision against
the blank pallor Of the encompassing
fog. Alan wondered, worried, dreaded
At irregular intervals, starting
from preoccupation, he would manipu-
late the brass pull on the wheel box,
provoking the horns suffering blasts
of protest, But the need for unremit-
ting vigilance and exercise of the fog
signal failed none the less to reconcile
Alan to that blatant clamor which so
widely and so hideously advertised
their whereabouts
II there were anything still to be
feared from Judith and her crew-if
for instance, as Barcus had suggested
they had sought out one Of the life
saving stations on Nauset beach, APP
propriated Its power-driven lifeboat
and renewed the pursuit, If ever they
heard that horn there would beyond
question be the devil to pay
The loneliness of his vigil was even
tually relieved by the appearance on
deck Of the woman Alan loved.
The tableau that greeted her vision as
she emerged from the mpanionway,
of the haggard, unshayen wretch at
the wheel and the other who lay at his
feet, where he had fallen in a stupor
of fatigue instantly Wrung from Rose
a little cry Of solicitude And she was
quick to do what little she could to
alleviate their discomfort For Barcus
she fetched a pillow and blanket from
the cabin, and this one suffered her
ministrations without once rousing
from his slumbers Then fastening
forward, she got the galley fire going
and prepared a makeshtft breakfast
for her half-famished lover
Warm food and hot coffee-such as
they were-lending little tone To
Alan's spirits, he was presently able
to discuss their situation with some
optimism Yet nothing could gloss
the fact that the problem confronting
them was one whose solution battled
their utmost lngenuity--one the simple
contemplation Of which taxed their
courage and intelligence to the eX
IRENE.
He summed up, Il cant see any
thing for 1t but father and Judith are
determined to have my scalp, and m
hanged if can see how to protect my
self without taking a leaf out of their
books What I'm most afraid of is
that some time may forget its a
woman I'm defending myself against
When a fellows fighting for his very
life he cant always stop to calculate
the weight OF his blows.
The young man sighed, shook his
head, laughed uncertainty and held
her closer to him Don't fear, Ill
find some way out without injuring
either of them. | promise you that!
He sealed the pledge upon her lips
And in that moment of their obliy
ion to the world from some point for.
ward mufHed crash sounded stimuli
taneously with the dull shock Of a
collision with a smaller vessel, and a
strange voice cried out with an ac.
cent Of high eXutaton
Before either Alan or the girl could
disengage the decks rang loud with a
rush Of booted feet pounding aft
The figures of the boarding party
were already taking shape through the {
fog as Alan sprang toward the com, ,
to fetch the rife And Ia t
this action his feet slipped on planks
greasy with moisture deposited by the /
atmosphere He went down a
with stumbling thump, and an in. +
slant later two men fell bodily upon
strong fellows in the Il
1ress of fishermen He was suffered r
20 rise only as prisoner. helpless in
he grasp Of two pairs OF powerful r
lands. 4
He saw Barcus, rudely reused and +
still dumb with sleepy confusion, In Il
10 better case erked to his feet and \
leld captive by two more fishermen. S
fifth had taken charge of Rose,
camping her wrists in the wise OF
me big hand S
The sixth and sole other member Of s.
he boarding party, likewise in the a
garb of fisherman, tC
vas Judith Urine.
Down the side heavy life.boat u
round its way astern, the loose end st
( its painter slipping over the rail tt
ven as Alan caught sight of it. $50 Of
seemed Barcus had guessed shrewd, III
VI
Observing this, one Of the men in NJ
barge of Alan made as if to leave al
i'm to the other addressing Judith tn
)r permission to prevent the loss Of ar
le lifeboat She stopped him with III
peremptory gesture. he
"No-let it go. We're better off til
ithout it. Hold that man fast till
fetch a rope, Well make sure of W.
lem both this timel" sV
Straining forward in the grasp OF I'll
ar guard, Rose implored her sister: nu
Judith, in PHYS name. think what de
III are DOING" liR
Hold your tongue!" Judith snapped
ciously. Another whimper out OF tn
~, and I'll have you gagged" hi
The balance Of her threat, though
.companied by the exhibition of an
tomato pistol, was drowned out by
Q sudden roar of steamship fog.
gnal, so close aboard that it seemed