The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-27
'. C. Chapman

should be the prey of sliny, crawling things; that But she could go no further and, with a little moan, she buried her head in her arms ana Aank sobbing to the floor
 For days Miss Porter was k.i and would sec no one except Hazel and the faithful Esueralda When at last she came on deck all wera 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 very quiet and sad little girl with an ex- precision of hopeless wistfulness that none but Hazel Strong could interpret ' The entire party strove their utmost to cheer and anuse her. but all to no avail Occasionally the jolly Lord Ten nfngton would wiring wan smile from her, but for the most part she sat with wide eyes looking out across the sea.
 With Jane Porter's illness one nais- fortune after another seemed to attacfN the yacht First an engine broke down, and they drffted for two days while temporary repairs were being made Then squaH struck them un- asvares that carried overheard nearly every thing aboEe deck that was port able Later two of the seamen fell to lighting 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 1rons Then. to cap the climax, the mate fell overboard 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 ana which they could not clearly translate Into the precursors Of some grim and ter r1ble tragedy tD come.
 Nor did the cruakers have long to, wait. The second night after the drowning of the mate the little yacht was suddenly wracked from stem to there was terrific impact that threw the slumbering guests and crew from bunk and berth. A mighty shudder ran through the frai9 craft; she lay far over to starboard; the engines stepped Fer moment she hung there with gher decks at an angle Of forty-1ve degrees then, with sullen, rendlng sound she slipped back into the sea and rfghted. Instantly the men rushed upon deck, followed closely by the women. The night was denseiy black though there was little or no sea- Just of the port bow dim black mass could be dis cerned f1oating low in the water.
 "A derelict z was the ferse exp1ana- tion of the oa1cer 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, ssand she's maxim water fast for'ard on the port bow. z
 An instant later seaman rushed up from below.
 t.My Gawdr' he cried. Her whole bleedin' bottoms ripped out She can't float twenty minutes. 7
 s'Shut up r roared Pennington. 4sLa- dies, go below and get some of your things together. It may not be so bad as that but we may have to ta ke to the boats. It will be safer to be pre- l pared Go at once, please. And, Gap tain Jerro1d, send some competent man below, please to ascertain the exact
 extent of the damage In the mean time might suggest that you have I the boats provisioned., Tho 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 deeh the rapid provisioning of the beats had been about completed, and moment later the officer who had gone below had returnedxto report. But his dpin ion was scarcely needed to assure ths
 huddIed group of men and women thai i the end of the Lady Alice was at hand
 Well, sir9' said the captain as hii officer hesitated.
 .tI dislike to frighten the ladies, sir he said, "but she can't float a dozer
 minutes, in nay opinion. There's ho1s
 through, sir,
 For i've u1fnutes the Lady Alice haf
 been settling rapidly by the bow. Al
 ready her stern 1oomed high in air, ans
 foothold on the deck as of the mos
 precarious nature She carried fou,
 boats, and these were all filled ant
 lowered away In safety. As they pull
 ed rapidly from the stricken little yes
 sci Jane Porter turned to have on'
 last look at her. Just then there cam' 1 a loud crash and an ominous rumblini
 and pounding from the heart of tn
 ship her machinery had broken loos'
 and was dashing its way toward tn
 bow, tearing out partitions and bulk
 heads as it went The stern rose rapid I Iy high above them. For moment sh
 seemed to pause there. a vertical shaf
 protruding from the bosom of tn
 ocean, and then swiftly she dove hea' l foremost beneath the waves.
 l In one of the boats the brave LOT,
 Bennington had wiped tear from hi
 eye He had not seen fortune i
 money go down forever into the sea