The Press., 1919-09-11
Sunk in the Pacific
 sa, By R. RAY BAKER
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News.
 paper Syndicate)


 paper Syndicate.)
 If Inza Richardson had been less quick tempered she would have missed being the heroine, of a story that starts in San Francisco and ends in the South Pacific.
 She regretted it five minutes after she uttered the words that sent Arthur Westridge away from her home, and she would have called after him and pleaded with him to return if he had not walked so swiftly down the street and If she had been able to thrust her pride into the background. While she hesitated he disappeared from view.
 He'll never come back" she told herself, and she went to her room and shut herself in. When a friend called the next morning to take her motoring Inza had a severe headache and could not see her.
 It all started over nOthing-noth- ing when the results were considered. Arthur was kept busy late one eve ming at the office of the Trans-Pacif1a ship office where he worked, and was half an hour behind time when he called to take Inza to the theater. That was bad enough, Inza thought, but when 1t developed that he had failed to get tickets and she had to wait in the foyer while he stood in line before the box office, she felt that the limit had been reached.
 When he had bought the tickets she made him tear them up and take her straight home, where warm verbal battle, in which he took no part, oc- cured. It terminated when she took the engagement ring from her finger and handed 1t to him with the words:
 Don't ever show up here again. The idea of humiliating me as you did this evening! It shows how much you care for me. Good by."
 Arthur went, because he had tenn per of his own and was afraid he would unleash 1t if he remained. He felt she was unreasonable, because he had told her he was detained by busi- ness, but he complied with her wishes, or what she stated to be her wishes, and left her.
 A week passed and Inza heard noth- ing from Arthur. By this time she was worrying. Her love for him could not be questioned, but there was her pride to consider. When that week however, with silence on the part of her erstwhile fiance, she her pride ruthlessly under her heel and called up the office where he worked. It took a lot of bravery for her to ask for that number, but she did it.
 MT. Westridge is not employed here any mOre," she was told over the wire. He resigned his office position week ago and took berth as a sailor on the steamer John Richard, which start ed the next day for Australia"
 InZa was aghast at this intelligence.
 'Why," she faltered. ''Why did he do that?"
 She knew very we'll why he did 1t, because she knew Arthur. However, she listened to the reply:
 Said he was tired of being cOoped up in an office, and wanted to get out in the air and see some real life and some foreign country
 Then q real cloud of despair settled over the Richardson residence. InZa lost her usually healthy appetite, and although she had no flesh to spare she became as thin as fence rail-" as her father put it. She held no one to blame but herself, but that did not as- 'uage the pain>in her heart.
 Inza watched the mail carrier every lay from the time he came into sight | lround the corner until he either passed | he Richardson home or mounted he porch and he never found it nee .SSary to use the mail box. Inza re- .eived what he had to offer, and always there was a feeling of deep disappointment gripping her when she | entered the house.
 The big crash came month later, he crash that crumbled her spirit and l sent her over the very brink of hope nt0 the chasln through which flowed | he river of sorrow. It was headline l hat stared up at her from a news l paper:
 Steamer Richard Sinks in Storm; All Aboard Lost"
 It happened in the south seas, so | he story went. The British steamer | rhurston answered the Richards wire eSS $. o. S., and arrived on the scene | just in time to see the distressed yes ,el go beneath the waves. That part l ,f the ocean was searched as diligently l IS possible with the storm in progress, ,ut not survivor could be found.
 Inza broke down completely and the ioctOr warned that severe illness was- lhead for her unless she experienced radical change. Her father offered l o finance q voyage to Europe, but she said she cared nothing for visit on hat continent.
 Make it Australia. and I'll go," she 'aid; and Mir. Richardson consented to his. proposing that her mother should accompany her. InZa uemurred. q want to go alOne," she cOntended, and lVr father, after few moments of
 lent debate with himself, said he would agree. even to that, if only it would improve her health. However, l 'ther passenger on the same ship to ,eep InZa under close watch without fer knowledge.
 Fair weather was enjoyed until the Hawaiian islands were reached
 Shortly after traversing that part of he sea the steamer encountered se- ere storm, which grew more violent s the days passed. The ship was ,ssed on giant waves and even the eteran ocean travellers were indis- OSed.
 Finally warning was issued by the icers for every passenger to keep fe preserver on, awake or asleep. he precaution was we'll founded, for lat very night the big ship was driven f her course and in the darkness urled itself on rock. She clung to le obstruction for two hours, which we annie time for the lifehOatS tO !