Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-04

true. You VIII promise to let me know?
l have been tracing the voyage with
pencil on an old chart, setting down every
day an average run for the Chiffon
Grange. She must be in midocean by
now. Ships should be passing her on the
eastbound track. Is it foolish to ask
them to look for herr"
At last her restless mood seemed
to have communicated itself to the
portly Sir James. He flung out his
arm in jerky, emphatic gesture as he
affirmed:
"But, my dear Mrs. Sackett, the vessel
is not overdue. She is jogging along
at eight or nine knots, with voyage
of three thousand miles to make. And
have the greatest confidence in your
husband. / shall be glad, however, to
comply with your request. The Office
has your address. am at a loss to UNDER
stand your fears. If they did not cause
you so much real distress, l should be
inclined to laugh at them, upon my word!
Captain Sackett is as safe in the Chiffon
Grange as though he were on dry land.
Have you been having any trouble with
your nerves that might account for
this?"
Judith Sackett was no longer able to
dissemble her contempt. 1t blazed in her
dark eyes and curled her red lip. Until
now she had watchfully held her speech
under restraint lest she might jeopardize
her husbands interests with his employer.
But the monstrous hypocrisy of Sir James
Babb NOrcross made her throw-discretion
to the winds.
He was crassly lying to her, and she
knew it..
SMOOTHING cut the crumpled letter
- in her hand, she moved closer to the
desk.
"And so you would not mind being
along with Captain Sackett for this voy-
age in the Chiffon Grange?" she cried,
hooking and tempestuous. at will 90
hard with him, no doubt, if he comes
through safe after l tell you the truth
to your face. But can l. listen to the
cruel nonsense of an owner who holds
sailors lives and sailors widows so
cheap"
Sir James looked amazed. His ford
features became notified with righteous
indignation. He was about to ring for
his secretary. and have the. woman re-
moved; but she confronted him, beauti-
full and fearless, and read aloud the mes
sage from Captain Nelson Sackett as he
had written it to her in his cabin just be-
fore sailing from New York:
expected to stay here longer for repairs
in drydock; but Sir James Babb Norcross
tells me by cable to proceed at once.
mailed report to him as soon as we came in
from Rio. The vessel has strained herself
forward, and we had to keep the pumps
going. There is eight feet of water in the
fOrepeak now, and we can't seem to gain on
1t much. The reason why the owner orders
me to wait and go into drydock in Liverpool
is that the job will cost him four or five hun
dred pounds less than if have it done in
New York. With fair weather the Chiffon
Grange will be able to make the passage;
although it will be slow-and you must not
worry.
The owner takes no risk on her. for the
steamer is well insured and he is going in for
bigger ships which are more profitable to
run. l might ask Lloyd's agent in New
York what he thought of starting across the
Western Ocean with eight feet of water in
the forepeak and the pumps unable to clear
it, He would order the vessel into drydock
or cancel the Insurance.; but can't afford
to do it. Sir James Babb Norcross would
give me the sack and blacklist me in English