The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-11-26
Copyrght by The Century Co.
CHAPTER XIV.
The "ttavdeoIno- proe.ss

still. Nos. 3 and 8 had gone out on
the elght-o'clock patrol. The seventh
man was taking his twonty.four hours
on at his home on the shore. The
keeper was working over his report
In the Office. The other members OF
the crew were 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
no captains room for him. so that
the old man need not spend the night
In tho cold sleoping.loft above. He
was fully dressed except for his
boots; for he was determined to con.
form TO the rules OF the service. aud
sleep with his clothes on ready for
instant duty.
Talk erbout him a.dyin'!" growled
Samuel to himself. l~ounging YEARLY
IN a chair beside the stove. He's Jest
startin' his life. He's a reg"ar boss.
I didn't think he had II In him"
Samuefs tone was rcsentful. lie
was n little Jealous Of the distinction
which had been made between him
and Abe: and drawing closer to the
Ore, he shivered in growing distaste
for the cot assigned to him with the
upstairs. where the white frost
lay on the window latches.
What uncomfortable chairs they had
In this station! Samuel listened TO
the mooing OF tho breakers, to the
wind rafting at the casements-and
wondered II Blossy had missed him.
About this time she must be- sitting
In her chintz.covered rocker. combing
out the ringlets OF her golden.white
hair in the CHEEKY freight.
Now. that would be n sight worth
seeing! Abe opened his mouth and
began to snore. What disgusting. hide.
ous creatures men were. reflected
Samuel. Six months living with an
unusually high.bred woman had insen.
sibly raised his standards.
Why should he spend "a week Of his
evershortening life with such inferior
beings, just for Abraham's sake--for
Abraham's sake. and to bear out a the.
cry OF his own. which he had already
concluded n mistake?
Abe gave a snort, opened his eyes,
and muttered sleepily This is what
I call n a No. | spree. Naow, termor.
rer-" But mumbling incoherently
ne relapscd into slumber. putting his
lips out into a whistling sound.
Samuel reached for Il newspaper on
the table. folded II into n missile, and
started 10 fling It into the innocent
face OF the sleeper, but fortunately for
Abraham. II was Captain Darby's Gus,
tom TO count ten whenever seized BY
an exasperated impulse, and at the
ninth number he regretlully dropped
the paper.
Then he began 20 count IN another
way. Using the forehugcr OF his right
hand as n marker. he counted under
his breath, tone on his left thumb,
then after n frowning interval. two
81 hts left forennger, three on the
middle digit, and so on. giving tins
for thought to each number. until he
had exhausted the fingers OF his left
hand and was ready to start on the
right.
Count, count, went on Samuel, until
thrice five was passed, and he began
TO he confused.
Once more Abe awoke, aud inquired
IL the other we're trying to reckon the
number OF new wigwags and signals
which the service had acquired since
they had worked for the government:
but on being sharply told to "Shet
up" went 10 sleep again.
What the protector OF the trip was
really trying TO recall was how many
times that day he had regretted saw.
ing Abe from the devastating clutches
OF the old ladies'.
Him need ~hardenin'?" muttered
Samuel blackly. why, he's harder
nov n nails an hardtack!"
Again he ran over on his fingers the
list Of high crimes and misdemeanors
OF which Abe had been guilty.
First-thumb. left hand-Abe had
insisted on extending their scoote
sail until he, Samuel, had felt his toes
freezing IN his boots.
Second forehnger. left hand-on
being welcomed By the entire force n
Bleak Hill and asked how long they
expected to stay, Abe had blurted out,
"A hull week" explaining that Sam.
uel's rule requiring at least seven days
~ exile from his wife every elk months
barred them from returning In less
time.
The keeper was q widower. all the
other men were bachelors. How could
they be expected 10 understand? They
burst into n guffaw OF laughter, and
Abe. not even conscious that he had
betrayed a sacred confidence, spu,.
tered and laughed with the rest.
Samuel had half a mind to return
tomorrow, lest 10 spite EN-" Lete
Hse how many days OF this plagued
week were left? Six. SiI whole