The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-30

"There's No Sign of the For
Lieutenant Hope will not be back
until tonight, the telephone girl in.
formed him. He has gone to the
Farallons'
There were now three craft racing
toward the same goal. Well in the
lead was the small launch containing
Hope and Cleo. Bearing down on q
more northerly course was the power
boat hired by Mahlin and Satsuma
while somewhere astern pounded the
larger craft bearing Morton, Olga and
Sextus. Doubtless all three of the
shippers would have exercised more
caution than they did could they have
seen the notices which were being
displayed that afternoon on the bulle
tin boards of the various shipping of
fees and other places where seafaring
folk congregate:
WARNINGI
Shipmasters and others naVigat-
Ing the waters between the en-
trance to San Francisco Bay and
the FaraIIon Group are warned TO
be on the lookout for floating
mine which broke loose from its
moorines during experiments at
Fort Point Torpedo Station and is
believed to have drifted into the
channel. The mine, which re-
sembIes large buoy, is painted
gray-bIue and is marked 81. S.
1127B." Anyone sighting il is
warned against attempting to take
it In tow but should Immediately
notify the chief ordnance officer,
Fort Point, Cal.
(Signed) n. J. MACKENZIE,
Adjutant-GeneraI,
BY Order the General Command
Ing the Western Department.
The mi1l-pond calmness which pre-
vailed in the inner harbor proved to be
no criterion Of the weather without
for in the bay a brisk breeze was blow
ing and outside the Gate the breeze
turned into a gale. In fact, so heavy
a sea was running that darkness was
descending when Morissey ran his
launch under the lee Of the lighthouse
on Southeast island and Hope and
Cleo clambered ashore. In RESPONSE
to their whistle a gray-bearded man
tall and angular, appeared in the door
way of the small, whitewashed build
ing which adjoined the lighthouse.
That's the keeper, Captain Fair
weather. said Morissey.
CT am Lieutenant Hope of the navy,
Hope introduced himself. ''I am look
ing for a man named Fitzmaurice o
the coast survey. I understand tina
he is over here charting the islands.
"Mr Fitzmaurice left this morning
for Middle island was the answer
1.-The government has a radio station
there and he went over to send a mes
sage to Frisco. reckon he likes thei
food better than he does mine, any
way"
How far is it across to Middle Is
Iand?"
About six miles"
''WeH,'' said Hope, turning to Cleo
''the only thing for US to do, it seems
is to keep on to the other island"
Its none of my business inter
rupted the keeper, "but you'll be TAX
ing big chance If you try to cross tt
Middle island tonight It's a danger
Gus channel, even in the day time, anC
it'll be dark IT another ten minutes
There's big sea running already ant
the winds rising
What do you think about it, Morris
sey?" Hope asked the boatman.
I'm game for it, sir"
And how about you, Cleo2"
"Oh, would much rather go on
jarvis she answered 'I couldn'
sleep tonight If I felt that those book
were only six miles away. I'm not II
the least afraid-you are with me.
The last four words were spoken 81
softly that only Hope could hear
Remember" the keeper called al
ter them as they turned back to tn.
boat, there's some bad reefs between
here and the other island Keep thi
light astern of you all the time. ]
you get a quarter OF a mile on tn
course you'll be in a heap Of trouble.
As the keeper prophesied, the wind
even during the few minutes tina
they had spent ashore, had great.
risen, and as they rounded the poin
1T struck them with a force and sud
denness which nearly capsized the LII
tie launch. But it was too late L
turn back. To attempt to go about il
the sea that was now running WIS bu
to invite disaster. Their only hope o
safety lay in keeping the boat bow-oI
to the mountain-high waves whicl
were roaring down upon them. Sinai
their every nerve strained to the tasl
Of keeping the boat from being
ooe..-.-..-o..-o.o-o-.,-o-,..-.-,