The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-04

With look of panic she sat up,
thrust damp hair back from her eyes.
and nervously inquired
Whats the matterf"
Nothing" Barcus told her. 81 shut
| the engine off-thats 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 l jolly we'll wanted to-"
Barcus returned In tone as brusque.
"Oh, you did-eh7"
Yes, did-eh! / 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!"
Well" Law contended, struck by
the fairness Of this argument, but un-
able to calm his uneasiness-"just the
same, we might"
Yes; of course, we might" Barcus
snapped. I'VE might whole lot. We
might, for instance, be heading for
Spain, for all you or l know to the
contrary. And In such case, / for one
respectfully prefer to have gas enough
to take us home again II ever this
da-blessed fog lifts!"
And for several seconds longer the
stiffness strangled their spirits in it's
ruthless grasp.
Then Of a sudden a cry shrilled
through the fog, SO near at hand that
1t seemed scarcely more distant than
over the side:
Alloy! Help! Alloy there! Help!"
So insistent. 80 urgent was its &C
cent that. coupled with the surprise,
1t brought the three as one to their
feet, all a-tremble, their eyes seeking
one another's faces, then shifting un-
easily away.
What can 1t 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
possibleI" he contended. II saw her
80 down y
That doesn't prove she didn't come
up Barcus commented acidly.
Alloy! Motorboat aho-o-oyl Helpl"
And that" Barcus pursued sadly,
Just 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:
Alloy! Where are you? Where
awayT
"Here-on the acknowledgements
perishing with chill"
How does my voice bear?" Alan
called back
What the dickens do you carer"
Barcus interpolated suepiciuosly.
ITO port" the response rang through
the fog. "Starboard your helm and
come in SLOWLY"
"ptSsht-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 fly-wheel.
Leaping on the forward thwart and
balancing himself perilously near the
gunwale, Alan strained his vision
vainly against the opacity Of the fog.
Cant make out anything" he
grumbled, looking back. start her
up-but slows the woodland ware
reef!"
Nothing doing" Barcus retorted
CURLY. THE motto Ia now Full speed
astern!' as you must know"
20 comel We can't leave a woman
out therein a fix like that!"
Cant we? You watch" Barcus
grunted malevolently, rocking the
heavy fiywheel with all his might: for
the motor had turned suddenly stub.
born.
"Alan!" Rose pleaded. laying a hand
upon his sleeve. Think what II
means! / know 1t sounds heartless OF
me-and it's my own sister. But you
know how mad she is-wild with ha
tired and jealousy. II you take her into
this boat, it's your life or hers!"
IF we leave her out there" Alar
retorted, shaking his arm impatiently
free, its her life on our heads!"
At this juncture the motor tool
charge OF the argument, ending 1t II
summary fashion. With a smart ex
plosion In the cylinder, 1t started VI
Unexpectedly, at one and the sam,
time almost dislocating the arm O
Mr.. Barcus and precipitating Alal
overheard.
1t was not given him to know wha
was happening until he found himsel
in the water; he struggled to the sur
face just In time to see the bows O
the lifeboat back away and vanish int
the mist
CHAPTER XVI.
| The Island