The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-07-06

sky. Hemenway drew a chair near
the card players. The labor of the
twins was unintelligible to him. Nc
Donald pegged out, threw up his arms
and yawned.
you're easy Joe. Five straight:
enough crib for today. Anybody max
ing any other propositions"
Jim coughed gently.
"Ahem," he remarked. "Since you
urge me, Dennis, I'll just sing you
a little son George and l have just
finished for our masterpiece. PROBES.
sor tickle the ivories please"
George picked up the manuscript
and stepped to the piano. Jim cleared
his throat and sang:
cts a world of disappointment as ev-
erybody knows,
And nothing ever happens as 1t
should.
The deliberate conviction continually
grows
That nothing would or wouldn't If
it could.
Your sweethearts say they'll love-.
"Hey! What's that" exclaimed
Mcdonald jumping up suddenly. The
music ceased.
Looks to me like a sail no." re.
piled Hemenway rushing indoors for
the glasses. "And that's what it u.s."
he added after a squint.
They all took a look. Away off to
the east was a tiny speck, a small YES
s%elevidently. It was headed for the
island. They watched it creep toward
them. Those on board didn't know the
island, for half a mile out they began
to heave the lead.
They ran out fathoms of lead line
without finding bottom, SO continued
to stand in and finally let go and an
| Choir less than a furlong off shore.
The vessel was a small schooner of
the old fashioned type not more than
Fifty feet over all.
A small boat was sent overheard
and into it was put a cask and several
buckets. Three men got in the boat
and rowed toward shore.
1--WE better 60 down on the beach
and see what they want" said jim,
laying down the glasses.
They all hurried down to the shore
and yelled. The boats head was
turned toward them and soon it ran
through the lazy breakers and ground
ed in the sand.
"Howdy, strangers! What's the
trouble?" was Hemenway's greeting.
The three men hat stepped out OF
the boat we're villainous looking char
acters. One, who seemed to be the
leader, was a tall stoop-shOuldered
man with a sharp nose, a reddish mus
tache which dropped downward and a
small goatee. His eyes were rowing,
and bloodshot.
OF his companions n was a big
british looking fellow, smooth shaver
with thick lips. flat nose and dull eyes,
The other man was short and bulky.
with black whiskers, shifty, cunning
eyes and hands like hams.
Altogether they looked like very un'
desirable citizens.
"Short of water, got any," said
the tall man in answer to Hemen
ways question. He had a deep, pow
erful voice.
"Sure, come with U.s." said Hem
enway.
"Get the buckets, Bill, you and
Hawkins ordered the tall man.
! They made their way up the incline
toward the house. The wind had flat
tened to nothing and the air grew
close and heavy.
'"Get a move on, Bill, Isdon't like the
smell of this weather." said the tall
, man. where's your water?" to Hem.
enway.
They entered the house and Hemen'
way led the way to the pump. The
tall man cast a sweeping glance over
the big room as they passed through
It. He grasped the pump handle.
~Look alive now men," he cried.
"We got six buckets and it takes
twenty-four to fill that cask. Shake a
leg, Bill. Now then Hawkins, where's
your two"
He talked fast and worked fast as
he talked. Grabbing his own filled
buckets he walked rapidly out of the
house. Stepping off the porch he
peered through the palms over the
ocean,.
"Har!"' he exclaimed, dropping his
buckets and falling on his knees to
get a better view of the horizon. cts
commit" Springing to his feet he ran
swiftly to the beach, followed by the
wondering household.
Once clear of the palms they quick"
ly saw the cause of the tall mans agi.
tation. Coming down on them from
the northeast was one of those sudden
and savage white squalls that cen to
spring from nowhere and hurry quick
ly onward leaving devastation in their
wake. They could see in the distance
the wide streak of seething. angry
foam as it came toward them.
The air began to stir. Little whirl-
winds picked up loose sand and scat