The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-02

sounding thumps; that the wind was
rising, and that the sammer afternoon
sky had become suddenly overcast.
The pretty tiller maiden was pushing
the helm down with her foot and haul
ing in briskly on the sheet when he
sat up.
What's this we're coming to-" he
asked, thinking less OF the changed
weather conditions than of the charm
ing picture she made in action
Weather" she said shortly. Look
behind you"
He looked and saw a huge storm
cloud rising out of the northwest and
spreading like a great gray dust cur
tain from horizon to zenith
There's a good bunch Of wind in
that cloud" he said. springing to help
his companion with the Stating main
sail. Hadn't we better lie up under
the island and let it blow over?''
NO." she snapped. Wen have to
reef, and be quick about it. Help mel"
He helped with the reefng. and the
great mainsail had been successfully
reduced to its smallest area and hoist
ed home again before the trees on the
western shore began to bow and churn
in the precursor blasts of the coming
storm.
TT will hit Us in less than a min
ute; how about weathering that
island?" he asked.
We've got to weather it," was the
instant decision; I'VE can't go around. &"
Then, the catboat still hanging in the
winds eye: Help me get her over"
Hadn't you better let her fall of a
little more and run for it?'' he sug-
gested, and he had to shout it into the
pink ear nearest to him to make him
self heard above the roaring of the
wind and the crashing plunges of the
boat.
She shook her head and made an i'm
patient little gesture with her elbow
toward the storm-lashed raceway over
the bows. Griswo1d winked the spray
out Of his eyes and looked. At first
he saw nothing but the wild waste of
whitecaps, but at the next attempt he
made out the hotel steam launch, half
way to the entrance of the southern
bay and a little to leeward of the ely
evidently no seaboat, and with more
courage than seamanship, its steers
man was driving straight for the Inn
bay without regard for the direction of
the wind and the seas.
That's Ole Halverson!" cried the
tiller maiden with scoTn in her voice.
He thinks because he happens to
have steam engine he needn't look to
see which way the wind is blowing
She's pitching pretty badly" Girls
void called back. IF he only had
sense enough to ease of a little.
:" Suddenly he became aware OF
the finer heroism of his companion He
knew now why she had refused to take
shelter under the lee of the island,
and why she was holding the catboat
down to the edge of peril to keep the
windWard advantage of the labOring
steamer. "Margery, girl. you're a
darIing!" he shouted. Take all the
chances you want to and I'm with you,
if we go to the bottom!"
She nodded complete intelligence
and took in another inch of the strain
ing main sheet.
over the catboat's counter, and saw a
big schooner, close reefed, hauling out
from little bay on the north shore
The launch's plight had evidently i'm
pressed others with the necessity OF
doing something. The need was sui
fciently urgent Once again the Swed
ish man of machinery In charge Of the
craft in peril was inching his helm VI
| in vain endeavor to hold the course
and the little steamer was rolling al
most funnel under. Griswold forgot
his companion was a woman and
swore rabidly.
Look at the fool" he yelled Hes
! trying to come about If he gets into
the trough"
The thing was done almost as he
! spoke. A wilder squall than any of the
preceding ones caught the upper works
\ of the launch and heeled her spitefIlly
At the critical instant the steersmaI
lost his head and spun the wheel, and
it was all over. With a heaving plunge
and a muf1ed explosion the launch
was gone
| Once again Griswold was given tC
see the stuff Margery Grierson was
made of in the finer warp and wool o.
her.
That's for u.s." she said calmly;
and then: Help me get another incl
or two on this sheet We don't wan
to let those people on the Osprey de
all the heroic things
Together they held the catbOat dowI
to its work, sending it ripping through
the crested waves and fighting sturdi
Iy for every foot OF the precious wind
ward advantage. None the less, it wa:
| the big schooner, thrashing down The
wind with every square yard Of it:
reefed canvas drawing. which was frs
at the scene Of disaster. Through the
rain and spume they could see the
schooner's crew picking up the ship
wrecked passengers, who we're cling
| ing to lifebelts. broken bulkheaos anC
anything that would float. So swift!
was the rescue effected that the res
| cuer had lufSed and filled and was tear
ing on its way down the lake agar
when the close-hauIed Clytie came VI
with the first of the floating wreck