Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1919-11-07
Not Always
to the Strong
o0
By OWEN OLIVER

By OWEN OLIVER

rikhtcc myself. II was George Kin
"Where are YOU goingT' he growled.
TO Hardy's," ! answered gruiiiy.
Same rs youl" There were n dozen
llnrdys In Shecrness. but he knew thnt
I meant old Hardy, the pilot.
His cutter had gone down IN the AZ.
%iernoon. and they said that the old
man would go that evening. lie had
been sinking for u long time.
We walked to their house in silence.
There was had blood between US on ac-
count of Jessie Hardy. Jessle's aunt,
VIVA kept house for them, opened the
'loor and let us In. The tears were
rolling down her wrlnkled old cheeks.
aid her apron was cruinpled with wlp-
ing her eyes.
Hes been taking on awful" she
told us.
He'd feel IT," l said, "about the
cutter"
"The cutter3 No, no. lad. We
haven't told him ~ that. It's about
Jessie. Lying gossip as nobody else
wouldn't take notice Of but you know
what he Is when he gets n thing into
MS head"
"Who's been saying things about
Jcsslef" I asked. fercely. The old
woman stared Mt me.
"You don't mean that you aln't
heardi' she cried.
Folks ms have anything to say
against Jessie uren't likely to say II to
me" I told her.
"Nor me-" snid George.
"YOu know ny she left Russells shop
sudden, Il little before he got his berth
ON the llghtshlp ut the More, and ave
up. They've set It about that he sent
her away for taking thlngs!"
'Who says ~" ! shouted; and
one for words.
Ssh :" She raised her hand. you'll
'yake her. cried herself TO sleep, poor
girl. The things he's snid to her Al
ways suspicious, he wns, and ready 10
take %anyone's word against his own
flesh and blood
~ suppose George snld. "the old
man wouldn't listen to usT"
mot II you was angels dropped from
a. skyl There's only one MS he'd be-
llcvc. he says, and that's Russell him
self"
We looked nj one anOther and shook
uur heads. Russell was on duty aboard
the lightshlp.
III 1t wasn't for the gale" George
muttered, "1'd fetch line from him
but no hoat couldn't do H."
went home. put ON n waterproof,
and stole out quietly for fenr my moth
~ should ask questions.
As | was untying my boat a man In
,ilsklns passed under the lamp. II
was George King. | knew that he was
going 10 his bont.
hnulcd the dingey down the slope
fastened the mast In It's place and put
M the smaller Jill and the malnsall
with ull the reefs In. Then ! pulled
and pushed the dingey over the shin.
gle.
she gave n lurch ana shipped n sen
before | ga! hold Of the tlller.
We were certmin To be swamped
when we got into the fun force Of IN,
Storm, | thought, and | had almost
made up my mind To turn back, when
saw Kings boat to leewnrd.
So | decided to 20 on. Kings was d
larger bout than mine, with water
tight compartments M the hend ant
stern. and IA center-bonrd, and he wn,
n seaman by profession. while ! wu'
only an amateur
The wind ldlled for n moment NJ.
I got the boat almost dry, Then II gus
,nme and the iih broke loose.
Crash l caught wildly AZ some
thing the Keel of my upturned boat.
Another wave almost tore me on.
suddenly the boat was whirled ava!
from me. / tried vainly 10 swim In IN.
heavy clothes. but swallowed the waite.
ia great eulps.
was almost unconscious when
hand seized me and pulled me up.
chung tn the gunwpie OF Kings boat
pud he hauled me In.
I laid hclplessly on the deck bow
TN he got a bottle Of rum from unde
his seat aud gave me n drink.
Then The moon cnme out and Shove,
the liehtshlp stralnlng nj her moorlng
close hy. We found Il little shelte
under her lee, and halloaed. Some on,
looked over the side and threw a rope
King caught IL. mHde- 1t fast ant
qtlmhed hx H.