Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-11-04
Not cA1ways
to the Strong
O<1
By owEH OLIVER
(copyright.l
BY Owen OLIVER

as / turned the corner OF Alexandra
road. Some one ran against me as
rishted myself. 1t was George King.
"Where are you goingT he growled-
TO Hardy's." / answered grufny
Same as youl" There were = dozen
Uardys In Sheerness, but he knew that
I meant old Hardy. the pilot.
His cutter had gone down In the ar
ternoon, and they said that the old
man would 60 that evening. He had
been sinking for 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,
aud her apron was crumpled 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
Jessiei" I asked, fiercely. The old
woman stared at me.
"Y4 don't mean that you amt
heardw she cried.
Folks as have anything to say
against Jessie aren't likely to say 1t to
me-" told her.
Nor me-" said George.
"You know as she left Russelrs 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 thingsi''
"Who says it?" 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 herl Al
ways suspicious, he was, and ready to
take anyone's word against his own
flesh and blood"
II suppose" George said, "the old
man wouldn't listen to us?"
''Not If you was angels dropped from
II skyl There's only one as he'd be-
lieve, he says. and that's Russell him
self"
We looked at one another and shook
our heads. Russell was on duty aboard
the lightship.
IF it wasn't for the gale" George
muttered, I'D fetch line from him;
but no boat couldn't do it,
went home, put on a waterproof,
aad stole out quietly for fear my moth
.r should ask questions.
AS / was untying my boat man In
tilskins passed under the lamp. 1t
was George King. knew that he was
going to his boat.
/ hauled the dingey down the slope,
fastened the mast in it's place and put
up the smaller jb and the mainsail
with all the reefs in. Then / pulled
and pushed the dingey over the shin
gle
She gave a lurch and shipped a sea
before I got hold Of the. tiller
We were certain to be swamped
when we got into the full force Of the
storm, l thought, and l had almost
made up my mind to turn back, when
1 saw Kings boat to leeward.
So decided to go on. Kings was
larger boat than mine, with water
tight compartments at the head and
stern, and a center-board, and he was
seaman by profession, while 1 was
only an amateur.
The wind lulled for a moment and
got the boat almost dry. Then a gust
came and the jib broke loose.
Crash! / 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. I tried vainly to swim In my
heavy clothes, but swallowed the water
In great gulps
/ was almost unconscious when
hand seized me and pulled me up. I
chung to the gunwaie of Kings boat,
and he hauled me in.
I laid helplessly on the deck bow
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 little shelter
under her lee, and halloaed. Some one
looked over the side and threw a rope
King caught 1t, made it fast and
climbed by it.
When he had reached the deck I fol
lowed.
found Russell below talking to
King. He started when he saw me.
Newman! You rere, tool" He
glanced at George. you didn't tell
me he was with you"
II came on my own" | explained. |
my boat went down, and he picked |
me up. You'll write as it's lieY'
'In course it's lie Any one but |
him would have known. without word |
of mine, the old Well, well! He's
dying.
"She left me because ! couldn't af- |
ford to pay any one. The business |
wasn't doing anything, and that's why |
l come here"
He took a pen and wrote rapidly. |
Then he sealed the paper In an en-
veiope and gave it to George, who put |
1t in an inner pocket and buttoned up |
carefully.
"Good nightI' He ran up the COM