The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-14

instant decision; we can't go around-
Then, the catboat still hanging in ~
winds eye: Help me get her over ;,
/ Hadn't you better let her fall off
I little more and run for it?" he sup
gested. and he had to shout it into IN,
pink ear nearest to him to make him
self heard above the roaring of IN,
wind and the crashing plunges of tn,
boat
She shook her head and made an i'm
patient little gesture with her elbow
toward the storm-lashed raceway owe
the bows. Griswold winked the spra,
out OF his eyes and looked. At frs
ne saw nothing but the wild waste O
Wnltecaps, but at the next attempt h,
MADE out the hotel steam launch, half
way to the entrance Of the southern
pay and little to leeward of the ely
tie's course. The small steamer was
evidently no seaboat, and with more
courage than seamanship, its steers
man was driving straight for the Inn
pay without regard for the direction Of
the wind and the seas.
THAT'S Ole Halverson!" cried the
tiller maiden with scorn in her voice
he thinks because he happens to
nave steam engine he needn't look to
see which way the wind is blowing"
shes pitching pretty badly" Girls.
void called back. IF he only had
sense enough to ease of q 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
darling!" he shouted Take all the
chances you want to and I'm with you,
II we go to the bottom!"
She nodded complete intelligence
and took in another inch of the strain
ing main sheet.
Griswold looked again, this time
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 suf-
ficiently urgent. Once again the Swed-
lsh man of machinery in charge of the
craft in peril was inching his helm up
in vain endeavor to hold the course.
and the little steamer was rolling al.
most funnel under. Griswold forgot
MS companion was woman and
'wore rabidly.
Look at the fool!" he yelled. Hes
:rying to come about! II he gets into
he trough"
The thing was done almost as he
poke. A wilder squall than any Of the |
ones caught the upper works |
II the launch and heeled her spitefully. /
1t the critical instant the steersman
ost his head and spun the wheel, and
was all over. With heaving plunge |!
md a mufiled explosion the launch
vas gone.
Once again Griswold was given to
zee the stuff Margery Grierson was
made of in the finer warp and wool of
er.
That's for u.s." she said calmly;
nd then: Help me get another inch
r two on this sheet. We don't want
D let those people on the Osprey do
II the heroic things"
Together they held the catboat down
its work, sending it ripping through
ne crested waves and fighting sturdi-
for every foot of the precious wind
ard advantage. None the less, it was
re big schooner, thrashing down the
ind with every square yard OF it's
eefed canvas drawing, which was first
the scene Of disaster. Through the
ain and spume they could see the
,hooner's crew picking up the ship
rocked passengers, who were cling
lg to lifebelts. broken bulkheads and
nything that would float. So swiftly
as the rescue effected that the res
Ter had luffed and filled and was tear
e on its way down the lake again
hen the close-hauled Clytie came up
18th the first of the floating wreck. /.
ye. The tiller maiden's dark eyes
ere shining again, but this time their !
'ightness was of tears.
"Oh. boy, boy!" she cried, with a
tile heartbroken catch in her voice;
'ome of them must have gone down .
it'll her! Can you believe that the ,
sprey got them all?" And then. with |
70 sweet lips trembling: Il did my
'st. Kenneth; my very best-and it |
enough"
She was putting the catboat up into 7
e wind, and Griswold stumbled for
ard to get the broader outlook. Sud- q
'nly he called back to her. u
"Port-port your helm hard! There's b
man In a lifebelt-he's just out of a
ach. Hold her there-steady-
eady!" He had thrown himself fiat,
ce down. on the half-deck forward
i'd was clutching at something in the
'aving seas. I've got him!". he
led, and moment later he was work.
g his way aft, holding the mans face
t Of water.
1t asked for their united strength
get the gray-haired. heavy-bodied
ctim Of the capsize over the Clytie's
IL. They had to bring the lifebelt
o; the old mans fingers were sunk
to 1t with dying grip that could not
broken. At first Griswold was too
ich preoccupied and shocked to rec.