The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-06-16


face had not returned to it 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 must
have been times when. If he was actual
ly Corvet, he had remembered who he
was. He must have remembered that
when he had written directions to some
one to send those things to Constance
Sheriff.; or a strange thought had
come to Alan, had he written those in
structions himself? This certainly
would account for the package having
been mailed at Manitowoc and for
Alan's failure to find out by whom it
had been mailed. 1t would account,
too, for the unknown handwriting upon
the wrapper, If some one on the ferry
had addressed the package for the old
man.
What could have brought back that
moment of recollection to Corvet, Alan
wondered; the finding of the things
which he had sent? What might bring
another such moment? Would his see
ing the Sherrills again-or Spearman-
act to restore him?
For half an hour Alan paced steadily
at the bow. The storm was increasing
noticeabfy in fierceness; the wind
driven snowfiakes had changed to hard
pellets which, like little bullets, cut
and stung the face and it was growing
colder. From cabin window came the
been silent after notifying the shore
stations of their departure. 1t had
commenced again; this was unusual.
Something still more unusual followed
att once; the direction of the gale
seemed slowly to shift, and with 1t
the wash of the water; instead of the
wind and the waves coming from dead
ahead now, they moved to the port
beam, and Number %, still pitching
with the thrust through the seas, also
began to roll. This meant, of course,
that the steamer had changed its
course and was making almost due
north. 1t seemed to Alan to force it's
engines faster; the deck vibrated more.
Alan had not heard the orders for this
change and could only speculate as to
what it might mean.
His relief came after few minutes
more.
Where are we heading?" Alan
asked.
Radio" the relief announced. "The
III. G. Richardson calling; she's up by
the Manitous."
what sort of trouble?"
"She's not in trouble; it's another
Ship
"What ship?"
'No word as to that"
Alan, not delaying to question fur
Their, went back to the cabins.
These stretched aft, behind the
bridge, along the upper deck, some
score on each side of the ship; they
had accommodations for almost hun
dred passengers; but on this crossing
only a few were occupied. Alan had
noticed some half-dozen men-business
men, no doubt, forced to make the
crossing, and one of them. Catholic
priest, returning probably to some mis-.
sion in the north he had seen no wom-
en- among them. A little group of
passengers were gathered now in the
door of or just outside the wireless
cabin, which was one of the row on the
starboard side. Stewards stood with
them and the cabin maid; within, and
bending over the table with the radio
instrument, was the operator with the
second officer beside him. The violet
spark was rasping, and the operator,
his receivers strapped over his ears,
strained to listen. He got no reply,
evidently, and he struck his key again;
now. as he listened, he wrote slowly on
a pad.
"What is it?' Alan asked the officer.
1.-THE Richardson heard four blasts
of a steam whistle about an hour ago
when she was opposite the Manitous.
She answered with the whistle and
turned toward the blasts. She couldn't
find any ship" The officers reply was
interrupted by some of the others.
"Then :. that was few minutes
ago they heard the four long
again. They'd tried to pick up
the other ship with radio before
Yes; we got that here. :.
Tried again and got no answer.
But they heard the blasts for half an
hour. They said they seemed
to be almost beside the ship once
But they didn't see anything
Then the. blasts stopped sud-
den. cut off short in the middle as
though something happened.
She was blowing distress all right.
The Richardson's searching
again now. Yes, she's search
ing for boats"
ANYONE else answered." Alan
asked.
ashore stations on both Sides"
"Do they know what ship it is?''
"No.D
"What ship might be there now?'
The officer could not answer that.
He had known where the Richardson
must be; he knew of no other likely
to be there at this season. The spray
from the waves had frozen upon Alan;
ice cleaned and glinted from the rail
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