Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-03

|
the western horizon.
Trask sprang to his feet and stared
| in the direction she indicated. There
| was more than a smudge Of smoke
| there was a distinct outline of a
| vessel
| He glanced up at a signal he had
set at the truck of the mizzen. It was
a strange signal composed of flags un
| known in the nautical book of all ma
| tions. At the top there was a red
! flannel shirt; below that two pairs of
| white duck trousers: and then. In
| order a sou'wester coat a white shirt
with blue stripes, a checkered table
| cloth, and a remnant of canvas which
at one time might have been part OF
| a sail.
| Sidney had declared when he set II
| up that its meaning. according to the
| international Code. was: Don
| Bother: We're Happy"
As he stood looking out at the yes
! sci in the distance. Trask felt himself
| swaying with a dizziness that had at
| tackled him twice before that after
noon. There was dull pain In his
head; 1t felt hot OF this, however,
he had said nothing to Sidney.
"A steamer" he said, nodding
ana | DGIleNe II coming THIS way.
They stood together on the deck
house watching it with eager eyes.
Even the kitten seemed to sense some
thing unusual, for 1t. too. stared out at
the sea, purring comfortably.
Sidney clasped his arm tightly and
chung to him.
you want it to find us. don't your"
she asked,
1T must
II suppose So" with a sigh. But
I'm so happy here. It's almost the
end of the adventure. Billy"
THE beginning" he assured her, as
a dull pain throbbeR across his eyes
again.
The steamer drew nearer. following
a course that he Judged would carry
her a mile or SO to the northward OIL
the hulk. They were still without
means of making a fare; Trask feared
to start bonfire on the deck. for II 1t
was not answered he realized that
they might be left aboard a derelict
doomed to destruction by flames.
"I'n go aloft and wave something,
he said.
She shook her head and gripped him
| tighter. 80.
'It's not worth It," she said. 81
won't let you. l believe they'll see US
anyway"
The oncoming vessel had drawn
nearly abreast of them when Irask
observed a change in its course. The
| how headed in toward the hulk. He
ran to the rail and waved his arms
frantieaiiy. There was an answering
| blast of siren. repeated several
times.
He raced back to the deckhouse.
swung the girl down and Rugged her.
They've seen u.s." he cried.
She nodded, and made little ges'
t,re that seemed to express regret.
"Of course, IL has to be, But
She sighed and laughed at herself.
my clothes" she cried suddenly.
well, they're the best you've
got. dear. And you look magnificent.
Why should you care, so long as m
pleased with them?"
"Tf they dare to laugh, will YOU
vindicate me, Billy"
"I'll STAY them" he answered, catch
ing himself again as dizzy spell as
sailed him.
The steamer stopped a quarter Of
mile distant from the derelict, and
Trask watched the operation of lower
ing a boat. It did not look like pas
senger ship; it was black and dingy.
and there was only few figures at
the rail.
"Our sole baggage is the kitten"
observed Sidney, as the boat approach
ed the wreck.
Trask smiled down at her and stead
led himself against the rail. He felt
strange and i'll. but hid 1t from her.
'"There's one thing that disappoints
me-" he observed. land that Is we
never discovered the lazarette."
He smiled family.
THE lazarette is the most roman
tic part of ship" she went on conf
dentially. 1--WE read about them time
and again. All sea adventures have
lazarettes in them. / don't know just
what they are, but 1 always associate
them with pirates and mutinies, and
men In irons. and captive ladies and
things like that. | did so hope we'd
be able to find the lazarette. but L
suppose it's too late now. Perhaps
there isn't any on this ship. II there
is, there ought to be sign on it, so
everybody would know"
I'VE might make believe the galley
was the lazarette," he suggested.
That's what we'll do. It's laza-
rette. ! feel better"
The boat from the steamer drew
close and the men rested on their oars.
A man in the stern sheets arose and
hailed the pair at the rail.
whats happened" he called.
The salutation was a shock to Sid
ney. She frowned.
HE might at least say Ship
ahoy!'" she whispered.
Trask, for answer, merely made a
sweeping wave of his arm, inclusive
of the derelict and everything aboard
her.
who's aboard?" came the next
question.
Trask indicated himself and the girl.
"And the kitten. Billy, she remind
ed him.
Caught in the blow" asked the
man in the boat. as 1t drifted nearer.
Trask nodded.
1t all seemed decidedly unromantic
TO Sidney. II was too casual and mat |
ter.of-fact. utterly devoid of ceremo-
NOUS nautical salutations and other |
salty accessories. 1t was like hailing /,
a Broadway trolley and having 1t take |
you aboard: not so exciting, in fact.
ANY cargo?"
Mahogany"
where's the rest of you?"
"Took to the boats"
The man stared at Trask, evidently |
puzzled.
How about salvage?" he asked |
next.
''Fifty.fifty," said Trask.
"You can't make port without us,