The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-15
1.-THE MASKED VOICE

TUT Hattcr Oh ivy we hours tho
fog, laden, dank, viscous, as inexor.
able as the dominion of evil, had
wrapped the world in an embrace as
foul and noxious as the coils OF some
great, grey, slimy serpent.
Through, its sluggish folds the non.
dcrous, power-impelled lifeboat ereI
at a snails pace, it's sters partins and
rolling back from either bank q
heayy-hearted sea of gray. J
In the bows a young woman rested
In state Of semi-exlfaustion, her
eyes closed, her head pillowed on n
cork-belt life-preserver.
In the stern, Tom Barcus presided
mo.psely over the steering gear: and
Law was no more jcalously hecdful
OF his sweetheart than Barcus. of the
heavy-duty motor that chuggcd away
so purposefully at its business OF
driving the boat eavcn-knew-where.
Lacking at once q compass, all no.
tion whatsoever OF the suns bearings
and any immediate hope of the fog lift.
ing or chance bring their either to
land or to rescue by some larger and
ICES comfortless craft, Barcus steered
mainly through force of habit.
And now for more than an hour the
silence had been uncannily constant
broken only by the rumble of the mo.
tor, the muted lisp of water slipping
down the side. the suck and gurgie
Of the wake.
Forebcdings no less portentious
than Laws crawled in the mind of
Barcus. 1t was as likely as not that
tho lifcboat WAS travelling straight
cut to sea. And gasoline tanks can
Gna ofto1t.mes DC become az e1sis.iv
as an official weather prophets
premise of fair weather for. holt
day.
Moro than this, Mr.. Barcus was q
confirmed skcptic in respect of mar
ine motors.
In view OF all Of which considera-
tions he presently threw open the
battery switch.
And the aching void created in tho
silence by the cessation of that uni
form drone was startling eiousin To
rouse even Rose Trine from her state
Of somi-somnolenee.
With a look Of panic she sat up,
shaTas. damp hair back from hor eyes.
ssat: :iervousiy inquired:
What's the matter?"
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
tho rest OF his beloved should need
lessly have been disturbed.
What did you do that for?" he
demanded sharply.
because I jolly well wanted TO-"
Barcns replied In q tone as brusque.
"oh. yon did-eh?"
yes, did4-.eh! happen to ne
bossing this end OF the boat and to
have sense enough to realize there's
no senSo at ali in bur wasting fuel the
way wc are cruising ,nowhere."
Well. Law contended, struck b,
the fairness Of this argument, bui
unable to calm his uneasiness4-"ju just
the same, we might" 49,
yes, of course. we might, Barcus
snapped. 1--WE might whole lot. We
might, for instance, Ee heading for
SPAIN for ali you or I know 10 the
contrary And iTfsach caso, + for onS
respectfully fTefer to have gus eYiouel
to take rs home again if ever tIais da---
blesseIn fog liftsl 4, ~ !. jl
And for several seconds longer thi
stiffness stEangied their spirits In I'll
ruthless grasp.
Then Of, a sudden. q cry shrilieS
throush the fog, SO near ut hand TIM
Il seemed scarcely moro distant thar
oyer tho siGet 8. 4, (. ~
AlI0Si Help! Alloy. tlieres IEsibss
So instant. sosurgents was its ncca7,
tiisss uounis;i With the surprise. 4
brought the three as one to their feet
all a-trembie, their eyes, seeking on.
anothas's faces, then shifting 1nsas
lily away. - 3
what can II, be-, rj5se whssDesfeS,l
aghast. sksdnking into Aiafi,s read:
arm.
Ifc replied. osSsionsiy With 81. 81
fort overcoming the buperstiticus con
strictipn OF his throat; gSonie oth
or unfortunate y But still bi
slesh crawied with dread. for II
know thar voice: and 1t was tho volc
OF one whom ne hnS believed dead
drowned fathofis deep In the Eouud
miles from tIsat spot <
"A woman. Bafens nut In harsfilS
9Judith. the eirt isfosfned. ~
Alan shook himself together. en-,
possiiieis he contenhesl n saw he
so down !. :. -
That DOESN'T 5F@rs she didn't con-
M Barcus cn:nEiented acidiy.
khosi Hot ofb9at fIIio5es9yi ffezbis,
Ard that :" Bancaa parsred sadl,
Just prqres she did some up--blam
~