Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-20

hear the peremptory SUNNI than ne
scurried from the crowded wardroom.
( Poor devil! Did you notice his
face, Beilamy?" said the second en-
gineer. addressing the ford paymas-
| ter. HE went as pale as death.
| When the deuce does Torsheli eat and
sleep, Mayhem? He never seems to be
of duty"
The surgeon twitched his spruce eye
| brows.
"Oh, Mebbe, our senior engineer
our man of the merchant mariner
said he in his usual fiippant, exasper-
ating tone. Hell go the same as
Chisleburst If worries don't cease No
human being. much less Torshell. can
stand for any length of time the state
of affairs in this boats engine room
and stokeholds. It's enough to drive
any man madT'
"Chisle is really not well, then? We
all know the complaint of Pattenie of
the Farm Furnace. as the fo'castie
terms her,"
Mayhem shrugged his shoulders. "Our
staff engineer went into sick bay to
let this r. N. r. fellow shine, did hef"
was his tart rejoinder. TOO much
strain and unrest have knocked him
Off his legs. And so Mebbe is the man
we must depend on now"
Said the paymaster In his big. rau-
cous voice: THAT is what happens
with these understaffed engine rooms
and insufficient repairs. Here we are,
the lamest of the lame ducks in the
division and tailin' off the column,
| with a reserve chap out of an easy.
oozy. ten knot merchantwan bandlin'
our engines. and rickety old machines
they are God alone knows whatIl
happen with him and his untried nerve
when we pick the enemy up again.
"a jolly good thing for Us the enemy
are Just as much worried with break
DOWNS" was the consoling remark
from the other end of the table. 1.-The
Rurik, the Freya. the Jena and
"T wouldn't indict the dockyard on
the insufficient repairs point, Bellamy,"
interrupted the second. my lords were
responsible. They wouldn't enlarge the
| yards, make new ones or lease out re-
pairs, so as to have all the necessary
work for mobilization COPIED with ade-
quately. But it Is odd how she was
passed out with the starboard cylinder
cover not remedied. OF course nobody II
be held responsible. as usualT
Bellamy nodded, turning from scold-
ing the harassed steward. He replied
slowly. "But yet when an r. N. r.
fellow can pop up and take seniority
over the regular service. as in this
boat, you can't expect
"Oh. here we are again. the Sec
ond broke in with. "Jealousies as
usual. Torshell is as At as any engf
neer. By George" he cried. listening
! intently, ''the engines are slowin'
DOWN.
| Torsher had approached Captain
Widdrington and the first" who lin
gered in the chart house discussing
recent instructions. The senior engi-
neer had coughed slightly to intimate
his presence. The captain looked up.
! frown sweeping his hard face on
marking him.
Sir" cried the engineer, "the port
"One moment, sirr" was the short an
swer. "This isn't a steam bus" And
Torshell, again saluting, had stepped
back, his pallid face blood red and his
teeth hard clinched and gritting. The
wary, diplomatic first just then cheer
fly nodded aside to him.
He let himself rock to the vessels
juggling among the cumbrous masses of
sea. Since he had Joined, off the way
laid liner, his had been hayd luck. He
felt acutely the general sentiment
against him; but, Notwithstanding all,
his mettle was yet strong. 1t was the
snobbish crowd in the wardroom and
the unpleasant bearing Of his subOrdi-
mates that caused his discomfort of
mind.
Suddenly he had held in his breath
and unwittingly stepped toward the
bridge ladder. The first drew himself
back from the chart, dartfng a look of
surprise at Torsheii. But the captains
steel blue eyes famed with sudden an
ger.
Good heavens, sir! Your engines
aren't slowing DOWN."
Torshell saluted. Port air pump.
sir"
This drives a man mad!' cried Wild
drington, crashing his big fist upon the
table. Nothing but defects, defects!
Can We drive engines at all. you mis-
cradle merchantmen? What dye want
to slacken down tot What's wrong
this time? You
That second came tremendous jar
ring and crunching beneath their feet
The great ship was shaken like thing
of straw. An appalling hammering
followed, chaotic and deafening. Gray
steam surged through hatchways, VEN
tilators and companions.
The senior engineer had rushed from
the bridge. AS he raced amidships he
snatched the sacking OF the backs of
some OF the "black squad" dumping
ashes overheard. grabbed at quarter
mS-ter's oilskins and showed them all
upon him.
"Garret an Epburn an Mr.. Jerroli
u port alleyway" was the answer tn
his shout from the art;fcers now In
safety. 1t reached his ear as be STEP
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