The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-07

power horn OF n catboat crying the
warning back to the deep-throated
whistle OF a coast wise steamship and
the impertinent drumming of a motor.
boats exhaust with the muller cut
out.
This 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: II at times IL faded.
II 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 pre~occupation. he would manipu-
late tho 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 one the less to reconcile
Alan TO that blatant clamor which so
''N"'y a. NJ hlubJublJ huNtINlbtu
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 OF Nauset beach, ap-
p~ropriated It's power-driyer ltfeboat
and enewed the pursuit. II ever they
| hnaEA Nh.N ha-a ~. ...-ta A.-a
question be the devil to payl
The loneliness OF his vigil was even.
tually relieved by the appearance on
deck OF the woman Alan loved.
h tableau that greeted her vision as
she emerged from the companionway,
Of the %haggard. unshaven wretch at
the wheel and the other who lay al 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 n pillow and blanket from
the cabin. and this one suffered her
m~inistrations without once rousing
from his slumbers. Then Fastening
forward. she got the galley fire going
and prepared a makeshift breakfast
for her half.famlshed lover.
Warm food and hot coffee-such as
they were-lending q 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 bafied
their utmost ingenuity-one the simple
contemplation OF which taxed their
courage and intelligence to the ex-
IRENE.
He summed up: II can't see any.
thing for II but father and Judith are
determined to have my scalp. and I'm
hanged II ! can see how to protect my
self without taking a leaf out OF their
books. What I'm most afraid OF IL
that some time | may forget It's a
woman I'm defending myself against.
When a fellows fighting 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
inc some way out without injuring
either OF them. | promise you that"
He sealed the pledge upon her lips.
And In that m OF their obliv.
ion to the world from some point for
ward a mufled crash sounded stimuli.
%taneously with the dull shock OF a
collision with a smaller vessel, and q
strange voice cried out with an &c
cent OF high e~xultation.
Before either Alan or the girl could
~disengage the decks rang loud with a
rush OF booted feet pounding aft.
The figures OF the boarding party
we're already taking shape through the
fog as Alan sprang toward the com
~panionway TO fetch the rife. 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 W o men fell bodily upon
h~im-active. strong fellows In the
dress OF fishermen. He was suffered
to rise only as n 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 NTH 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-an 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 II. $50
II seemed Barcus had guessed shrewd.
lyD
Observing this. one OF the men in
charge OF Alan made as II to leave
him TO the other, addressing Judith
for permission to prevent the loss OF
the liteboat. She stopped him with