Tombstone epitaph., 1918-03-17

he had always taken. by the sheer strength that was in him. Back of her smiling insolence lay c silken force to match his own. She too had taken what she wanted from life. but she had won 1t by indirection. Manifestly she was of those women who conceive that charm and beauty are tools to bend men to their wills.
 The dusky young woman with the magazine was the first of those on the upper deck to retire for the night. She fitted so quietly that Gordon did not notice until she had gone. Mrs. Self. ridge and her friends disappeared with their men folks. calling gay good nights to one another as they left.
 Macdonald and Mrs. Mallory talked. After a time she too vanished.
 The big promoter leaned against the deck rail. where he was joined by Self ridge. For a long time they talked in low voices. The little man had most to say. His chief listened, but occasion ally interrupted to ask a sharp. incisive question.
 Elliot. sitting farther forward with Strong. judged that Selfridge was mak- ing a report of his trip. Once he caught fragment of their talk. enough to confirm this impression. Did Winton tell you that himselfT' demanded the Scotsman.
 The answer of his employee came in | a murmur SO low that the words were lost. But the name used told Gordon a good deal. The commissioner of the general land office at Washington signed his letters Harold B. Winton.
 Strong tossed the stub of his ciga- rette overheard and nodded good night. A glance at his watch told Elliot that 1t was past two o'clock. He rose. stretched and sauntered back to his | stateroom.
 The young man had just taken off his coat when there came the hurried rush of trampling feet upon the hur- ricane deck above. Almost instantly he heard a cry of alarm. He could hear the shuffiing of footsteps and the sound of heavy bodies moving.
 Someone lifted a frightened shout. Help! Help!" The call had come. he thought. from Selfridge.
 Gordon flung open the door of his room. raced along the deck and took the stairs three at a time. A huddle of men swayed and shifted heavily in front of him.
 Even as he ran toward the mass. Elliot noticed that the only sounds were. grunts. stertorous breathings, and the scraping of feet. The attack CTS wanted no publicity. The attacked was too busy to waste breath in futile cries. He was fighting for his life. Two men. separated from the crowd, lay on the deck farther aft. One was on top of the other, his fingers clutch Ing the gullet of his helpless opponent. The agony of the man underneath found expression only in the drumming heels that beat a tattoo on the floor. The spasmodic feet were shod in OK ford tans of an ultra-fashionable cut. No doubt the owner of the smart foot wear had been pulled down as he was escaping to shout the alarm.
 The runner hurdled the two in his stride and plunged straight at the struggling tangle. He caught one man by the shoulders from behind and flung him back. He struck hard. smashing blows as he fought his way to the heart of the melee. Heavy-6sted miners with corded muscles landed upon his face and head and neck. He did not care a straw for the odds.
 The sudden attack of Elliot had opened the pack. The man battling against a dozen was Colby Macdonald. The very number of his foes had saved him SO far from being rushed overheard or trampled down. His coat and shirt were in rags. He was bruised and battered and bleeding from the chest up. But he was still slugging hard.
 They had him pressed 10 the rail. A huge miner, head down. had his arms around the waist of the Scotsman and was trying to throw him overheard. Macdonald lashed out and landed flush upon the cheek of man attempting to brain him with a billet of wood. He hammered home a short-arm jolt against the ear of the giant who was giving him the bear grip.
 The big miner grunted, but hung on like a football tackler. With a jerk he raised Macdonald from the floor just as three or four others rushed him again. The rail gave way. splintered like kindling wood. The Scotsman and the man at grips with him went over the side together.
 Clear and loud rang the voice of El- Hot. "Man overboardw
 The wheelsman signaled to the en- zine room to reverse and blew short, sharp shrieks of warning.
 "Nen oveFboard-two of 'em~ ex- plained Elliot in . shout from the boat which he was trying to lower.
 The first mate and another man ran to help him. The three of them low cred and manned the boat. Gordon sat In the bow and gave directions while the other two put their backs into the stroke.
 Across the water came . call for help. I'm s;nk:ng-hurryT
 The other man in the river was . dozen yards from the one in distress. With strong. swift. overland strOkes he shSt through the water.
 ~Ah Fight," he ealled presently. I've