The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-11-26

warning back to the deep-throated
whistle of a coastwise steamship and
the impertinent drumming Of motor
boats exhaust with the mufler cut
out.
This 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
tance, giving place to others still, the
plutter-plutter Of that motor was never
altogether lost; if at times it faded,
it seemed certain always to return 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 wheelbo1,
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-f,
for instance, as Barcus had suggested,
they had sought out one of the life
saving stations on Nauset beach, ap-
propriated its power-driven lifeboat
and renewed the pursuit. II 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 companionway.
of the haggard, unshaven 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
little cry of solicitude. And she was
quick to do what little she could to
alleviate their discomfort. For Barcus
she fetched pillow and blanket from
the cabin. and thie one suffered her
ministrations without once rousins
from his slumbers. Then Fastening
forward, she got the galley fire going
and prepared makeshift breakfast
for her half-famished lover.
Warm food and hot cofee-such as
they were-lending a little tone tc
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 bafled
their utmost ngenuity-one the simple
contemplation of which taxed their
courage and intelligence 70 the ex
treme.
He summed up: 81 can't see any
thing for it but father and Judith are
determined to have my scalp, and I'm
hanged if can see how to protect my
self without taking leaf out Of theil
books. What I'm most afraid OF is
that some time l may forget it's
woman I'm defending myself against
When a fellows fighting for his very
life he can't 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; III
find some way out without injurins
either of them. / promise you that
He sealed the pledge upon her lips
And in that moment Of their obliv'
ion to the world from some point for
ward mufled crash sounded stimuli
taneously with the dull shock Of a
collision with a smaller vessel, and a
strange voice cried out with an &C
cent Of high e1ultation.
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
panionway to fetch the rife. And IN
this action his feet slipped on pianks
greasy with moisture deposited by the
! surcharged atmosphere. He went dow1
with a stumbling. thump, and an in
slant later two men fell bodily upor
him-active, strong fellows in tht
| dress of fishermen. He was suffered
to rise only as prisoner, helpless II
the grasp OF two pairs Of powerful
hands.
He saw Barcus, rudeiy reused AMI
still dumb with sleepy confusion, II
no better case-jerked to his feet ant
held captive by two more fishermen
A fifth had taken charge Of Rose
clamping her wrists in the wise o
one big hand.
The sixth and sole other member O.
the boarding party, likewise in the
rough-and-ready garb Of fisherman
was Judith Trine.
Down the side heavy life-boa
ground it's way astern, the loose ent
Of its painter slipping over the raj
even as Alan caught sight of it. (St
It seemed Barcus had guessed shrewd
ly!)
Observing this, one Of the men Il
charge Of Alan made as il to leave
him to the other addressing judith
for permission to prevent the loss o
the lifeboat. She stopped him will
a peremptory gesture.
"No-let It go. We're better of
without it. Hold that man fast til
I fetch a rope Well make sure O
them both this time!"
Straining forward in the grasp o
her guard, Rose implored her sister:
Judith, in PHYS name. think what
you are doing!"
Hold your tongue" Judith snapped
viciously. Another whimper out Of
you, and III have you gagged"
The balance Of her threat, though
accompanied by the exhibition Of an
automatic pistol, was drowned out by
the sudden roar Of steamship fog
signal, so close aboard that 1t seemed
almost to emanate from the forepars
| Of the schooner herself,