The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-20
Copyright. 1914. by Louis Joseph vanc,

yes, EdidSHen happen to be
bossing t8is END oFthe boat and to
hay0sep@ kpdgh to realize there's
no sense 5at all in our wasting fuel the
way we are-cruising nowhere!"
Law contended. struck by
the fairness of this argum ent, 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 l for one
respectfully prefer to have gas enough
to take us home again If ever this
da-blessed fog liftsi"
And fer several seconds longer the
Stiffness strangled their spirits in it's
ruthless grasp.
Then of a sudden cry shrilled
through the fog. so near at hand that
1t seemed scarcely more distant than
over the side:
Alloy! Help! Ahoy there. Help!"
SO insistent, so urgent was its 40
cent that, coupled with the surprise,
it brought the three as one to their
feet, all a-trem0le, their eyes seeking
one anCther's faces, then shifting ua
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. "Im-
possible!" he contended. 81 saw her
go down -
THAT doesn't prove she didn't CON
up" Barcus commented acidly.
"Ahoy! Motorboat aho-o-oy! Help!"
"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 l 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:
"Ahoy! Where are you? Where
away?"
Thereon the reef-halt.drowned-
perishing with chill"
How does my voice bear?" Alan
called back.
What the dickens do you carer"
Barcue irterpolated suspiciuosly.
ITO port" the response rang through
the fog. "Starboard your helm and
come in slowly!"
"Right-o! Half a minute!" Alan re-
piled reassuringly.
Like hell" Mr.. Barcus muttered in
his throat as he jumped down into the
engine pit and Dent 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 word-and ware
reef"
Nothing doing" Barcus retorted
curtly. The motto is now Full speed
astcrn! as you must know"
20 come! We can't leave woman
out tnere-ln a nix ike that!"
Cant we? You watch!" Barcus
grunted malevolently. rocking the
heavy fywheel 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 it sounds heartless Of
me-and it's my own sister. But you
know how mad she is--wild with ha-
tired and jealousy. If you take her into
this boat, it's your life or hers!"
IF we leave her out there" Alan
retorted, shaking his arm impatiently
free, its her life on our heads!"
At this juncture the motor took
charge of the argument, ending 1t in
summary fashion. With a smart ex-
plosion in the cyAGder, 1t started up
Unexpectedly, at one and the same
time almost dislocating the arm OF
Mr.. Barcus and precipitatlng Alan
overheard.
1t was not given him to know what
was happening until he found himself
in the water; he struggled to the eur
face Just in time to see the bows Of
the lifeboat back away and vanish into
the mist.
CHAPTER XVI.