Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-04-27

different languages. He outargued me
OH poultry raising. and l know more
about that than any nan living. He
can handle a drill or a coach and four;
he can tell all about the art Of ancient
Babylon, and he beats me playing crib
bage, which shows that he amt on the
level. He's the best informed man out
side Of a university. and he drinks tea
of an afternoon. with his legs crossed
and the saucer balanced on his heel.
Now, it takes years of hard work for
an honest man to make q success at
II thing. but Gordon never failed at
anything. l ask you if a living author
ity on all the branches of human en-
deavor and a man who cal beat me at
crib doesn't make you suspicious."
Not at ali. I've beaten you myself"
II was sick" said Captain Brennan.
"The man is brilliant and we'll edu-
Gated and wealthy. It's only natural
that he should excite the jealousy of a
weaker intellect
Johnny opened his lips for an eXplo-
sion, then changed his mind and agreed
sourly.
Hes got money. all right, and he
knows how to spend it. He and his
valet occupied three cabins on this
ship. They say his quarters at Hope
are palatial."
My dear grampus. the mere love of
luxury doesn't argue that a person is
dishonest"
Would you let q hired man help you
on with your underclothcs?" demanded
the mariner.
There's nothing criminal about it,
"Humph.. Mrs. Gerard is different.
Shes all class! You don't mind her
having a maid and speaking French
when she ms short of English. Her
daughter is like her"
II haven't seen Miss Gerard"
IF you'd stir about the ship instead
of wearing out my morris chair you'd
have that pleasure. She was on deck
all morning" Captain Brennan fell
silent and poked with a stubby fore
finger at the ice in his glass.
well out with it." said O'Neil after
Il moment.
I'D like to know the inside story OF
Curtis Gordon and this girls mother"
why bother your head about some
thing that doesn't concern you?' The
speaker ross and began to pace the
cabin floor. then in an altered tone in
quired, Tell me, are you going to land
me and my horses at Kyak bay?'
THAT depends on the weather. It's
-. ,o{+o,> l,o,Jo. y>,,y11 I,1, % ,,-:.,
them ashore"
Suppose it should be rough?"
"Then We'll go on and drop you there
coming back. Idon't want to be caught
on that shore With Il southerly wind.
and that's the way it usually blows"
Il can't watt O'Neil declared. "a
weeks delay might ruin me. Rather
than go on I'd swim ashore myself.
without the horses"
even as Brennan spoke the Nebraska
seemed to halt, to jerk backward I'M
der his feet. O'Neil. who was standing,
empty ginger ale bottle fell from the
sideboard with a thump. Loose ar
ticlcs hanging against the side walls
swung to and fro; the heavy draperies
over Captain %Johnny's bed swayed.
Brennan leaped from his chair; his
ruddy face was notified, his eyes were
wide and horror stricken.
"Damnation!' he gasped. The cabin
door crashed open ahead Of him, and
he was or the bridge. with O'Neil at
his heels. They saw the first officer
clinging Imply to the rail; from the
| pilot house window came an excited
burst Of Norwegian. then out Of the
door rushed a quartermaster.
The steady. muffled beating Of the
machinery ceased, the ship seemed sud
denly to lose her life, but it was plain
that she was not aground, for she kept
moving through the gloom. From down
forward came excited voices as the
crew poured up out Of the forecastle.
Brennan leaped to the telegraph and
signaled the engine room. He was
calm now, and his voice was sharp
and steady.
go below, Mr.. James, and find the
extent Of the damage" he directed, and
- LII liz u DCSdll " IuIOD
once more to the thrust Of the pro-
peller. Inside the wheelhouse Swan
had recovered from his panic and re-
peated the masters orders mechanic
ally.
Tell me where and how L can help"
Murray offered. His first thought had
been of the possible effect of this ca
tastrophe upon his plans, for time was
pressing AS for danger, he had looked
upon it so often and in so many forms
that it had little power to stir him,
but a shipwreck, which would halt
his northward rush. was another mat
ter.
Brennan stepped into the chart room,
but returned in a moment to say:
There's no place to beach her this
side Of Halibut bay"
"How far is that?'
Five or six miles,"
"Youll-have to beach herr"
I'm afraid so. She feels queer"
Tin from tho IN hin 1ool- oor,o n how'd