The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1920-01-01
Not cAlways
to the Strong
o0
Bv OWEN OLIVER
(Copyright.)
By OWEN OLIVER


and the wind took me off my balance
as turned the corner of Alexandra
road. Some one ran against me as I
riehted myself. 1t was George King.
"Where are you going?" he grOwled.
To Hardy's," l answered gruffiy.
Same as you!" There were dozen
ylardys 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 ac-
count Of Jessie Hardy. Jessie's aunt.
VINO 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 WHIP
ing her eyes.
"He's been taking on awful" she
told us.
"He'd feel it, l said, "abcut 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 a thing into
mis- head"
"WhO's been saying things about
Jessie| asked. fiercely. The old
woman stared at me.
"Ycu don't mean that you aln't
h,ard?" 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 Russell's shop
sudden. little before he got his berth
on the lightship at the More, and gave
up. They've set 1t about that he sent
her away Tor taking thingsw
"Who says it," shouted: and
George clenched his Asts. He wasn't
one for words.
"Shr 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" s
II suppose" George said. "the old
man wouldn't listen to usr
'Not II 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.
'If 1t wasn't for the gale" George
muttered, I'D. fetch line from him
hut no boat couldn't do It."
] went home, put on . waterproof,
and stole out quietly for fear my moth
.r should ask questions.
As was untying my boat man in
Cilskins passed under the lamp. 1t
was George King. knew that he was
going to his boat.
/ hauled the dingsy down the slope.
fastened the mast In Its place and put
up the smaller lib and the mainsail
with all the reefs In. Then pulled
and pushed the dingey over the shin
gle.
She gave Q lurch and shipped sea
before 1 got hold Of the tiller.
We were certain to be swnmped
when we got into the full force Of the
storm, I thought. and / had almost
made up my mind to turn back. when
1 saw Kings boat to leeward.
So I decided to 60 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 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! I caught wildly at some.
th!ng-the keel Of my upturned boat.
Another wave almost tore me of.
Suddenly the boat was whirled away
from me. I tried vainly to swim In my
heavy clothes. but swallowed the water
in great gulps.
I was almost unconscious when q
hand seized me anu pulled me up.
chung to the gunwai. 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 1t.
When he had reached the deck fol.
lowed.
found Russell below talking to
King. He started when he saw me.
..Newman! You nere, too" He
glanced at George. you didn't tell
me The was with you"
~ came OH my own" | explained
.sMy boat went down. and he picked
me up. You'll write as it's lier
ain course it's lie! Any one but