The daily Alaskan., 1922-07-25

tered, became mOnstrOus missiles hurt ling forward, sldewise, aslant, recoil- ing. Yet men, though scattered singly. tried to stay them by ropes and chains while the water washed higher and higher Dlmly, far away, deafened out by the clangor. the steam whistle of Number g was blowing the four long blasts of distress; Alan heard the sound now and then with indifferent wonder. All destruction had come for him to be contained within this car deck: here the ship loosed on itself all elements of annIhilation; who could aid lt from without? Alan caught the end of chain which Corvet flung him and though he knew 1t was useless, he carried It across from one stanchion to the next Something, sweeping across the deck, caught him and car ried him with it; lt brought him be- fore the coupled line of trucks which hurtled back and forth where the rails of track three had been. He was hurled before them and rolled over : something cold and heavy pinned him down; and upon him, the car trucks came.
 But. before them, something warm and livIng-a hand and bare arm catching him quickly and pulling at him. rugged him a little farther on. Alan, looking up, saw Coyet beside him; COrvet, unable to move him farther. was CruuchIng down there with him. Alan yelled to him to leap, Co twist aside and get out of the way; but COrveJ only crOuChed closer and put his arms over Alan; then the wreCkage came upon them, driving them apurt. As the movement stopped, Alan still could see Coryet dImly by the glow of the inCGndeSCent lamps overhead; the truck separated them, It bore down upon Alan, holding him motionless and, on the other side, 1t crushed upon COTvet's legs.
 He turned over. as fur as he could, and spoke to Alan. You have been saving me, 80 now tried to save you," he said simply. What reason did you have for doing that? Why have you been keeping by mel"
 I'm Alan Conrad of Blue Rapids, Kansas" Alan cried to him. And you're Benjamin Corvet! You know me; you sent for me. Why did you do that7"
 Coryet made no reply to this Alan, peerlng at hlm underneath the truck, could see that his hands were pressed against his face and that his body shook. Whether this was from some new physical pain from the movement of the wreckage Alan did not know tIll he lowered his hands after a mo- ment: and now he did not heed Alan or seem even to be aware of him.
 Dear little Connlew he said aloud. Dear little Connie She mustn't marry hlm-not himl That must be seen to. What shall do, what shall dO2"
 Alan worked nearer him. "Why mustn't she marry him?" he. cried to Corvet. "Why? Ben COryet tell me! Tell me whyl"
 "Who are you2" COrvet seemed only with an effort to become conscious of AIan's presence.
 I'm Alan Conrad, whom you used to take care of. I'm from Blue Rap Ids. You know about me; are you my father Ben COrvet7 Are you my fa- ther or what-what are you to me|
 Your fatherT" COrvet repeated. Did ne tell you that7 He killed your father"
 Killed hIm7 Killed him, hOw|
 "Of course. He killed them aIl-Rll. But your father-he shot him; he shot him through the headW
 Alan twlnged. Sight of Spearmau came before him as he had first seen Spearman, covering in COrvets H. brary in terror at an apparition. And the bullet hole above the eyer So that was the hole made by the shot Spearman fired which had killed AIan's father-whiCh shot him through the head Alan peered at COryet and called to him.
 Father Beuitotr Corvet called in response, not directly in reply to Alan's question, rather In response to what those questions stirred. Father Benltotw
 Some one, drawn by the cry, was moving wreckage near them. A hand and arm with a torn sleeve showed; Alan could not see the rest of the fig ure, but by the sleeve he recognized that lt WAS the mate.
 "Who's caught here9' he called down.
 ''Benjamln COrvet of Corvet, Sher- Till and Spearman, ship owners of Chi- cagO," COrvet's voice replied deeply fully; there was authority in lt and wonder toO-the wonder of a man find Ing himself In a situation which his recollection cannot explain.
 Ben Corvet| the mate shouted in surprise; he cried lt to the others, those who had followed Corvet and obeyed him during the hour before and had not known why The mate tried to