The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-06

had helped to rescue. Johnny prompt ly treasured him.
 Man, dear, she's doing fine. A jig ger of brandy brought her to, gasping like a blessed mermaid-'' As dawn broke the cannery tender bfrom the station near by nosed her way up to the graVelly shore where fl a cheering toot-toot on her whistle, She was a flat bottomed, wet sterned nscraft, and the passengers of the Ne braska trooped to her deck over gangplank. As Captain. Brennan had predicted, not one of them had wet foot, with the exception of the two who had been left aboard through their own carelessness-
 ssf The reaction following a sleepless night of anxiety. had replaced the first feeling of thankfulness at deliverance, and it was not happy cargo of hu- manity which the rescuing boat bore with her as the sun peeped over the hills.
 Many of the ships passengers were but half dressed, all were exhausted and hungry each one had lost some thing in the catastrophe. The men were silent. the women hysterica1, the children fretful
 
 tain Johnny Brennan, who had yielded to the bIackest despair once his re- sponsibility was over.
 tsItss kind of you to cheer me up,'' said Brennan, especially after the way abandoned you to drown, but the naissus won't allow me in the house at all when she hears left you in pickle. Thank God the girl didn't die anywayI I've got that to be thankful for. Curtis Gordon would have broken me-
 s1Gordon!'
 eSureI Man dear, don't you know who you went, bathing with? She's the daughter of that widow Gerard and the most prominent passenger aboard. outside of your blessed self. Amt That luck? If I was a Jap I'd split myself open with a bread knife
 @But fortunately you're a sensible harp of old Ireland. I'll see that the papers get the right story, so buck up.'' A south bound steamer was due the next afternoon, it was learned, and plans were made for her to pick up 7 the castaways and return them to Seat tie.
 At the same time O,Nen discov- cred that a freighter for the west wardy was expected some time that night. and as she did not call at this port he arranged for launch to take him out to the channel where he could intercept her. The loss of his horses had been a serious blow. It was all aethe more imperative now that he should go on, since he would have to 1hire men to do horses work.
 During the afternoon Miss Gerard sent for him. and he went to the house of the cannery superintendent, where she had been received. The superin. stendent's wife had clothed her, and she sseemed to have recovered her boise of body and mind O'Nen was surprised to find her quite different person from the frightened and disheveled girl he had seen in the yellow lamplght of his stateroom on the night before. She was attractive, certainly, despite the disadvantage of the borrowed gar ments, and though she struck him as being possibly little proud and cold, there was no lack of warmth in her greeting.
 For her part she beheld a man of perhaps fcrty, of commanding height and heavy build. He was gray about the temples; his eyes were gray too.
 She was vaguely disappointed, hav- ing pictured him as. being in the first 4-t4 soon disappeared under the charm. of his manner. The ideal figure she had imagined began to seem silly and schoolgirlish, unworthy of the man himself. She was pleased, too, by his faint though manifest embarrassment at her, thanks, for she had feared a lack of tact
 T was terribly frightened,i' she con- Eded, but felt that could rely upon you. That's what every one does, isn't it? You see, you have reputatfon. They told me how you refused to be taken into the boat for fear of capsfz- ing it. That was fine"
 <. @Oh, there was nothing brave about that. I wanted to get.in badly enough -,bI1t there reswasn't room love! It was scoId wasn't it ?2 His ready smile play eed whimsically about his lips. and the girl felt herself curiousIy drawn to s1in.
 Since he chose to make light. of himself. she determined to allow noth- ing of the sort.
 They have told me how you bought eout this whole funny little place. she said. 4sand turned it over to us. Is it because you have sueh royal way of 7edispensing favors that they call you the Irish prince?''
 That's only a silly nickname sT don't think SO You give people food and clothes with careless wave syse the hand; Tou give me my life with "a shrug and smile; you offer to give up your own to boatfu1s of strangers without moments hesitation. IT ahfnk you are remarkable person"
 CHAPTER III.
 Murray O'NsiPs Way.
 @W YOU'LL turn my head with such
 dattery if you aren't careful" l"
 he said, with slight flush.
 Please talk of sornethinR