Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-01

phone, read him that messag e-and say
I've started to answer it in person.
NO-don't ask questions. Just finish
dressing me-and don't bOtherl''
But before long Patria interrupted
her dressing of her own volition, to
seize the telephone and secure con-
nection with a yacht club whose floats
were moOred in the Hudson not far
from C!aremont.
A taxicab whose chauffeur risked his
license for a lady's within bore her up
town with such expedition that, in less
than twenty minutes from the time
when she had telephoned, she hurried
down the gangway to a float beside
which waited a motorboat built on rae
ing lines.
Two mechanics were tuning up the
motor. Impatiently waiting till they
pronounced it fit, Patria refused their
further services, jumped into the boat
and ordered it cast off.
Not until it was well away-so far
distant that the fog had blotted the
club landing out astern-dfd she feel
conscious of any lessening of nervous
tension. Now, at least-little as she
could possibly hope for, who must
grope blindly over a blind sea for a
goal of uncertain whereabouts-she
was doing what she could; she was
trying to find the man who had proved
himself never for an instant unready to
risk his life in her interests, and whose
life, she never doubted, was now more
grimly imperiled than it ever yet had
been.
And even though she were to find
him, by some wild whirl of the wheel
of chance TO come upon that vessel of
all those hundreds which haunted that
fog-bOund harbor-what then could
she do?
She never stopped to question her
ability to aid the man or hinder his
enemies and hers-if she were happily
to be permitted to do anything help
full. 1t would only be when she had
found this man who (she was now
ready to admit) meant more to her
than all the treasure in the world. 1t
was her business first to find him, then
to fret about rescuing him.
Once through the Narrows, how
ever, once astray in the lower bay,
she perforce slowed down, for very
lack of any means of guessing where
to turn. And for a space of time that
seemed many weary hours she wan
dered hither and yon over the face of
that sullen sea. aimlessly, save as she
essayed ever and again to trace some
fog warning to its source, in the for
lorn hope that it might prove to be
the floating prison of her protector.
Is there a Providence in especial
charge Of lovers? Who shall deny the
fact? What else led Patria's Grant
boat to that quarter Of the harbor
where lay the Sandal?
she found herself at length staring
with incredulous eyes up at that name
lettered in faded gold across the stern
of an idle vessel.
Quite automatically she shut off the
purring of her motor. Under decreas-
ing momentum the small boat moved
quickly round the bulk of the larger,
while she stared and wondered to see
no curious head peering down at her
over that high rail.
It seemed her approach must have
been unnoticed. She heard never a
sound, saw never a sign of any human
thing about the freighter. And pres
emily she swung her almost wayless
craft in under the side of the an
chored ship, and, rising, fished with
boathoOk for loop of cable that hung
untidily from an open port. Catching
this, she made painter fast, and with
little difficulty scrambled up the side
and in through the porto receive
grinuing welcome from half a dozen
japanese sailors, who had been pa
tientiy waiting.
Her disgust was as extreme as her
efforts to escape were unavailing. She
was promptly seized, If not urgently,
and escorted up from the lower deck
to be presented to the captain at the
foot of the bridge companion ladder.
From this parsonage she received a
courteous bow, a sharp scrutiny, scant
consideration. For, though he had an
intelligent face and looked and carried
himself like a man of education. he
refused fatty to understand English or
to regard her as anything more than
some strange stray of the sea. A few
brusaue commands in his japanese,
and Patria was led off to be locked up
in a small, neat staterOom overlooking
the upper deck.
If they had counted on any lack of
courage and resource as an infirmity
of her sex, these japanese had reck-
oned without Patria. She was no soon
er alone than alert to find n way of
escape. The door was stout and stout
IL locked, but the shattered port
seemed a frail barrier to one of the
least determination
Before attacking 1t, however, she
took the precaution of slipping off her
sports skirt, for the greater freedom
of her slender, knickerbockered legs, if
by any chance she should be suffered
10 escape the stateroom.
Then waiting till she heard no sound
of any voice or football on the deck be-
yond the shutter, she shattered this
with two sharp blows of a stool--and
was through the opening in a twin
king.
An instant more and she had leaped
upon the rail and was poised to dive.
An officer made for her as she hest
toto1 tb.,ra 3ror-SIantIx ~ unao S1tra tho