Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-03-11

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Narrows. Keep over close to the
Brooklyn side.
Eddie. about to argue with him. swal-
lowed his words as the guy came in
and he saw the pistol stil in his hand.
He rang the engine room: 60 ahead.
He swung the tugs nose off to the
southwark.
Like a cockeyed dream. and bad
one, too. Dusk was settling down on
the bay. A million people, more or less,
were homeward bound in crowded sub
ways. Norah was in her mothers kit
chen. helping out with the dinner,
I likely-laughing and chattering, watch
ing the clock till the hour Of seven
would bring her Eddie. Perhaps even
/ watching the wedding clock inside OF
its small brass steering wheels
He could see her as plainly In her
apron. Neat little Norah vivid, frag-
/ rant. marking time till the great adj
venture. Her warm lips ready to press
on Eddie's, her soft arms to strain him
close.
Damn Joe. anyway" Eddie NUT
tered. IF he hadn'tve come around
with that clock
The short wave radio started to talk,
and the guy. looked suspiciously at the
disk from which the voice was eman-
.
ragansett. Meet tug Ideal at pier 2,
Erie Basin. Help transfer steamer vile
de Bordeaux to foot of Orange street
In Brooklyn"
No"
The guy smiled darkly. Eddie was
frowning This guy was slick as grease.
he was thinking. But one thing he had
overlooked: the running lights were
CfflI milf (SFnaF1 nont RI cfaFhno
red to portland If a Coast Guard
cutter, for instance, should notice the
tug without any lights she would amble
over to see about 1t
Eddie watched hopefully. Nothing
approached them. They passed Fort
Hamilton guarding the Narrows and
turned southwest in the lower bay. For
time they were in the Ambrose Chan (
nel-the deep-draught channel which,
hours ago, the Navarro had followed
to reach the sea.
Then they left the channel buoys
astern and chuffed across waste of
water out Of the path of ocean COM I
merce. Here, walled In by Sandy Hook, 4
whose two lights blinked like distant
stars, the John L. Haine moved alone, /
apart, unseen by any one in the dark [
ness.
stop the engine ordered the guy.
He opened the door to the cabin, aft, /
and looked at the four men tied on the /
floor Then he closed it again and /
nodded to Eddie. I'VE go downstairs"
he said very softly.
Again Eddie felt his spine start
crawling Each step of the way he was
coldly aware of that pistol staring him
in the back. The water looked dark,
for the moon would rise late, and all
he could see was the CLEAN Of lights
along the Hook and on Staten Island
and, westward, upon the Jersey shore.
The guy took an axe from its place
on the wall, where 1t was kept for
use He ordered Eddie TO
get in the launch-tust 10 feet OF home
ly tub with weary engine, well-named
Junk boat. Lengths of castoff rubber
tires hung from its gunwales to serve
as tenders. An oily canvas. spread ike
a blanket, covered its waist TO keep
out spray.
The guy told Eddie to fold the can
vas. He stood in the bow and stopped
10 the task. But after moment Eddie
Strengthened and looked at the guy
With sudden horror.
Never mind what you see" the guy
said brusquely. DO as tell you.
Hurry"
"Yes, sir"
Eddie's heart felt Icy cold and blood
ess. He avoided touching old Joe's {
,ody. But he had to touch 1t. The guy
He had to tie it fast with a
ope to the launch's engine. The guy
TODD watching.
"Ahl" he breathed, when Eddie was
lone. Here is an axe. Chop a hole
n the bottom" Z
A wild thought flashed through the !
mind. He would swing at the q
NY, chop hole in HIM He glanced at /
he figure holding the gun, but the
-uy was too high above him Too Y
uick. He wouldn't have a chance, and {
e knew It, He started to hack at the 2
unk boats flooring. d
Now he felt the blade through the Il
ottom. The launch began to take In II
Tater. Slowly at first: then 1t came
18th rush, 1t was tapping around his s.
set and ankles. d
Can you swim?" asked the guy. and s,
Iddie gasped He could, all right, but Il
-om here to shore was two long miles, k
nd the water was cold! h
mo" he answered. The guy just :
Iughed Z,
"Get back on board. Leave the axe t
the boat" II
They stood apart on the deck Of the 5
n and watched the launch sink lower &
nd lower. The water gurgled bit, es
len was STILL The junk boat vanished D,
meath the surface. IL
Returning up to the pilothouse, the
~ startled Eddie by saying, sol you N
ould trick me, would your" Ii
"Wh-what do you mean?" Il
1.-THE lights are not it," ps
"Ohl" stammered Eddie. II
rgot." It
you have much more to forget" r.
id the guy, and the words were like er
along Eddie's spine. az
AS he steered the tug toward Am III
ose Channel he became, without be- St
z aware Of the fact, an arrant pact- wi
It. He, an Irishnanl For here was sE
guy whom he could knock cold with TX
single sock, Just give him the chance ar
and because Of pistol Eddie was 81
iplessI
What the guy had said kept repeat on
3 itself: You have much more to ri
rget" Meaning Joe2 Old Joe and ur
5 boat were sunk in the bay and sW
Ight there remain till the end Of te
ne. Only this guy and Eddie knew. tn
IL crew didn't know They couldn't / IN