The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-11-06

What's the matterY'
Nothing" Barcus told her. 81 shut
the engine off-that's all"
Tempers were short in that hour
and Alan was annoyed to think that
the rest of his beloved should need
lessly have been disturbed.
What did you do that for?" he de,
manded sharply.
Because jolly we'll wanted to,
Barcus returned in a tone as brusque
"Oh, you did-eh?"
Yes, | did-eh! l happen to be
bossing this end of the boat and to
have sense enough to realize there's
no sense at all in our wasting fuel the
way we are-cruising nowhere!"
We'll" Law commended, struck by
the fairness of this argument, but I'M
able to calm his uneasiness-"just the
same, we might" ....
Yes; of course. we might" Barcus
snapped. I'VE might a whole lot. We
might, for instance, be heading for
Spain, for all you or l know to the
contrary And in such case, l for one
respectfully prefer to have gas enough
to take us home again If ever this
da-blessed fog lifts!"
And for several seconds longer the
stiffness strangled their spirits in its
ruthless. grasp.
Then of a sudden a cry shrilled
through the fog, SO near at hand that
it seemed scarcely more distant than
over the side:
Alloy Help! Alloy there! Help!"
So insistent, so urgent was its &C
cent that, coupled with the surprise,
it brought the three as one to their
feet, all a-tremble, their eyes seeking
one anothers faces, then shifting I'M
easily away.
What can it be-" Rose whispered,
aghast, shrinking into Alan's ready
arm.
"A woman" Barcus put in harshly.
Judith" the girl moaned.
Alan shook himself together. I'm
possible!" he contended. 81 sew her
go down
THAT doesn't prove she didn't come
up" Barcus commented acidly.
Alloy! Motorboat ahoo-o Help"
And that" Barcus pursued sadly,
lust proves she did come up-blame
the luck! Alive she is, and kicking;
stand clear An able-bodied pair of
lungs was back of that hail, my friend;
and you needn't tell me don't know
the dulcet accents of that angelic con-
tralto!"
Without needing him, Alan cupped
hands to mouth and sent an answer
ing cry ringing through the murk:
"Ahoy! Where are you? Where
away?"
Thereon the reef-half-drowned-
perishing with chill"
How does my voice bear?" Alan
called back.
What the dickens do you carer"
Barcus interpolated suspiciuosly.
ITO port" the response rang through
the fog. "Starboard your helm and
come in slowly"
"Right-o! Half minute!" Alan re-
piled reassuringly.
Like hell" Mr.. Barcus muttered in
his throat as he jumped down into the
engine pit and bent over the f1y-wheel
Leaping on the forward thw,.rt and
balancing himself perilously near the
gunwale Alan strained his vision
vainly against the opacity of the fog.
Cant make out anything" he
hop orf hAr
up-but slows the woodland ware
reef"
Nothing doing" Barcus retorted
CURLY. The motto is now Full speed
astern!' as you must know"
20 come! We can't leave a woman
out therein a fix like that"
Cant we? You watch!" Barcus
grunted malevolently, rocking the
heavy fywheel with all his might; for
the motor had turned suddenly stub
born.
"Alan!" Rose pleaded, laying a hand
upon his sleeve. Think what it
means! | know it sounds heartless Of
me-and it's my own sister. But you
know how mad she is-wild with ha-
tired and jealousy. If you take her into
this boat, it's your life or hers!"
"If we leave her out there" Alan
retorted, shaking his arm impatiently
free, its her life on our heads!"
At this juncture the motor took
charge of the argument, ending it in
summary fashion With a smart ex-
plosion in the cylinder. it started up
Unexpectedly, at one and the same
time almost dislocating the arm of
Mr.. Barcus and precipitating Alan
overheard.
1t was not given him to know what
was happening until he found himself
in the water; he struggled to the sur
face just in time to see the bows of
the lifeboat back away and vanish into
the mist.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Island.
i