Tensas gazette., 1914-11-06
CHAPTER XIV.
The "HardeninQ" Process.

The "HardeninQ" Process.
The life-saving station was very
still. Nos. 3 and had gone out on
the eight-o'cloc patrol. The seventh
man was taking his twenty-four hours
OF at his hcme on the shore. The
keeper was working over his report
in the Office. The other members OF
the crew we're Upstairs asleep. and
Abe and Samuel were bearing each
other company In the messroom.
Abe lay asleep on the carpet-covered
sofa which had been dragged out OF
the captains room for him, 30 that
the old man need not spend the night
in the cold sleeping-loft above. He
was fully dressed except for his
boots; for he was determined to con-
form to the rules Of the service. and
sleep with his clothes on ready for
instant duty.
Talk erbout him a-dyin'!" growled
Samuel to himself. lounging wearily
in Q chair beside the stove. Hes Jest
startin' his life. He's a reg'lar hoss.
] didn't think he had 1t In him"
Samuel's tone was resentful. He
was little jealous of the distinction
which had been made between him
and Abe; and drawing closer to the
are. he shivered in growing distaste
for the cot assigned to him with the
crew upstairs, where the white frost
lay on the window latches.
What uncomfortable chairs they had
In this station! Samuel listened to
the mooing of the breakers. to the
wind rattling 1T the casements-and
wondered II Blossy had missed him.
About this time she must be sitting
in her chintxcovered rocker. combing
out the ringlets Of her golden-white
hair in the CHEEKY firelight.
Now. that would be q sight worth
seeing! Abe opened his mouth and
began to snore. What disgusting. hide.
Gus creatures men were, reflected
Samuel Six months living with an
unusually high-bred woman had insen.
sibly raised his standards.
Why should he spend . week OF his
evershortening life with such inferior
beings. Just for Abraham's sake-for
Abraham's sake. and to bear out q the
ory Of his own. which be had already
concluded q mistakef
Abe gave Q snort opened his eyes
and muttered sleepily: This IL what
] call . A No. / spree. Naow, termor'
rer-" But mumbling incoherently
he relapssd into slumber. pufang hia
lips out into . whistling sound.
Samuel reached for . Newspaper on
the table. folded II into Q missile, and
started to ding Il into the innocent
face Of the sleeper. But fortunately fol
Abraham. II was Captain Darby's Gus
tom to count ten whenever seized By
an exasperatsd impulse. snd at the
ninth number hs regretfully dropped
the paper.
Then he began to count in another
way. Using the forsnnser Of his rish,
hand ~ . marksr. he counted under
his breath, zone" on his left thumb
then after . frowning interval. two
on his left forennger. three" on thu
middle digit and 20 on. giving time
for thought to each number. until hl
had exhausted the fingers Of his Left
hand and was ready to start on thu
right.
/ Count count, went on Samuel. unit
thrice flve was passed. and he begal
to be confused.
Once more Abe awoke. and inquired
II the other were trying to reckon tn,
number Of new. wigwags and signal
which the service had acquired sine,
they had worked for the government
but on being sharply told to She
up!" went to sleep again.
What the protector Of the trip wa
really trying to recall was how man,