Connecticut western news., 1916-07-13


 NO, ANDY, No-wELL, JUST oNEr battle across the bay would be long one.
 Storm demons seemed to shriek in the tense rigging. And then, without warning, a screaming squall snapped the White Seas main sheet. Sponson knew that it should have been replac- ed long ago, but his schooner was al- ready in debt.
 The great boom shot off against the lee rigging like catapult and buckled at the impact with terrific crack. The White Sea drove into a trio of small Niagaras as she came to reluc- tantly at Sponson's more reluctant command, and the crippled mainsail speedily whipped itself into streaming ribbons. A storm trysail was bent on the main gaff, but in a few minutes it went the way of the mainsail.
 The skipper bitterly realized that be was out of the race. He was q fool to have expected anything more than the beastly luck which had chased him all the spring. Perhaps he was even ready to believe what Gale had said of Jennie. At any rate, he led a mad attack on the snarl of thrashing spar and tortured canvas and as promptly staggered back and collapsed uncon- scious on the flooded deck.
 Blood oozed from his thick, dark hair and stained the bronze of his square cut face as they carried him to his bunk.
 "The White Seas luck" said the crew resignedly.
 Then Big Len Gunnel, the seine heaver, took charge. The wreckage tied up beyond further mischief the plunging White Sea, her bravado sud- denly wilted, was put broad off before the gale.
 To windward the Daybreak, igno- rant of possible tragedy and gather ing new hope from the fisherman's mis- fortune, dipped the ragged yacht en- sign at her main peak in heartless adieu and went on.
 Around the knuckle of Cape Cod loaned the fisherman, and after long beat under foresail and jib she thankfully let go both anchors in Provincetown harbor.
 A doctor was boated aboard immedi- ately. Back with him came Big Len, bearing crumpled Gloucester paper which told joyfully that the missing mackerel had struck" again in great quantities off the coast of Nova Scotia.
 The crew started cheer, which was promptly squelched.
 "Now, shut right up, every mothers son of yer ordered Big Len. skip per ain't in no condition to listen to no sech h-yiin'! The galoot who lets another yip out of him goes over the rail, feet. head and stummickl Un'- standg'
 The crew did.
 Early next morning q small boat, with comedy middled aged woman and fluffy haired, brown eyed girl, came alongside, the latter feathering her oars with the touch of n man-of- wars man and making her landing un- dismayed by an admiring crew
 "Darnation" grumbled Big Len. "Ain't got enough on to my mind already? Here's the Widder Hilbert from home and that pretty young one of hern chock on top of usl And women folks aboard a vessel is jest plain nuisancer
 He tried to entice the cook aft to do the honors. but the cook knew thing or two and made himself scarce. So it was the perspiring seine heaver who took their painter and meekly ushered them below, repeatedly assur- ing them in answer to frantic inquiries that the skipper merely had the bark rubbed off"
 My land, Andy Sponson," began the relieved Mrs. Hilbert, restored to her housewifely self with jump at the good news, "why don't you tidy things up a little bit''--,
 Why, Mother Hilbert, aren't you ashamedT' eNpostulated the girl. who, with eyes shining, was on her knees at the edge of Sponson's bunk. "If you aren't nice I'll tell Andy all about you and Captain Galel No. Andy your temperature will go up! Newell. just one!"
 Big Len Gunnel, the seine .heaver. backed out of the cabin and went on deck, where he took long, deep breaths Of the bracing salt air.