The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-10-06
Aboard The Chiffon Grange
Grew of a Waer-Logeed Ship Mutinies in Mid-Ocean
BY RALPH ID. PAINE


of lading, manifests, and accounts
Through the nearest window she saw
the crowded waterfront of Liverpool
and the jostling traffic OF the Mer-
sey. She was waiting in the hope o,
brief interview with Sir James Babb
Norcross. Handsome she was even
when anxiety had made her haggard
Sir James had many other matters
far more important to occupy this
valuable morning His secretary eX-
planned this to the woman, but her
persistence was unshaken
AT length the great man was in
formed that the wife of one OF his
shipmasters could not be got rid of.
She was very quiet and descent
about it. Perhaps a word or two
would satisfy her. Sympathy for
femininity in distress throbbed be-
meath the white waistcoat Of Sir
James Babb Norcross. Caressing his
neat gray whiskers. he blandly told
the secretary:
you may admit her. can spare
NV IltI HuSDdHu COM
mands one of my vessels? All. what
name?"
The Chiffon Grange she says.
sir. The steamer left New York ten
days ago"
Sir James pursed his lips, and
something like scrowl shadowed his
massive features. The annoyance
was momentary. however. and his
mellow geniality reasserted itself as
he said:
The Chiffon Grange? Let me see.
That would be Captain Nelson Sack
EFT. A capable master but inclined
to borrow trouble
He remained seated as the woman
entered, hesitant, abashed, her cheek
brightly flushed. 1t was an i'm.
mensely audacious enterprise for her
TO thrust herself upon the notice of
Sir James Babb Norcross. In her
hand was letter, folded and con.
cealed. which she did not expect TO
disclose: but it gave her courage.
and was the reason she had waited
so patiently.
The ship owner graciously indi-
Gated chair, but she preferred to
stand. The sight of him somehow
0raced her resolution. Her shapely
hgure was held erect, the poise of
her head was challenging. and her
breath no longer futtered between
parted lips.
Mrs. Sackett? have not hat
the pleasure of meeting you, al
though your husband has been for
many years in my employ" sono-
rously declaimed Sir James Nor
cross.
am Judith Sackett," she an
sw"rcd. regarding him from be-
meath black, level brows.
Her voice trembled a little. but
she controlled it as she went on to
say:
L must ask your pardon for put
tlng you to the trouble of seeing
me. but l am beside myself with
worry, and your clerks could give
me no proper International least
II wasn't sufficient to make my mind
easy
Sir James stirred in his chair with
an air OF disquietude and found him
self avoiding the gaze of Judith Sack
EFT. He numbered to his feet as he
exclaimed:
You are agitateu, my dear wo.
man. | beg Of you to be seated.
am wholly at your service"
AS though she heard him not. Ju.
dith Sackett nervously twisted the
letter in her fingers and moved to A
window where she leaned against the
ledge. Toward the beefy. pompous
shipping magnate she felt a vague
sense OF physical repulsion. She
wished him to keep his distance
came to ask ii the Chiffon
Grange had been reported since she
sailed from New York" the woman
explained They told me in the
other room that she had not been
spoken"
Which was quite correct Mrs
SacKett' pleasantly replied Sir
James But there is not the slight
est ground for alarm. Our smaller
ships of the Chiffon Grange class are
not yet equipped with wireless. It
sometimes happens that the steamer