The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-18

| W. ~>&Z@
"I4e Has q Revolver" .'
. she exhibited even a wider range of
knowledge on these subjects than !
! possessed, while her comments Were
keen and original-not pedantic, nor
booltsh in any way, but the outspoken
4 frankness of young womanhood. In
deed she was wholesome all through,
her face q mirror Of her nature, her
eyes rejecting back each mood. Never
! before had I met one Of her sex SO
deeply interesting, 80 unconventional
and plain spoken.
However, our conversation lapsed at
last, through sheer WEAKNESS on my
part. ] had been at the steering oar
SO long, staring out into that drear ex-
panse of ocean and sky, that every
4 muscle Of my body ached, and my eyes
could scarcely be forced to remain
open. In the silence she must have no
-ticed this, for she exclaimed suddenly:
"Why, I never thought! you must be
nearly dead with fatigue. Let Inc take
the oar while you sleep"
II am afraid I shall have to-" ad-
mitted, FOR must keep awake to-
night. You feel competent"
"Why, of course; you saw me steer.
II anything goes wrong can call you
easily enough. Please lie down for q
few hours
/ looked about, permitting her to
grasp the oar, and slip into my seat.
"Really l feel as If / must" said
regretfully, land there can be no dan.
ger while things keep as they are. Call
me, though, if there is change in the
weather, for that jury mast will never
stand any weight of wind"
II promise; but l am a better boat
man than you think"
/ must have slept for several hours
undisturbed, for, when finally opened
my eyes once more the sky above us
was beginning to turn purple with twi.
light, and the breeze had failed, SO that
the sail tapped idly against it's i1npro.
vised mast. This, perhaps, was the
noise which had aroused me. ! sat uI
wide awake instantly, and stared about
me in the boat. There was little
change noticeable; Miss Vera still
clung to the steering oar, showing NO
outward signs of WEAKNESS, and greet.
ed me with a smile and nod of the
head; but Mccain had moved forward
and sat playing idly with an open jack.
knife. ,
II bear testimony that you slept well
Mr.. Hollis" the girl said cheerfully.
II did not realize until / lay down
how weary was" replied, adopting
her manner, ''but really you had nc
right to let me lie so long. Why,
must have been sleeping three or foul
hours, and you will be tired OUT
"Oh. no; 1t was no trick at all. The
wind kept steady until just few mo-
ments ago, and ! do not feel in the
least fatigued."
"And you have seen nothing? M
smoke, no sail?"
She shook her head, her eyes growr
grave.
| "Not a thing; we seem to be abso
lutely alone in the immensely of the
sea-just one great wave after thu
other. lit gets on my nerves."
1T certainly does; such sight has
driven more than one insane. Bur
what does this mean? Why is the bis
cult bag out here?"
l pointed to the bottom of the boat
beyond her feet. Her eyes met mine
her answer made in whisper.
"He-he crept back here while wa
adjusting my Oar, and took two"
"McCannT'
ayes, he had the bag before 1 no
ticed, and thought it best not to ange,
him then, for he held that open knits
in his hand"
"You should have called me-"
1.-THE mischief was done before hat
any time. Besides / knew you needed
the sleep. What are VOC going to do?'
| l smiled bit grirnly, glimpsing hin
beneath the sail.
II am about to give Mr.. Fergus Me
Gam, late Of New York. little speci
men of sea discipline which ] hope ma,
last him for the remainder OF this yoy
age" replied quietly. Hold the boa
4 steady, Miss Vera, and leave me to at
tend to this degenerate son Of wealth
erept forward, scarcely Earring th'
frail craft, and was beyond the jur.
mast before the fellow had aroused
sufficiently from his knife play even t
note my approach. He stared at me in
solently leaving the keen blade trem
bling IN the plank.
Mccain" l began, wasting no tim
in preliminaries. lifting myself on on
knee, and facing him, "the young lad!
says YOU took advantage Of my bein,
sound asleep to help yourself to bis
cults; is that SOP
"Weli, what If did? was hungry
$50 am L; so no doubt is the lady
for the matter of that. Hunger is n,
justification for stealing. You wer
not starving; you received exactly tn
same share we. did. More than that,