The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-10-06


the papers on his desk, and de-
manded: =
What is there about this par
ticular voyage to make you feel
stanch, well-found steamer with an
experienced master-why, | should
not mind being along myself
81 have had bad dreams. dreadful
Dreams" she evasively returned. "A
woman weaves strange fancies when
her man is Iar away. | am not the
hysteriCal sort. but 1 feel things, and
they come true. You will promise to
let me know? | have been tracing
the voyage with pencil on an old
chart, setting down every day an
average run for the Chiffon Grange.
She must be in md-ocean by now.
Ships should be passing her on the
eastbound track. Is ii foolish to ask
them to look for herr"
At last her restless mood seemed
to have communicated itself to the
portly Sir James. He flung out his
arm in a jerky, emphatic gesture as
he affirmed:
But. my dear Mrs. Sackett, the
vessel is not overdue She is Jog
ging along at eight or nine knots.
with a voyage of three thousand
miles TO make. And l have the great
est confidence in your husband. /
shall be glad. however, to comply
with your request. The office has
your address. | am at loss to un.
derstand your fears. If they did not
cause you so much real distress.
should be inclined TO laugh at them
upon my word, Captain Sackett is
as safe in the Chiffon Grange as
though he were on dry land. Have
you been having any trouble with
your nerves that might account for
this"
Judith Sackett was no longer able
TO dissemble her contempt. 1t blaz-
ed in her dark eyes and curled her
red lips. Until now she had watch
fully held her speech under restraint
lest she might jeopardize her hus-
bands interests with his employer,
But the monstrous hypocrisy OF Sir
James Babb Norcross made her
throw discretion to the winds.
He was crassly lying to her. and
she knew it.
smoothing out the crimpled letter
in her hand, she moved closer to the
desk
And so you would not mind be.
ing along with Captain Sackett for
TINS voyage in the Chiffon Grange p,
she cried, mocking and tempestuous
III VIII go hard with him, no doubt
II he comes through safe, after 7 fell
you the truth to your face. But can
listen to the cruel nonsense of an
owner who holds sailors lives and
sailors widows so cheap"
Sir James looked amazed. his
forid features became notified with
righteous Indignation. He was about
10 ring for his secretary and have
the woman removed. but she con
fronted him. beautiful and fearless
Judith Sackett read aloud tbe
message from Captain Nelson Sack
EFT as he had written il to her in his
cabin just before sailing from New
York:
expected TO stay here longer for
repairs in dry dock, but Sir James
Babb Norcross tells me by cable to
proceed at once. / mailed a report
'o MIN as soon as we came in from
Rio. The vessel has strained herself
forward. and we had to keen tho
pumps going. There i. eight feet of
water in the forepeak now. and W.
can I seem to gain on it much. The
reason why the owner orders me to
wait and go into dry dock i'm Liver
pool is that the job will cost him four
or hVe hundred pounds less than if
had II done in New York. With
fair weather the Chiffon Grange will
pc able to make the passage. al.
though il will be slow-and YOU must
not worry.
The owner takes no risk on her
FOR The steamer is well insured. and
ne is going in for bigger ships which
are more profitable to run. | might
ask Lloyd's agent in New York
what he thought of starting across
the western ocean with eight feet of
water in the forepeak and the pumns