The St. Charles herald., 1922-07-29

Burr jerked away; Alan caugnt nix
again and, with physical strength, de-
tanned him. ''Wasn't it that? he De
manded. Answer me; it was the
Martha CorvetT'
The wheelsman struggled; he seemed
suddenly terrified with the terror
which, instead of weakening, supplied
infuriated strength. He threw Alan OH
for an instant and started to flee back
toward the ferry and Alan let him CO.
only following a few steps to make
sure that the wheelsman returned to
Number 25.
Because Of the severe cold, the
watches on the ferry had been snort
ened. Alan would be relieved from
time to time to warm himself, and
then he would return to duty again.
Old Burr at the wheel would be re-
lieved and would 60 on duty at the
same hours as Alan himself. Benjamin
Corvet! The fancy reiterated itseiI 10
him. Could he be mistaken? Was that
man. whose eyes turned alternately
from the compass to the bow OF the
ferry as It shifted and rose and 1eii'
the same who had sat In that lonely
chair turned toward the fireplace IN
the house on Astor street? Were those
hands. which held the steamer to her
course. the hands which had written
to Alan in secret from the little room
off his bedroom and which pasted SO
carefully the newspaper clippings con-
cealed In the library?
Alan faced the wind with mackinaw
buttoned about his throat; to make
certain his hearing, his ears were un-
protected. They numbed frequently,
and he drew hand out OF the glove
to rub them. The windows to protect
the. wheelsman had been dropped. as
the snow had gathered on the glass
and at intervals, as he glanced back,
he could see old Burr's face as ne
switched on a dim light to look at fhe
compass. The strange placidity which
usually characterized the old mans
| face had not returned to 1t since Alan
had spoken with him on the dock; Its
| look was intent and queerly drawn
Was old Burr beginning to remember
that he was Benjamin Corvet! Alan
did not believe 1t could be that; again
and again he had spoken Corvet's name
| to him without effect. Yet there mus'
have been times when, If he was actual
! " Coryet, he had remembered who nc
! was. He must have remembered tha'
when he had written directions to some
one to send those things to Constance
Sheriff.; or, strange thought nae
1 come to Alan, had he written those In
structions himself? This certainly
would account for the package having
been mailed at Manitowoc and fol
Alan's failure to find out by whom Il
/ had been mailed. 1t would account
i too. for the unknown handwriting upoI
the wrapper, If some one on the ferr!
had addressed the package for the on
man.
| What could have brought back tina
moment of recollection to Corvet, Aial
wondered; tho finding Of the thing
which he had sent? What might brin'
another such moment? Would his see
ing the Sherrills again-or Spearman-
act to restore him?
For half an hour Alan paced steadil
at the bow. The storm was increasin
noticeably in ferceness; the vino
driven snowfinkes had changed to har
pellets which, like little bullets. Gu
and stung the face; and it was CROWN
colder. From cabin window came Tn
blue fash Of the wireless, which ha
been silent after notifying the shor
stations OF their departure. 1t ha
commenced again; this was unusua
Something still more unusual fOllowe
at once; the direction OF the ga
seemed slowly to shift, and with
the wash Of the water; instead of Tn
; wind and the waves coming from dea
ahead now, they moved. to the pol
. heam and Number 25, still pitchin
) with the thrust through the seas, ais
began to roll. This meant, OF cours
{ that the steamer had changed L
course and was making almost al
: north. It seemed to Alan to force 7
!, engines faster the deck vibrated NOR
. Alan had not heard the orders for tn
change and could only speculate as
: what it might mean. 81
t His relief came after few minute
s more.
.Where are we heading?" ALI
e asked. -,
e .Radio," the relief announced. TT
al al C. Richardson calling; she's up
: tie Manitous."
e .What sort of troublei" s
h "She's not in trouble; it's anoth
6 ship"
y .What ship?"
a .No word as to that"
ell Alan, not delaying to question II
n ther, went back to the cabins.
These stretched aft. behind I
n bridge, along the upper deck, sol
= score on each side of the ship; &c
/. had accommodations for almost NJ
= dred passengers; but on this crossi
l. only few were occupied. Alan n
noticed some half-dozen men-busine
n men. no doubt. forced to make I
crossing, and one OF them, Catno
a priest. returning probably to some N
! sion in the north he had seen no wo
i en- among them.. A little group
I. messengers were gathered now In
<,svf side the wfrpI(