The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1917-12-19
CHAPTER II.
The Girl From Droaheda.

Gordon Elliot was too much of
night owl to be an early riser, but next
corning he was awakened by the
tramp Of hurried feet along the deck
20 the accompaniment Of brusque Or
ders, together with frequent angry
putting and snorting of the boat.
From the culver Of the walls he
guessed that the Hannah was stuck on
sandbar. The mates Language gave
backing to his surmise.
Elliot tried to settle back to sleep,
but after two or three Intellectual eff
forts gave it up. He rose and did one
or two setting-up exercises to timber
his Joints. The first of these flashed
the signal to his brain that he was stiff
and sore. This brought to mind the
fight on the hurricane deck, and he
smiled. 1t hurt every time he twiched
a muscle.
The young man stepped to the look
ing glass. Both eyes were BACKED, his
lip had been cut, and there was a
purple veal well up on his left cheek.
He stopped himself from grinning only
just in time to save another twinge of
pain.
"Some party while 1t lasted. I never
saw more willing Amixers. Everybody
seemed anxious to sit in except Mr..
Wally Selfridge," he explained to his
reflection. But Macdonald is the
class. Hes there with both right and
left. That uppercut of his IS vicious.
Don't ever get in the way Of it, Cor
don Elliot"
He bathed, dressed and went on
deck.
EARLY though he was, one passen-
ger at least was up before him. The
young woman he had noticed last eve
ming with the magazine was doing
constitutional.
Irish he guessed her when the deep
blue eyes rested on his for an instant
as she passed, and fortified his conjec-
ttre by the coloring of the clear
skinned face and the marks of the Gel
tic race delicately stamped upon it.
The purser came out of his room and
Joined Elliot. He smiled at sight Of
the young mans face. ''Your maps
little out Of plumb this morning, sir"
he Ventured.
'But you ought to see the other fell
low" came back Gordon boyishly.
1--WE seen him-several Of him. I've
got to give It to you and Mr.. Macdon-
aid. You know how to hit"
ooh, I'm not in his class"
Gordon Elliot meant what he said.
He was himself an athlete, had played
for three years left tackle on his col
lege eleven. More than one critic had
picked him for the All-America team.
But after all he was a product of train
Ing and Of the gymnasiums. Maedon-
aid was what nature and long line
Of fighting Highland ancestors had
made him.
The purser chuckled. "He'ssa good
IN, Mac is. They say he liked to have
drowned Ndfthrup after he had saved
HIM"
Elliot was again following with his
eyes the Tilt Of the girls movements
Apparently .he had not heard what the
officer said.
With grin the purser opened an.
other attack. 'Don't blame you bit
Mr.. Elliot. She's the prettiest colleen
that ever sailed from Dublin bay"
''Who is she?"
1.-THE name on the books is Shebs
o'Nein."
'From Dublin, you say?"
"Oh, If you want to be literal, hel
baggage says Drogheda. Ireland Is
Ireland to me-"
"Where is she bound for?"
"Kusiak."
The young woman passed them witt
q little nod Of morning greeting to thu
purser. Fine and dainty though she
was, Miss O'Neill gave an impression
Of radiant strength.
'What is she going to Go in Kusiak? 2
Again the purser grinned. "What d.
they all do--the good-looking onesT
''Get married, you mean?"
"Surest thing you know. Girls com
ing up ask me what to bring by wa!
Of outfit. 1 used to make out Ions
list. Now / tell them to bring clothes
enough for six weeks and their favor
tie wedding march,"
us this girl engaged?"
'Can't prove it by me-" said the Of
icer lightly. But she'll never get on
Of Alaska a spinster-not that girl
She may be going in to teach, or to run
a millinery store, or to keep books foi
a trading company. She'll stay t,
bring up kiddies Of her own. They al
do"
Three children came up the stair
way. caught sight of Miss O'Neill, ans
raced pell.men Rcr6ss the deck to her