Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-01-15
THE
SOLITARY
ARK
By E. o. WEEKS
20 by short story Pub. Coz

depart from New York in haste.
They stood on the lip of the
dixie, looking down at the dark water
of the outfiowing tide. Yet even now,
when they were miles away from the
police of the great city, and standing,
as one may say, in the very center of
the vast marsh fields stretching north
from Newark bay, they did not feel
secure in staying their flight.
The short, thickset man, with but
one eye, was known as the "Bllnker,"
and his comrade, long, and tough and
wiry, was Familiarity spoken of as
the "Crab"-a designation acquired
through much facility in walking back
ward out of difficult situations.
A traveller on lonely road at night,
having the choice of meeting either
the "Crab" or the "Bllnker' would
not have been warranted In lifting a
straw to determine his preference.
In the chill of the November eve
ming the two thieves stood on the
dixie, and shlvered and cursed. Look
ing back in the way they had come,
the failing light disclosed only wide
eXpanse Of reeds and rushes; and gaz-
ing forward, the same monotOny met
the sight. Above all rolled the low
clouds of gathering storm. With the
passing of another hour, the great salt
meadows would be lying under the
pail Of black night.
"Well, what do yer sayf" said the
"Blinker." you've got two eyes, an
ought to be able to see better'n l
can-will we go on, or go backT
"What L says Is to go on" replied
the Grab" Its as much legs as
eyes; an II I've got two eyes, you've
got two legs, so we're evenw And
speaking so, the long man turned
north on the embankment, and the
short man followed him.
Now and then they stopped to listen.
The tapping tide sounded sometimes
Ike the dipping Of furtive oar, and
sometimes like the rush of pursuing
footsteps.
whats thatp cried out the "Crab,"
hating suddenly and grasping his com
panion's arm.
The "Bllnker" stood still, while he
bent his bullet head forward and
peered into the gloom with his single
eye. AT first he heard nothing, but
he saw a ruddy light shining through
the frOst-bitten leaves Of a clump of
willows. After a moment, the sound
Of hammer falling on an anvil met
his ear
The unexpected thing excltes super
stition. The light Of the forge and the
smiths tinkllng blows seemed strange
ly out of place in the solitude of the
marsh, and therefore supernatural.
The long man and the short man re-
garded each other In doubt.
You was the one that wanted to go
on" said the "Bllnker" NOV go
aheadW
"Tm as ready as you" returned the
"Crab"; why don't you conner"
"Fm coming" said the "Bllnker,"
''why don't you goY'
"To HI them" said the Grab"
turning reluctantly, but not moving
forward
"To Ill, yourselfW said the "Blin-
kerr" as If prepared to brush him by
and take the lead.
Both stirred their feet like men
catching the step Of dance; neither
one advanced pace.
In the increasing gloom and silence
Of the great salt meadows, vast some
thing, yOlceless and fOrmless seemed
to gather about the two thugs, Cypress
ing them with its might; and without
thought and without intention, but
willing to dare what was tangible, they
stepped forward to escape from this
invisible weight.
Following the bend of the embank-
ment around the clump Of willows,
they came upon a singular habltation
"a floating ark, or hOusebOat. 1t was
a neat cabin built on the deck Of a
shapely hulk, trinity rallied and mostly
painted white, and made snug and fine
by good workmanship. Ii was secure
ly moOred to the trees, yet tugged at
the ropes, as it rocked with the move
ment of the outgoing tide. Close under
the caves were lowers for ventilation,
and from between the inclined Stats
came the glow OF detected light. The
windows were closed with solid shut
ters and the entrance door was shut
in fact, 80 closely shut were these,
that no direct ray came through
chlnk or Granny.
From the cabins roof protruded an
ample and safe chlmney-a stiff pipe
of boiler iron--and out from this, as
the men stood looking, poured forth
smoke and sparks, preceded by the
heaving Of bellows and followed by the
noise of small hammer beating on an
anvil.
Through the misty cleaning of the
marsh fields the "Crab" and the "Blin-
ker" stared at each other with ques-
tlonlng eyes. In their desperate sltua-
ton the snug vessel looked to them not
less tempting than a merchantmen to
pirate crew. Here, perhaps, might
be food and lodging for the night, and
a Golfer to pillage. How then could
they reach the deck Of the coy house
boat, lying eight or nine feet out from
the dixie? With wordless, concerted
action, they turned among the willows
to see If they could find an overhang-
ing tree.
Now the man in the ark belonged to
The ancient and honorable order Of I'M
Imaginative men. They are the ones
who do the work that the nlnety-and-