The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-05

BOATS were pushing out from bod
stdes Of the channel, but the flames
were spreading with terrific speed. And
suddenly Dent found that he was strik.
Ing out, like a practiced swimmer, to.
ward the blazing ship. Some instinct
carried him there. for there was moth
Ing he could do; and this accident
meant his safety. Why, he could pass
as q passenger!
The heat was almost intolerable up.
on his face. But, arm over arm, he
fought his way onward until at last
he found himself In the water, almost
level with the decks edge, while over.
head the boats which could not be
launched, writhed in the twisting
flames.
On the other side of the deck, along
the edge, which lowered high above
the waterline, the boats, half-lowered,
had been broken against the side. A
group of passengers was clustered
there, making desperate efforts to
launch the last boat that remained,
while the smoke drifted and coiled'
about them.
Dent looked quickly across the Va.
ter after he had scrambled aboard.
The oncoming boats seemed immeas-
urably far away. There seemed no
possibility that they could arrive be-
fore the sweeping fires engulfed the
vessel. Men were already beginning to
jump. Then Dent was aware Of q
woman and child that stood helplessly
at the extreme edge of the boat. The
woman was shielding the etild's face
from the flames and looking down
wildly into the water.
AS Dent neared them a fat man
came bursting through the crowd. He
snatched a lifebelt from a slighter man
and began hurriedly to adjust 1t. The
other turned upon him, grasped the
lifebelt again, and began putting it up
on the woman. The bully turned on
him and knocked him senseless.
Dent grasped the belt out Of his
hand, and a wild fight began. The fat
man, coward though he was, fought
like the devil for that one chance Of
life. He smashed Dents face with his
fists, but Dent, who had tossed the life
belt to the woman, stood up to his an
tagonist until a sudden lurch Of the
ship threw the fat man from his feet
and sent him sliding across the deck.
He entered the fiery hell. His
screams rang out for an instant above
the cries Of the pauic-stricken crowd.
Then Dent turned to the woman.
"No!' he said, seeing her fitting the
belt about the baby. II will take are
of 1t. Save yourselfI She is helpless
without you'll"
The woman tremblingly submitted.
but 1t was not until Dent had fitted n:
about her that he knew he was speak
ing to Lucille.
She recognized him too, with a CRY.
Dent looked at the unconscious man
beside her.
"Your husband" he asked grimly.
mo. He is dead. He died last
year. That man Is a stranger"
HE left you with money"
Lucille nodded. It was a strange
colloquy upon the deck Of the doomed
vessel, but neither seemed to think Of
that.
STEADY" said Dent, placing his arm
about her as she began to waver from
lndecision. She had gathered the child
her and poised herself for the
STEADY. There may be time
% escape by boat before the IRE
reaches us. If not, jump, and l will
lump with the child. It is mine?"
Eyes. She is called Mary. She"
"She thinks your second husband
vas her fatherY
Lucille nodded. "Listen" she said,
aging her hand on his sleeve, # may
Is well tell you. That man is not q
He cares for me. I refused
lim-I don't know howl am not
ich, though I have a little to live on.
Tor the child's sake"
"Yes, go on" said Dent, feeling i'm
neasurably removed from 1t all, and
Watching her as If he were a spectator
t a play. !
II can't come back to you," she cried.
I live among very decent people"
"Don't worry about me-" answered
)ent quietly. II only wanted to know !,
hat the baby would have opportunities '.
life-that she would be cared for. q
m a jailbird. I am good for nothing. s.
have no intention Of entering your Il
fe again" Il
Even then he realized her heartless- =,
ess in that she never even glanced -"
t the man on the deck beside her.
And suddenly a new thought came to p
'ent. He had wanted to die; now he Il
'anted to live. The desire Of life W
.ept over him like a flood-like the :,
re that was sweeping toward them. =,
inning them with its hot breath. But u
boats were very near u
"Jump" he cried, and seized the B
lid and leaped. IL
He heard the bubbling cry; but he
as treading water now, and holding :,
s little girl In his arms. A boat drew
ear. He reached up and placed her ~
thin. A few strokes carried the row. nj
9 to where Lucille 1oated, gasping, el
Jon the surface. bs
"There's room for you" said the !,
'atsman, when Lucille had been taken -,
'oard. vi
Dent smiled grimly and swan away.
9 trod the water until he was as. G.
red that the stunned man had been hs
we'd. He saw the flotilla Of boats ot
out the ship picking up the passen- =,
RS from the water. Then he struck
t steadily toward the shore.
Life was before him-a new life, r.
.ewhere. He knew now all that he