The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-07

cured IGNORES and Mrs. Harden
worth's heaviest coats. He noticed
as he passed that Bess had sought
refuge in the engine room. Ned
waved to her. then returned to his
guests.
The room was already noticeably
colder, not so much from the drop in
| temperature-a thermometer would
have still registered above freezing
| as from the chilling, penetrating
| quality of the wind that forced an
| entrance as if through the ships
seams.
There was no opportunity to make
comment before Knutsen lurched in
to the room It's tough, isn't it?"
he commented. MIR. Cornet, I want
another shot Of dat stuff before I
take de wheel"
Ned, not uninhuenced by his cups,
extended the bottle with a roar Of
laughter You know what's good
for you" he commented. Where's
McNab? Let him have one, too"
He's still at de wheel. but 1 don't
think he'd care for one. He's a funny
old wolf, at times. Mrs. Harden
L don't like it very we'll" She
held fast to the slipping table. "Of
course, you'd tell us if there was any
danger"
mot a bit Of danger. Just a
squall This isn't rough-you ought
to see what it would be outside this
chain Of islands. But it's mighty
chilly" He poured the stiff drink
down his great throat. then buttoned
his coat tight.
Ned, for a moment secretly ap-
palled by the storm. felt his old reck-
| lessness returning.
There's only three or four shots
left in this bottle" he said. holding
up the second of the two quarts he
had taken from the case. You'd
| better have one more with us before
| you go. A man burns up lots of
whisky without hurting him any on
a night like this. Then take the bot
tie in with you to keep you warm at
| the wheel"
Knutsen needed no second urging
He was of a race that yields easily
to drink, and he wanted to conquer
the last, least little whisper Of his
fear of the night and the storm. He
crank once more, pocketed the bot
tie. then made his way to the pilot
house.
You're not going to try to ride
her through" dcNab asked, as he
Welded the wheel. a
'Of course. You're Not afraid of
little furry like dis"
McNab stared into his glittering
eyes. and for moment his lips were
tightly compressed. This isn't a
little furry" he answered at last
| coidly. It's a young gale, and God
| knows what It will be by morning
| You know and I know we shouldn't
| attempt things here that we can do
with safety in waters we're familiar
| with. Right now we can run into
the lea of Ivan Island and find a
harbor. There's a good one just
south Of the point"
| We're not going to run into Ivan
Island. want to feel dry land. We're
| going to head on toward Tar Island. ."
You run a little more of that bot
| RE down your neck and you'll be head
| ing us into hell Listen. Cap'n." Nc.
Nab paused, deeply troubled. You
let me take the wheel, and you go
in and celebrate with the party. You
| won't do any damage then"
And you get back to your en-
| CINE and mind your own business. >"
| Little angry points Of light shot into
| knutsen's eyes.
| McNab turned to the door. where
| for a moment he stood listening to
he wild raging Of the wind. Then
he climbed down into the engine
room.
There was nothing in his face,
as ne entered. TO reveal the paths of
| his thought. He was wholly casual
| wholly commonplace, seemingly not in
the least alarmed He stepped to
Bess's side, half smiling.
Il wonder if you can help nne?'' he
asked.
The girl stood up, straight. ath-
letic figure. at his side I'll try. Of
course
1T epends-have you any influence
| with young Cornet?"
Bess slowly shook her head. I'm
| afraid I can't help you" she told him
very gravely. Il have no influence
| with him at all What is il Won
| wanted me to do?"
/ wanted YOU to tell him to put up
the booze. Particularly, to keep the
captain from getting any more
| There's only one way" The girls
| lips were close to his ear, else he
couldn't have heard in the roar of
the storm and the tapping of the
sails.
McNab looked at her as before now
he had looked at strong men will
whom he had stood the watch. "Wha
are you gettin' at?"
| His voice was gruff. but it didn'-
offend her She felt that they wert
on common ground
You know as well as I do. 1 prom
ised his father before I left that I'd
/ look after Ned. He was in earnest
and Need needs looking after now If
ne ever did. Mr. Cornet won't blame
| me, either. Show me how to get
down in the hold"
| McNab suddenly chuckled and pat
ted her on the back with rough ia
nliliarity. yet with fervent compan-
ionship. you've got the stuff" he
said. But you can't lift them alone
I'm with you till the last dog is
hung"
On the exposed deck the storm met
the two Adventures with a yell. For
the first time Bess knew it's full fury.
as the wind buffeted her, and the
sleet swept like fine shot into her
face. They chung to the railing. then