The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-10-08

Caldwell Of London. Practically all his
belongings had been made or purchas-
ed In Paris. Everything that bore an
inltlai was marked either with a t.
alone or with j. c. T. We thought
that he was travelling incognito under
his hrst two names. the ]. c. standing
for John Caldwell"
"Tarzan OF the Apes took the name
Jean Z. Tarzan,' said lane in the same
llreiess monotone. And he is dead.
Oh. Hazel. it is horrible. He died all
alone IL this terrible ocean, 1t is un-
~believdble that that brave heart should
have ceased to beat; that those mighty
muscles are quiet and cold forever;
that he who was the persouification of
life and health and manly strength
should be the prey OF Shiny. crawling
things; that But she could go no
further, aud, with a little moan, she
buried her head in her arms and sank
sobbing TO the floor.
For days Miss Porter was i'll and
would see no one except Hazel and the
faithful Esmeralda. When at last she
came on deck all were struck by the
sad change that had taken place In her.
She was no longer the alert, vivacious
American beauty who had charmed
and delighted all who came in contact
with her. Instead she was a very
quiet and sad little girl. with an ex-
preston Of hopeless ~wistfulnesS that
none but Hazel Strong could interpret.
The entire party strove their utmost
to cheer and amuse her. but all to no
avail. Occasionally the jolly Lord Ten
nington would wiring n wan smile from
her, but for the most part she sat with
wide eyes locking out across the sea.
With Jane Porter's illness one mis-
fortune after another seemed to attack
the yacht. First an engine broke
down. and they drifted for two days
while temporary repairs were being
made. Then a squall struck them IN
awares that carried overheard nearly
everything above deck that was port
able. Later w of the seamen fell to
fighting In the forecaStle. with the re-
suit that one of them was badly wound
ed with a knife and the other had to be
put in irons. Then, to cap the climax,
the mate fell overheard at night and
was drowned before help could reach
him. The yacht cruised about the spot
FOR ten hours, but no sign of the man
was seen after he disappeared from
the deck into the sea.
Every member of the crew and guests
was gloomy and depressed after these
series of misfortunes All were appre-
hensive of worse to come and this was
especially true of the seamen who re-
called all sorts Of terrible omens and
warnings that had occurred during the
early part Of the voyage and which
they could not clearly translate into
the precursors Of some grim and ter
rible tragedy to come.
Nor did the croakers have long to
wait. The second night after the
drowning Of the mate the little yacht
was suddenly wracked from stem to
stern. About | o'clock in the morning
there was a terrific impact that threw
the s~lumbering guests and crew from
bunk and berth. A mighty shuddel
far over to starboard; the engines
stopped. For a moment she hung
there with her decks at an angle OF
forty-five degrees-then, with a sullen
rending sound she slipped back into
the sea and righted.
Instantly the men rushed upon deck,
followed closely by the The
night was densely black. though there
was little or no sea. Just of the port
bow q dim black mass could be dis
cerned floating low in the water.
"A derelict." was the terse explana.
ton of the officer Of the watch.
Presently the engineer hurried on
deck in search of the captain.
That patch we put on the cylinder
heads blown out. SIR he reported.
and she's maxim water fast for'ard on
the port bow"
An instant later a seaman rushed up
from below.
My Gawdv" be cried. Her whole
bleedin' bottoms ripped out. She can't
float twenty minutes"
Shut up!' roared bennington. La
dies. go below and get some Of your
things together. 1t may not be so bad
as that. but we may have to take to
the boats. 1t will be safer to be pre-
pared. Go at once, please. And. Cap
tain Jerrold. send some competent man
below. please, to ascertain the exact
extent of the damage. In the mean
time | might suggest that you have
the boats provisioned.'
The calm low voice of the owner did
much to reassure the entire party. and
a moment later all were occupied with
the duties he had suggested. By the
time the ladies had returned to the deck
the rapid provisioning of the boats had
been about completed, and a moment
later the officer who had gone below
had returned to report. But his Opin-
ion was scarcely needed to assure the
huddled group of men and women that
the end Of the Lady Alice was at hand.
We'll. SIR" said the captain as his
officer hesitated.
II dislike to brighten the ladies'. sir
he said. but she can't float a dozen
minutes, In my opinion. There's a hole