Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-10-31
Not cA1Ways
to the Strong
o<H
By OWEN OLIVER
By OWEN OLIVER
(Copyright.)

righted myself. 1t was George King.
Where are you going?" he growled.
To Hardy's," / answered grutfiy.
Same as you" There We're a dozen
Hardys in Sheerness. but he knew that
! 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 long time.
We walked to their house in silence.
There was bad blood between us on &C
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"
1.-THE cutter? No, no. lad. We
haven't told him of that. It's about
Jessie. Lying gossip as nobody else
what he is when he gets thing into
his head"
who's been saying things about
Jessie?' I asked, fiercely. Tie old
woman stared at me.
"YCu 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.
Nor me-" said George.
you know as she left Russells 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 things"
"Who says it," l shouted; and
George clenched his fists. He wasn't
one for words.
SSH !" 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"
81 suppose" George said, "the old
man wouldn't listen to us?"
Not If you was angels dropped from
H. sky 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.
eff 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
vi should ask questions.
AS / was untying my boat a man in
Cilskins 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 its place and put
up the smaller jib and the mainsail
with all the reefs in. Then l pulled
gle.
She gave lurch and shipped a sea
before got hold of the tiller.
We were certain TO be swamped
when we got into the full force of the
storm, / thought, and l had almost
made up my mind to turn back, when
/ 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
a seaman by, profession, while l was
only an amateur.
The wind lulled for moment and
! got the boat almost dry. Then gust
came and the jib broke loose.
Crash! l 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 a
hand seized me and pulled me up.
chung to the gunwai-4 of Kings boat,
and he hauled me in.
laid helplessly on the deck bow
till he got a 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 rope.
King caught it, made it fast and
climbed by it.
When he had reached the deck 1 fol-
lowed.
/ found Russell below talking TO
King. He started when he saw me.
"Newmant You rere. too" He
glanced ar George. You didn't tell
me he was with.you.
81 came on my own ! explained.
my boat went down. and he picked
me up. You'll write as it's a lief''
.In course it's a 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
T come here