The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1915-01-13


warning back TO the deep-throated
whistle of coastwise steamship and
the impertinent drumming of motor
boats exhaust with the muller cut
out.
tbs last boxed the compass, sound
ing now near, now far, though the COM
plants of other shipping diminished
IN volume and died away in the dis
lance, giving place to others still, the
plutter-plutter of that motor was never
altogether lost; if at times it faded,
1t seemed certain always to return in
even louder volume.
Vainly straining his vision against
the blank pallor of the encompassing
fog, Alan wondered, worried, dreaded!
At irregular intervals, starting
from preoccupation, he would manipu-
late the brass pull on the wheel-box,
provoking the horns suffering blasts
of protest. But the need for unremit-
ting vigilance and exercise of the fog
signal failed none the less to reconcile
Alan to that blatant clamor which so
widely and SO hideously advertised
their whereabouts.
II there were anything still to be
feared from Judith and her crew-if,
for instance, as Barcus had suggested,
they had sought out one of the life
saving stations en- Nauset beach, APP
propriated its power-driven lifeboat
and renewed the pursuit, if ever they
heard that horn there would beyond
question be the devil to pay!
The loneliness Of his vigil was even
tually relieved by the appearance on
deck of the woman Alan loved.
The tableau that greeted heg vision as
she emerged from the companionway,
of the haggard, unshaven wretch at
the wheel and the other who lay at his
feet, where he had fallen, in a stupor
Of fatigue, instantly wrung from Rose
a little cry of solicitude. And she was
quick to do what little she could to
alleviate their discomfort For Barcus
she fetched a pillow and blanket from
the cabin, and this one suffered her
ministrations without once rousing
from his slumbers. Then Fastening
forward, she got the galley fire going
and prepared a makeshift breakfas.
for her half-famished lover
Warm food and hot coffee--such az
they were-lending a little tone to
Alan's spirits, he was presently able
to discuss their situation with some
optimism. Yet nothing could gloss
the fact that the problem confronting
them was one whose solution baff1ed
their utmost ingenuity-one the simple
courage and intelligence to the ex.
IRENE.
He summed up: II can't see any.
thing for it but father and Judith are
determined to have my scalp, and I'm
hanged If can see how to protect my
self without taking leaf out of their
books. What I'm most afraid of is
that some time may forget it's a
woman I'm defending myself against.
When fellows lighting for his very
life he can't always stop to calculate
the weight of his blows"
The young man sighed, shook his
head, laughed uncertainty, and held
her closer to him. Don't fear; I'll
find some way out without injuring
either of them. / promise you that!"
He sealed the pledge upon her lips.
And in that moment of their obliv.
ion to the world from some point for.
ward a muffled crash sounded stimuli
taneously with the dull shock of
collision with a smaller vessel, and
strange voice cried cut with an &C
cent of high exultation.
Before either Alan or the girl could
disengage the decks rang loud with
rush of booted feet pounding aft.
The figures Of the boarding party
were already taking shape through the
fog as Alan sprang toward the com,
panionway to fetch the rifle. And in
this action his feet slipped on planks
greasy with moisture deposited by the
surcharged atmosphere. He went down
with a stumbling thump, and an in,
slant later two men fell bodily upon
hlm-active, strong fellows in the
to rise only as a prisoner, helpless in
the grasp of two pairs of powerful
hands.
He saw Barcus, rudely reused and
still dumb with sleepy confusion, in
no better case-jerked to his feet and
held captive by two more fishermen.
A fifth had taken charge of Rose
clamping her wrists in the wise of
one big hand.
The sixth and sole other member OF
the boarding party, likewise in the
rough-and-ready garb of a fisherman,
was Judith Urine.
Down the side a heavy life-boat
ground its way astern, the loose end
of its painter slipping over the rail
even as Alan caught sight of it. $50
it seemed Barcus had guessed shrewd.
lyD
Observing this, one of the men in
charge of Alan made as if to leave
him to the other, addressing Judith
for permission to prevent the loss of