The Mount Holly news., 1917-11-27
connlete circle" /"

Caldwell examined the box attentive
ly, but could discover nothing ex-
traordinary about the needles action
He looked sharply at his subordinate
to see If he had been drinking, but
could find nothing to justify the sus-
picion.
Just before noon the clouds parted
and for the first time during the day
allowed a glimpse of the sun.
"We shall have fine day after ALL"
said the captain as he came on deck
with his sextant and took observations.
He appeared puzzled. Good heavens,
Caldwell" he exclaimed suddenly. eve
are out of the course. Fully 40 miles
to the northward. What do you sup
pose is the matter?"
ut must have been the hurricane Of
last night" replied the mate, "or per
haps-"
"Ship ahoy," cried the man on the
lookout
"WhereT shouted the captain.
fright ahead. She is flying a signal
of distress"
The captains glass revealed a craft
not far off laboring heavily in the
waves. In an hour the Oceanic caught
up with the disabled ship. She proved
to be the Dorothy, sailing vessel
which had been caught by the awful
storm and was fast going to pieces.
By this time the passengers of the
steamer had assembled on deck to wit
ness the unwonted and exciting scene.
! Irene stood by the rail and gazed in
| fascinated wonder at the spectacle Of
wreck in midocean. The hurricane
had dismantled it's victim, the vessel
had sprung leak, which was fast be-
coming larger and her sinking was
only a matter of a few moments. The
| lifeboats had been washed away and
| the bulwarks were on a level with the
sea. The crew, driven by the en-
croaching waters from the deck, had
] lashed themselves to what remained of
the masts and were helpless to avert
their certain doom.
With infinite trouble and by dint of
great personal risk and courage, the
Oceanica's boats were lowered and
piloted through the tempestuous waves
! to the sinking ship. Caldwell directed
the operations with skill, and after
each boat had received its allotment
of rowers. he swung himself into one
of them. Before cutting loose, how
ever, he glanced up and sought a face
on deck Irene had watched him and
waved her handkerchief encouraging
| ly. 1t was all he needed. He would
have gone TO certain death for that
smile.
The work of rescuing the imperilled
crew was not easy. The sea was dam
gerously turbulent and it required
courage, endurance, heroism to achieve
success.
At length the Is souls who had
manned the ill-fated Dorothy were
| transferred from the Oceanica's boats
to the Oceanica herself, where they
were met with loud acclamations and
general rejoicing, Suddenly the
wrecked ship gave lurch and sank,
while the sea closed over her In a
seething maelstrom.
Caldwell was the last to climb on
deck The captain shook his hand en-
Enthusiastically.
"YOu did WELL" he said. ut was
risky business, and you proved your
self hero. / shall see to it you re-
ceive a proper recognition when we
reach port"
! LET me add my congratulations"
said Irene, sweetly. mo, / am not
afraid of getting wet One does not
see a hero every day" This praise
was dearer far than even the captains
words of encouragement.
But" said the CAPTAIN, II cannot
understand by what singular good for
tune we managed to go so far out of
| the way. Had we kept on our course
we would never have come across the
Dorothy, and these poor fellows would
now be at the bottom Of the sea-"
"It must have been the storm Of last
night"
Nonsense. The wind was from the
north, and could not have blown US 40
miles to the northwest. There must
! be something wrong with the steering
gear"
81 have it." cried Caldwell. Brown
said this morning that the needle was
erratic. Perhaps that Is the cause of
it."
The captain made rush for the
bridge, followed by the mate. The
needle was normal.
"Who was up here this morning with
BrownT
"I,' said Caldwell.
anyone else?'
Eyes. Miss Laird" replied the mate
reluctantly.
"Oh," said the captain, as he looked
at the mate searchingly. "You know
that such a thing is against orders.
Well, won't scol1 you after what you
have just gone through. viii you
please come up again, Miss Laird?"
"Oh, yes, with pleasure" She
climbed up the ladder
No sooner had she reached the
bridge before the needle again trem-
bled in her direction.
"What a strange phenomenon" cried
the captain, astounded. Are sou mag.
| netic Miss Laird"
"Not that l know Of"
"Wait a minute p cried Caldwell.
do you wear steel in your corsets.
Miss Laird?
Irene blushed and looked troubled.
That's a strange question to ask a
lady," she said.
"Never mind the unconventionality
IF the question. Answer me-"
"Yes."
"Then the mystery is solved. Yester-
day l took Irene, Miss Laird. l mean