The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-12-31

the Skin MEMBER OF the boarding
Party Was Judith Urine.
We are-by my reckoning. somewhere
In Nantucket sound, west Of Mono
moy."
Grasping small brass handle
affixed to the wheel box, he jerked it
sharply three times, and the automatic
horn blared raucously threefold re-
spouse up forward.
Keep chat going" he begged.
three blasts in q row and a minute
interval-and IL the devil takes care
Of his own we may possibly escape be.
Ing run down"
With sigh. relinquishing the wheel.
he collapsed upon the deck and was
almost instantly asleep.
The wind had fallen until barely
enough air stirred to keep way on tho
vessel; she moved in silence, a spec.
trail ship upon q spectral sea Of long,
oily swells and the complexion of lead.
Hthar and yQp In the obscprity. foG
signals OF other shipping sounded a
concert of discordance-the man.
power horn of catboat crying the
warning back to the deep-throuted
whistle of a coastwise steamship and
the impairment drumming of a motor.
boats exhaust with the muller cut
out.
tbs last boxed the compass, sound.
ing now near, now far, though the com.
plants Of other shipping diminished
in volume and died away in the dis.
lance, giving place to others still. the
plutter-plutter Of that motor was never
altogether lost: II at times it faded.
It seemed certain always to return in
even louder volume.
Vainly straining his vision against
the blank pallor Of the encompassins
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 20
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 6eacn, }
propriated its power-driven lifeboal
and renewed the pursuit, If ever they
heard that horn there would beyont
question be the devil to pay!
The loneliness Of his vigil was even
tually relieved by the appearance OF
deck of the woman Alan loved.
The tableau that greeted her vision a
she emerged from the companionway
Of the haggard, unshaven wretch a
the wheel and the other who lay at ht
feet. where he had fallen. in q stupo
Of fatigue, instantly wrung from Ros'
little cry of solicitude. And she wa
quick to do what little she could t,
alleviate their discomfort For Barcu
she fetched a pillow and blanket from
the cabin, and this one suffered he
ministratlons without once rousin
from his slumbers. Then hastenin
forward. she got the galley fire goin
and prepared makeshift breakfas
for her half-famished lover.
Warm food and hot coffee-such q
they were-lending q little tone t
Alan's spirits, he was presently abb
to discuss their situation with som
optimism. Yet nothing could CLOS
the fact that the problem confrontin
them was one whose solution battle
their utmost ingenuity-one the simpl
contemplation Of which taxed thei
courage and intelligence to the e.
IRENE.
He summed up: Il can't see an,
thing for it but father and Judith g!