Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-11-08
Not cAlways
to the Strong
G@~D
By OWEN OLIVER
d 0WEN OLIvER



road Some one ran against me as 1
righted myself 1t was George King.
Where are you going?" he growled.
To Hardy's," 1 answered gruf1y.
Same as your There were a dozen
Jiardys in Sheerness, but he knew that
I meant old Hardy, the pilot.
His cutter had gone down IN the af-
ternoOn, and they said that the old
man would go that evening. He had
been sinking for a long time.
We walked to their house in silence.
There was bad blood between us on ac-
Count Of Jessie Hardy. Jessie's aunt
who kept house for them, opened the
'loor and let us in. The tears were
rolling down her wrinkled old cheeks
and her apron was crumpIed with wip-
ing her eyes.
Hes been taking on awful" she
told us.
He'd feel it" I said, "about the
cutter"
"The cutter? No, no, lad. We
haven't, told him of that. It's about
Jessie. Lying gossip as nobody else
wouldn't take notice Of; but you know
what he is when he gets thing into
his head"
"Who's been saying things about
Jessie?" asked, fiercely. Tie old
woman stared at me.
"You don't mean that you amt
heard?" she cried.
''Folks as have anything to say
against Jessie aren't likely to say it to
me-" told her
''NoT me-" said George.
'You know as she left Russell's shop
sudden, little before he got his berth
on the lightship at the More, and gave
up. They've set it about that he sent
her away for taking thingsl"
'Who says it9" shouted; and
George clenched his fists. He wasn't
one for words.
"Sh!" She raised her hand. you'll
wake her. Cried herself to sleep, poor
girl. The things he's said to her Al
ways suspicious, he was, and ready to
take anyone's word against his own
flesh and blood"
ST suppose" George said, "the old
man wouldn't listen to us?"
mot if you was angels dropped from
tie sky There's only one as he'd be-
lleve, he says, and that's Russell him
self"
We looked at one another and shook
our heads. Russell was on duty aboard
the lightship.
eff it wasn't for the gale" George
muttered, "Td fetch line from him;
but no boat couldn't do it."
! went home, put on a waterproof,
Nnd stole out quietly for fear my moth
er should ask questions.
As was untying my boat man in
Cilskins passed under the lamp. It
was George King. knew that he was
going to his boat.
hauled the dingey down the slope,
fastened the mast in its place and put
up the smaller jib and the mainsail
with all the reefs in. Then pulled
and pushed the dingey over the shin
gle.
She gave lurch and shipped sea
before 1 got hold of the tiller.
We were certain to be swamped
when we got into the full force of the
storm, l thought, and I had almost
made up my mind to turn back, when
saw Kings boat to leeward.
So I decided to go on. Kings was a
larger boat than mine, with water
tight compartments at the head and
stern, and a center-board, and he was
a seaman by profession, while 1 was
only an amateur.
The wind lulled for a moment and
got the boat almost dry. Then gust
came and the jib broke loose.
Crash 1 caught wildly at some
thing-the keel Of my upturned boat.
Another wave almost tore me off.
Suddenly the boat was whirled away
from me. / tried vainly to swim in my
heavy clothes, but swallowed the water
in great gulps.
was almost unconscious when q
hand seized me and pulled me up.
chung to the gunwais of Kings boat
and he hauled me in.
L ldlu nelplSSSly On IAS uSSA W"
till he got bottle of rum from under
his seat and gave me drink.
Then the moon came out and showed
the lightship straining at her mOorings
close by. We found a little shelter
under her lee, and halloaed. Some one
looked over the side and threw a rope
King caught IT. made it fast and
climbed by 1t.
When he had reached the deck fol
lowed.
I found Russell below talking tC
King. He started when he saw me.
''Newmani You Lere, too" He
glanced at George. "You didn't tel
me he was with you"
81 came on my own" I explained
'Bfy boat went down, and he picked
me up. You'll write as it's lief"
SIN course it's a liel Any one but
him would have known, without WORD
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