The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-18
The Hardening" Process.
CHAPTER XIV.

The Hfe-savfng station was very
still Nos. and had gone out on
Sne eight-o'clock patrol. The seventh
man was taking his twenty-four hours
on at his home on the shore. The
keeper was working over his report
In the office. The other members of
the crew were upstairs asleep, and
Abe and Samuel were bearing each
other company in the messroom.
Abe lay asleep on the carpet-covered
sofa which had been dragged out of
the captains room for him. so that
the old man need not spend the night
In the cold sleeping-loft above. He
was fully dressed except for his
boots; for he was determined to con-
form to the rules of the service. and
sleep with his clothes on ready for
instant duty.
Talk erbout him a-dyin'!" growled
Samuel to himself, lounging YEARLY
in chair beside the stove. Hes jest
startin' his life. He's a regular boss.
l didn't think he had 1t In him"
SamuePs tone was resentful. He
was little Jealous Of the distinction
which had been made between him
and Abe; and drawing closer to the
fire, he shivered in growing distaste
for the cot assigned to him with the
crew upstairs, where the white frost
lay on the window latches.
What uncomfortable chairs they had
In this station! Samuel listened to
the mooing of the breakers, to the
wind rafting at the casements-and
wondered if Blossy had missed him.
About this time she must be sitting
In her chintz-covered rocker, combing
out the ringlets of her golden-white
hair in the CHEEKY freight.
Now, that would be a sight worth
seeing! Abe opened his mouth and
began to snore. What disgusting, hide
Gus creatures men were, reflected
Samuel. Six months living with an
unusually high-bred woman had insen-
sibly raised his standards.
Why should he spend a week of his
ever-shortening life with such inferior
beings, just for Abraham's sake-for
Abraham's sake, and to bear out the
concluded a mistake?
Abe gave a snort, opened his eyes,
and muttered sleepily: This is what
call A No. spree. Naow, termor-
rer- But mumbling incoherently
ne relapsed into slumber, putting his
lips out into whistling sound
Samuel reached for a newspaper on
hn +ah II FOL =
started to fling it into the innocent
face of the sleeper. But fortunately for
Abraham, it was Captain Darby's Gus
tom to count ten whenever seized by
an exasperated impulse, and at the
ninth number he regretfully dropped
the paper
Then he began to count in another
way. Using the forefnger Of his right
hand as a marker, he counted under
his breath, "one" on his left thumb,
then after a frowning interval, two"
on his left forefnger, three" on the
middle digit, and SO on, giving time
for thought to each number, until he
had exhausted the fingers of his left
hand and was ready to start on the
right.
Count. count, went on Samuel until
thrice five was passed, and he began
to be confused.
Once more Abe awoke, and inquired
II the other were trying to reckon the
number of new wigwags and signals
which the service had acquired since
they had worked for the government;
up!" went to sleep again.
What the protector of the trip was
reollr trying to recall was how many