The Hickman courier., 1914-10-29


concert OF discordance--the man. /,
power horn Of a catboat crying the J
warning back to the deep-throated
whistle OF . coastwise steamship and I
the impertinent drumming OF a motor. 4
boats exhaust with the muffier cut
out.
This last boxed the compass. sound |
'ns nov near. now far, though the com |
plAints Of other shipping diminished |
In volume and died away In the dis
lance. giving place 10 others still. the
piutter.plutter Of that motor was nsver
altogether lcst; n at times Il faded.
u seemed certain always to return In
even louder volume.
VRinly strainias his vision against
the blank pailor Of the sneompassing
fog. Alan wondered. worried. dreaded
Al Irregular intervals. etarting
from preeeeupaton. he would manipu-
late the brass pull on the wheslboK.
provoking the horns suffering blasts
OF protest but tho need for unremlt.
ting vigilance and exercise Of the fog.
signal failed none the less TO reconcile
Alan to that blatant clamor which 10
widely aud M hidoously advertised
their whereabouts.
II there were anything still 10 be
feAred from Judith and her crew--if.
for instance. ne Barcus had suggested.
they had sought out one OF the life
saving stations on Nauset beach, ap-
propriated It's Iower-driyen llfebOat
aud renewed the pursuit. II ever they
heard that horn there would beyond
question be the devil to pay
The loneliness OF his yigll Was even
tually relieved by the appearance ON
deck OF tie woman Alan loved
The tAbleau that greeted her vision as
she emerged from the oompanionway
OF the haggard. unSbAyen wretch al
the wheel and the other who lay at his
feet. where be had fallen. In a stupor
Of fatigue. Instantly wruns from Rose
a little cry of sollcitude Aud sbe was
quick to do what little she could 10
alleviate their discomfort For Barcus
she fetched a pillow and blanket from
the cabin. aud this ons suffered her
minia,rAtious without once rousing
from his slumbers Then Fastening
forward. she got the galley hre goins
and prepared makeshift breakfast
for her haltiamished lover.
Warm food aud ho, conoe-such Al
they were lending q little tone Il
Alans spirits. be Was presently able
to discuss thsir situation with som'
optimism Yet nothing could glosl
the fact that ths problem eonfrontinl
them Was one whose soletion baf'ie'
their utmost ingenuiiy-One the simpl
contemplation Of which taxed thei
courage and intelligence TO the "a
treme
lie summed up. 4 can't see an,
thing for II but father and Judith ar
determined TO have my scalp. and IL
hanged n can see how TO protect M
self without taking leaf out Of thei
books. What I'm most afraid OF
that some time may forget it's
woman I'm defending myself Asains
when q fellows fshtins for his vef
life he cant always stop TO calculal
the weight Of he blows"
The young man sighed. shook b
head. laughed uncertainty. and bel
her closer 20 him. Don't fear: /
nnd some way out without injurir
either Of them. promise you that
lie sealed the pledge upon her lip
And In that moment 81 their obi!
ion TO thu world from some point 70
ward q mufied crash sounded STINT
taneouSly with the dun shock OF
collision with a smaller vessel. and
Q strange voice cried out with an a
cent Of high eruliation.
Before either Alan or the girl cou
disengage the decks rams loud with
rush OF booted feet pounding aft.
The figures OF the boarding par
!. we're already taking shape through I
" FOG ~ Alan spranS toward the CO
" pAnionway to fetch the rife. And
this action his feet slipped on plan
. greasy with moisture deposited BY I
- surchArged atmosphere. tie went do
- With n stumbling thump. and m
:" stant later two men fell bodily Nv
" him-active. strong fellows In
dress Of fishermen lie was suffer
y 20 rine only a. = prisoner. helpless
" the grasp Of two pairs of power
hands
" lie saw Barcus. rudely reused
D" still dumb with sleepy confusion,
- no better case jerked to his feet
s' held captive by two more nsherm
a. A nfth had taken charge OF R'
q elanpins her wrists In the wise
- one big hand.
= The sixth and sole other member
y the boarding party. likewise In
rough andresdy Earb Of a hsheru
was Judith Trine.
Down the side heavy hfet
ground its way astern. the loose
OF ns painter slipping over ihe