The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-14
BY ROBERT AMEs BENNETT
Copyright.
CHAPTER I.
Wave-TOssed and Cast Away.

Wave-TOssed and Cast Away.
The beginning was at Cape
Town. when Blake and Win
thrope boarded the steamer as
fellow passengers with Lady Bay
rose and her party.
This was a week after Win
thrope had arrived on the tramp
steamer from India, and her lady
ship had explained to Miss Leslie
that 1t was as we'll for her not to
be too hasty in accepting his at
tentions.
To be sure, he was an English
man, his dress and manners were
irreproachable, and he was in the
prime of ripened youth. Yet Lady
Bayross was too conscientious a
chaperon to be fully satisfied with
her countryman's bare assertion
that he was engaged on a diplo-
matte mission requiring reticence
regarding his Identity.
Notwithstanding this, Win
thrope came abroad ship virtual
ly as a member of her 1adyship's
party. He was so quick, so
thoughtful of her comfort, and
paid so much more attention to
her than to Miss Leslie, that her
ladyship had decided to tolerate
him, even before Blake became a
factor in the situation.
From the moment he crossed
the gangway the American engin-
eer entered upon daily routine
of drinking and gambling, varied
only by attempts to strike up an
off-hand acquaintance with the
American heiress.
On the day of the cyclone,
Blake had withdrawn into his
stateroom with a number of bot
ties, and was blissfully uncon-
scious of danger. Even when the
steamer went on the reef. he was
only partially reused by the
shock.
He took a long pull from a
quart flask of whisky and lurched
out through the open doorway.
There he reeled headlong against
the mate. The mate cursed him
and in the same breath ordered
two of the men to fetch him up
on deck.
Blake was flung over into the
one remaining boat. He served as
a cushion to break the fall of
Miss Leslie, who was tossed In
after him. At the same time, Win
thrope, frantic with fear, scram-
bled into the bows and cut loose.
She and Winthrope saw the
steamer sink. After that all was
chaos to them. They were driven
ashore before the terrific gusts
of the cyclone. And through 1t
all Blake lay huddled on the bot
tom boards.
There came the seemingly final
moment when the boat went spin
ming stern over PROV. -
Half sobered, Blake opened his
eyes. He was given little time to
take his bearings. A smother of
broken surf came seething up
from one of the great breakers to
send him spinning for yards. He
brought up in a shallow pool, be-
side hummock.
Under the lee of the knoll lay
Winthrope and Miss Leslie.
Though conscious, both were
draggled and beaten to exhaust
ion.
When the boat capsized. Miss
Leslie had been flung against the
Englishman, and they had held
fast to each other with the des.
perate clutch Of drowning per.
sons.
Blake, sitting waist-deep in the
pool, blinked at them benignly
with his pale blue eyes.
After futile attempt to gain
his feet, he crawfed out of tn,
pool on all fours.
Time to turn in" he mumbled
and sprawled full length. Imme.
diately he fell into a drunken
stupor.
WINTHROP huddled between his
companions, drenched and ex,
hausted. Though he could hear
Miss Leslie moaning, he was toe
miserable himself to inquire
whether he could do anything 70,
her. Presently he became aware
that the wind was falling and he
too. fell into a heavy sleep.
A wall from Miss Leslie reused
the Englishman. The cyclone hat
been followed by a dead calm. ant
the sun, already well above tn,
horizon, was blazing upon then
with fierce heat.
Blake lay snoring where he hat
first outstretched himself. Tn,
girl, however, was already awake
Miss Leslie ventured a glanc.
at Blake.
us he still--in that condi
tom"
"Must have<slept It off by thil
time" answered Winthrope
Reaching over with his foot h,
pushed against Blake's back.
Huh! All right" grunted tn,
sleeper, and sat up. as had Win
thrope. half dazed. Then he stared
around him. and rose to his feet
We'll, what In hell! Say, this Il
damn cheerful"
Il fancy we are in a nasty fix