The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-12


tears. he could not nj first trust
himself 90 speak, you've certainly
taken tkiaEs inc your own hands"
no teld her bitterly Ills wrath
Eatherod, breaking from him at
last IN a flood. YOU illbrod prudo,
wish could never lay eyes ON
you AGAIN.
His soornful eyes saw tho pain
well into her face Evidently he
had gone the limits no couldn't
have hurt her worse with blow
of his hand. Touched a little in
spite Of himself. no began to feel
the first prick OF rsmorsc, Per
haps it had done no good 10 speak
so cruelty. Certainly tho WHISTLES
could nos be rogained. Probably
tho fool thought she was acting for
his own good, lilo turned. slammed
tho door. and STROBE back 10 the
dining saloon.
IL was by far the most bitter
moment in Bess' life. she had
done right. but her pavnent was a
curse from tho man she had hoped
10 serve. All her castles had fall
en-; her dreams had broken like
tho bubbles they were. This was
the answer 90 the calling in her
heart and tho longing In her soul
the spoken wish that she might
pass from his sight forever.
For the last few days. since they
hIrd entered this strange. snowy.
twilight region. she had had dreams
such ms she had never dared hd.
init into her heart before. Any.
thing could happen up here. No
wonder was too great. IL was tho
kind OF place where men found
themselves, where all things were
In proper balance. and false stand
ards fell away Some way. she
had been on the lookout for n
miracle. But the things which had
been proven false. which could not
live In this bitter world OF rcali.
ties. were her own drcamsl They
had been the only things that had
died. She had been fool to hope
that here. az the wintry Sige OF
tho world. she might find the hap.
piness she had missed in her ma.
two city. The world was with
her yet. crushing her hopes ms It's
rocky crust brushes tho fallen nest.
ling before Il learns TO ny!
But at his post MeSab had al
ready forgotten the episode OF the
liquor cases, Indeed. he had for.
gotten many other matters OF
much greater moment, Al the
present his mind was wholly occu.
pied By two stern reaiitlcs-one
OF them being that tho storm
s,ill ragged In undated fury. and
tho other that drunken captain
was driving his craft AZ u break.
neck speed over practically un.
ehAried waters.
Tho danger lay not only IN the
fact that Knutseu had dlSregarded
McNab's good advice TO seek Hhel.
ter In one Of tho island harbors.
Even now he was disrcgartilng the
way Of comparative safety. was not
pauHlng 10 take soundings. but was
racing along before the wind In.
stead Of heading into Il with the
power Of the auxiliary engines
With wind and wave hurting her
forward. there would be no chance
10 turn back or avoid any island
reef that might suddenly loom In
their path. knutssn was trusting
TO his sea gods over waters he
had never sailed before. torn by
storms and lighted oniy by a
feeble Searchiight.
Once moro McNab lifted HIS head
thru the hatch into the pilo, house:
and for long seconds he studied IN.
tentiy the flushed face over the
wheel. They hadn't really helped
matters. 30 far IA knutssn was
concerned. by throwing tho cases
overheard. Seemingly his watch
would DO over before the fumes
Of the liquor he had already con.
sumsd died in his brain. At pres.
ent he was in It's fun flush: Wholly
reckless, obstinate. uncertain Of
temper. Was there any possible
good in appealing TO him furtherg
what now7" Knutsen asked
gruffly.
You've forgotten all tho sea.
manship You ever knew" MeNab
returned anEriiy. There's NJ
hurry about reaching Tar island
And you're risising cverybody's life
on board. smiling the way you are"
Are you captain Of dis hoat7"
knutsen demanded angrily.
NO. but
Den get out of here know
exactly what I'm doing. You're
as safe As"
But IL came about that Capt.
knutsen did not finish the sentence.
McNab was never 10 find out,
from knutsen's lips, Just how safe
he was. All Mt once he cried
sharply in warning.
Before even Knutsen heard that
sharp cry. no knew what lay
ahead. Dullcd tho his vision was.
slow tho processes OF his brain. he
saw that curious ridge OF white
foam in front - an inoffonsive.
looking trail OF white across their
bows. At the same instant his
keen ears caught new sound. one
that was only haifrevcalcd in the
roar and beat OF the storm.
There was not the pause OF an
instant before his great, muscular
arms made response. At the same
Instant Forest tried to apply the
power OF his engines in obedience
to the sharp gong from above.
And then both Knutsen and Nc
Nab braced Themselves for the
shock they knew would come.
The craft seemed TO leap In the
water. shuddered like living
thing, and the swath OF the
searchlight described long arc
I