Evening sentinel, Tuesday, June 9, 1925 · page 8

 

B

 

,.

by Stuart. 3. Stone

THE sun of twenty-two north had been
shedding its superheated rays upon the
little open boat for two hours, when Wy-
nant roused. His first action was to mat-
ter. “Water—water—~quick!" his next. to
Jerk a large tin can to his swollen lips.
Bo licked through the jagged opening at
the fluid now more precious than any rare
attar: thou. remembering Gantz, crumpled
in the Horn. he drew the can from his
mouth. slrot'u with his conscience, and acted
decently. (hints sat up just in time to see
the life-giving liquid replaced in the bottom
of the boat. I

He shook his clenched fist at Wynant.
"Confouud you, Bob! You're a pig and a
coward."

“Shut up!" snapped Wyuant. "I could
have swiiled the whole of it. It's your
turn now." .

(3an srsbbed up the can. After the

first gulp. the other laid hands upon it.
"Hold on—I just wet my tongue, Sam.
.We're bound to make it last."

Gents held fast. “Let go—I must have
It—I'll die!"

Wynant clapped his hand upon the other'a
throat. He knew just where and how to
close down on a windpipe, and a second or
so later be deposited the water-can in the
bow behind him. Gantz glared at the
stronger man, then the lines of his face
relaxed. .

“You're right, Bob.
half way like a man."

Wynaut nodded understandingly. Both
turned to gaze, about at the horizon in the
forlorn hope of dim. blue peak or low~lying

Be“ me to die

(ray beech. There was nothing. Only the
hungry ot-can .sccmcd to lie and lick at the
derelict 1,..,.. i-: anticipation of lilt‘ coming
morsci. “1.“:th sighed. then began to
drum illiy oil the side of the boat. Gants
watched iiw proceedings irritably.

"Cut it out," he growled finally. “Let's
take another drink—a big one—and see
what happens."

Wynant reached behind him, but brought
his hand out empty. “No," he said, shak-
ing his head, “let‘s figure the odds first."

His companion threw back his head and
laughed unmirthfuily. “You're the original
optimist. Bob. The odds are just the bil-
lions of tons of brine out. ther’e to the quart
of aqua pura in the can."

“There's a chance.-—maybe." insisted
Wynsnt. “A slim chance—for one."

GANTZ’S blood-marked eyes narrowed.

Wynant relapsed into deep study and
appeared to be making calculations with
-'the aid of his fingers.

“As near as my muddled brain can esti-
mate," be said finally. "it's been three days
and nights since we got away frorn the

.Equatoria in this dinky boat which every-
body clsc overlooked. That's just guessing
-—I can't tell how much time we've spent
in this delirium that passes for sleep. The
currents and the winds have been sweeping
us steadily southward. The Santa Ynes
Islands ought to be dead ahead to the south.
It‘s a matter of three or four days more-
maybe a little longer—if old Lady Ocean out
there doesn't get her temper rufiied."

Gsntz shook his head. “It won‘t do.
Bob. We ate the last bite we had two days
ago. We're weak. The water couldn't pull
us through."

“There‘s a long chance that the water
might pull one through. Cut that chance
squarely in two—" Wynant made an ex‘
pressive gesture.

Gantz studied the gently rolling ocean for
some minutes. "And Eleanora'!" he asked.

Wynant stared queetioningly at the man
in the stern. "She got away in the first
boat with the sailors, right after we rammed
the derelict. They had oars and sails. She
ought to be on dry land this minim. I'd
bet three to one on the proposition."

For a long time the other kept his head
in his hands. When he spoke, it was with-
out raising his face. “Of course. you're
the one best bet for Eieanora, Bob. You're
worth $100,000 if you're worth a cent.
Ion can give her the things she’s been used
to, the comforts anti pleasures that are
bread and drink to her. I have nothing.
But I want her—God help me.” ‘

"You're the better looking—and you've
i way with women,” countered Wynant.
"She might choose you—and want me when
It was too late."

Gantz glared.

one ."

”“15! a precious lot of good out here,"
gloomed Wynant.

There was a period of silence. in which
in unreasoning mutual hatred sprang up
between these two old college friends.
could take the blaming stuff. Sam," said
Wynant. ”I was always the stronger."

"You could never drink it," growled the
other. “I'd manage to spill it for you."

. Wynant curled up in the bow of thd
l rocking boat.
Infi‘lgon't go to sleep." snapped Gent,
"I'm apt to drink that water."
“If you tio.——" growled Wynant, shaking

“Confound you and you!

his fist. . .
“Hush?" sunricti Gantz. “\le re illk‘
Ing too 111mb. It makes us thirstier.”

“Han: it all! We'll each take another
good swig right now." said Wyuant. reach-

ing for the l'lill. .
The man in the stern hurled himself It

his half-prostrate companion. “No, you
don't! “'c've got to save it. Remembe!
Eleanora. You said there was a chance (on
one." , ..

'ANT turned over and doubled up)
growling and fuming. Gantz dropped
in the stern. Within another minute, both
had drifted into the feverish delirium which
[ad mercifully passed so much of the time.

An hour. two hours passed, while the an- "

dent ocean gently heaved her boundless
breast and the tropic sun sent down it‘s
furnace rays.

Both men muttered in their sleep, crying
now for water. and now murmuring the
name of the girl who was probably us.
beneath the fronded palms to the south.
When they again awakened. both were

 

uI‘

perceptibly weaker. This time Gent:
reached for the water-can. He had no
more than wet his blue lips when Wynsnt
pulled it away. Gants dropped his body
over against the other and prevented him
from getting more than a taste of the
liquid.

"Don’t be—a hop—because you can.
Bob.’h he gasped.

Wynant struck his fellow-traveler with
his clenched fist three or four times, but
ut down the can. Both strained again
for the land that would not rise from the
sea.

“What's that?" shouted Gents. pointing
toward a gray mist that set upon the eoutlu
western ocean.

Wynant peered. "Clouds—you're seeing

things," Both men talked with difficulty.
There followed a long. sullen silence.
Wynant tinaliy spoke. “What the deuce
are or going to do about that water?"
Gautz raised his head from his hands.
He looked with his bloodshot efes straight
into Wyunut's. “You think you've the
correct dope, Bob—about there being enough

water to pull one through, but not enough

for two?"

“I didn't say that." growled Wynanl.

“There's a slim chance for one. Divide it;
and neither has the chance of a snowball gt
the equator."

"Then i want to make you 'a proposition.
I've a half-interest in that can of watch
1'“ sell it to you for $100,000.
that's about your pile."

Wynunt barked out a kind of a laugh.
"Say, $5 a drop. Your nerve holds up
Well, Sam."

Gautz leaned forward. pointing a dirtp‘,
trembling forefinger at the other. “What
good is your hundred thousand if you dis
like a dog in this boat—and never see-
her?" '

Wynant's face darkened. "What good
would it do you? You can't last much
longer without water." i

"1'“ take the long chance.
safe on shore. i couldn't ask her to marry
me. And if you were there with your
confounded hundred tiiousuntl——\vcil. l‘lica-
nora's human."

Wynant looked out to sea. securing to
ponder the problem. Both tncn “cited with
dry Itongues at their dryer lips.

” t's all in your favor. Ilob."
Gautz. “With your constitution ythrrf'el?
pull through with all the “'atcr'. And
if I cash in my checks, Why you'll still
have your mouey—und—and Eleonora."

“ ynant shook his head. “No, I couldn't
do it. It's too caddish. It would be the
same as murdering you. We'll drink the
water and live or die alike. Keep a stiff
upper lip, Sam. Maybe a miracle will
happen."

Gantz wrung his hands. brandished his
fist in Wynant's face, grabbed and weakly
attempted to shake him. “No, no. no, blast
you! I won‘t touch a drop. Listen. It's
a square deal, Bob. You needn‘t get so
altruistic. You're paying enough for the
stale, hot stuff—$5 a drop. Life's no good
to me without that hundred thousand—with-
out her. What's the good of us both dying.
it We can save one? I won't touch a drop
anyhow—I swear it!"

lf 1 were

WYNANT protested again and again. and
at each protest Gantz insisted more
fiercely. The very fierceness of his insist-
ence was weakening him. A mad delirium
brightened his eyes. His hands shook.
Finally Wynaut turned on him petulantly.

“Ask a decent price and I'll consider it.
I'm getting mighty thirsty."

"The hundred thousand—nothing less."
declared Gantz.

“Give you twenty-five thousand."

Gantz shook his head.

“Fifty.”

“No. no, no."

"A hundred thousand dollars then—and
little good it will ever do you. I'm going
to take a drink."

Gents grabbed the other’s hand. “Hold
on—I want a written contract, Your word's
all right, Bob, but this diaiiriurn might make
a man forget—or somebody might die.”

Wynsnt sneered. “What are you going
to write it with, sea water,"

4.

I imaging ‘

 

/

ESSED are the POOR

 

girl ?, ., '

 

W0 men on the ocean in an

open boat—one rich, the other
poor—both love 'the same girl.
The penniless one, playing a long
chance, sells his share of fresh
water for the other’s fortune.
Both are rescued. Who wins the ’ 4.

 

 

Both men watched
keenly to see for whom
the brown eyes held this .
glad light of recovery,
but they could not tell

:‘Baven't you a pencil—s fountain pen?"

[No.Ol

“I suppose you've blood in your veins
yet. I can scratch it out."

Gants fumbled in his pockets until he
produced a penknife and a cabinet-size
photograph of a beautiful young woman. The
other watched him darkly.

“Here. stick it into your arm—keep
clear of tho arterics," directed Gantz. "l'll
dictate, without any ‘whcreas' or ‘in con-
sideration of.’ "

Wynant took the pearl-handled toy and
gauged recklessly at his bare arm. With
the weiiing blood he followed Gants's dicta-
tion, tracing a rough, red scrawl on the
back of the photograph:

“I owe Samuel Gantz $100,000 for his
half-share of water in boat adrift in
Pacific about 20 north. 160 west."

Gauts took back the photograph, wiped
ofi.’ the surplus blood and placed it carefully
in an inner pocket. Wyuaut took up the
water-can and looked at it as if it pos-
sessed some evil charm. Presently he lifted
it to his lips and lapped at. the contents
once, twice. Gents watched the proceed-
ings, purling and snarling like a tiger cat.
Then Wynant pulled the can from his lips.
twirled it about in his hands. swung his
arm back and fiuag the thing far out into
the sea.

“I'll die a man—a poor man," he said
quietly.

As the can splashed into the sea. Gants
laughed hanhly. “That's right—fill up
the ocean l" The next instant he turned on
Wynant. "You fool—you blithering} gib-
bering. doddering fool!" he raged. They
fought madly, blindly. tooth, nail and foot,

They fought madly, blindly,
tooth, nail and foot, while the
boat rocked

while the boat rocked. Once. an Wynant
flopped the weaker man hack into the stern
the frail t'rull shipped gallons of water.
After a bit. the too. exhausted beyond
the point of further struggling. fell apart.
Wyuant tumbled into the bow and went
off into delirium. tnumbiing something abou't
fishing the water-can from the bottom of the
sen; Gttntz lay. face to the mounting sun,
and murmured over and over, "I'm going
to liych—live—live—iive—J'

The day vcore on. The sun blazed sl- '
most overhead. then dipped down, down.
out China way. The two men spent the
long, hot hours in a babbling fever-dream
interrupted by starting-up tits in which they
raved and fought. After a while this gave
way to a deep slumber. a slumber too pro-
found to suit any physician.

Toward sunset the slight southward
breeze stifi'encd. The gentle undulations of
the sea lengthened and heightened. The
boat rocked considerably, almost to the point
of upsetting, and rolled its stupetied pas.
eengers about. Far to the south a gray-
biue mist showed dimly. grew larger, took
on solidity, assumed island-shape. A strong
current assisted the wind in carrying the
boat swiftly slioreward. Lofty hills, covered
with spiked and frouded vegetation, loomed
up. The boat made slantiugiy for albeach
of clean shingle. Finally a big roller took
the frail thing, lifted it high into the air
and let it down upon the beach with a jolt
that flung its swooping occupants well up
the easy incline and buried them out of
the shadow of death.

WYNANT was the first to arouse. He
raised himself upon‘ his elbow and
mumbled something about Eleanora Kemper
having sold the water-can to a whale. A
dash of sway whipped him in the face.
stinging him into life. Gents was just open-
ing his eyes. Wynant heard a rippling,
trickling murmur of running water. At

first be imagined it a continuation of the

fever-dream. but it kept up. lle looked
about him and saw‘ where a brook cut it:
.way through rock and sand to the sea. He
crawled slowly toward the stream and let
his hot head tiroop from the bank while he
gurgied and lapped at the cold, fresh water.
The liquid ilill‘d his cycs~_and cars. choked
him. almost strangled him, but be con-
tinued to dangle his bond in it. rolling and
splashing it about in crazy fashion. Finally
he remembered Gantz. llc struggled to his
feet and itamhlml back. Gantz's eyes were
shut. \i'yuaut bent over him and tried to
rouse him. The eyes opened again. but the
lids (ll'lllll‘t'ti back in spite of Wyaant's
vigorous shaking.

The stronger man. using every bit of
his slightly revived strength, dragged the
sleeper to the brookside and soused his head
in the water. pinched, slapped. pounded him
into cot-m iousncss. When Gent: could sit
alone. “‘ynant forsged along the beach. He 0
found two coconuts. They ripped the
husks from these. are the meat greedily,
and drank more of the water. Then, with
little curiosity as to where they were. they
found a nook in the thick. fragrant tangle,
and slept. soundly and naturally. To Gents.
it seemed that as he slept he heard the
chatter of human voices along the strand
below them.

When Gants awakened. streaks of suns
light were filtering down through leave of
coco-palm and mango. Wynant was stand-
fag by his side, regarding him with a queer
expression.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

announced Wynsnt.

“They‘re here,"
"Get up-—Crocsus."

The title caused Gantz. in sudden re-
membrance. to feel for the photograph. ,It
was safe. lle smiled grimly. “A. a
navigator. Bob. you're a failure—or else
these islands have moved northward several
days' journey.’ He looked at the other
in sudden uneasiness. “They were your
own calculations. though. You can‘t say I
tricked you."

Wynant scowled. “I stand by my bar-
gain. l'ou can get the whole blooming boat
crew to witness it now, if you're afraid."

“A mighty bad bargain for you, Bob."

"I'm strapped." said Wynant. “I'm not
whining."
Gants shrugged his shoulders. “I took

a long chance—e hundred to one. as it
seemed. I won. I'm sorry. Bob, but-
well. I won." -

“Leave off the sympathy." growled Wyn-
ant. "Let's wash up. breakfast. and et
her settle the whole thing here and no ."

After the meal of coconuts, as they
walked briskly toward a point on the beach
where smoke curled lazily skyward, Wyn-
ant stopped suddenly. “Suppose—suppose
Eleonora should be influenced by the thought
of my wealth—that is, the wealth I once
had—and—aml made her selection accord-
ingly. Site's human. Sam. It would be
hardly fair to her." He considered for a
moan-tit. “.\'or to me."

“You'd both be stung. Bob." put in
Gantz. "And i should be rich in gold and
poor in everything else."

"She ought to know about the changed
status of things." said Wynant.

“Then. if she, were—as you say, human
-—she might take me for the hundred thou-
sand. and I shouldn‘t want her that way,
Bob." ,

"She ought to know." said Wynant
doggedly. »

“Ye-e-es.” Gantz gave in. grudgingly.

They stepped around a clump of palms and
almost collided with Eieauora Kemper. She
stopped in her tracks, both hands raised
slightly. ripe mouth open, and the fine
brown eyes growing big with surprise. con-
jecture, joy. Both men watched keenly to
see for whom the brown eyes held this glad
light of recovery, but they could not tell.

"Oh. I am glad—glad!" she cried. “It
is wonderful. I thought you were lost—-
baths—both lost!"

She stepped forward and extended a hand
to each. Wynant made the explanation of
their presence in fifty short words.

"We want to know—whether you care for
either of us like-like we both want you to
care." blurted Gantz.

“And if it's one of us, which one?" added
Wynant.

Eieanora Kemper drew back, stunned
with surprise. “Here—now?" she gasped.
“Wits—why—at this time and place?"

“We want to know,” said Wynant.
"There's something happened between us.
We just want to know—now—here."

"There won't be any trying to persuade
you—nor anything unpleasant said or done.”
put in Gants.
just have to know. We both—I love you."

“You've known that always." said Wyn-
ant. "It's a little rough on you here. at
this time, maybe; but, surely, you could
indicate which—if either."

“Yes," said Gents. “which—if either."

At the first of this, the girl had shrunk
from them as if they had suddenly become
a difierent order of creature.

“But we both feel like we‘

But as their tones grew earnestly New or.
gently urgent, she seemed to understand-
She stood, hesitant. an appealing figure in
betlraggled gown. the mass of loose blle
hair streaming about the bare tanned neck.
It was some. minutes before she spoke.

“I think—yes. I know I'm glad you in"
said these things.- Before our party started
on this tour. back there in the old life of
gaycty. nothing but gnyety, I'd probably
have resented it. But it seems to me a bun-
dred years ago that we sat upon the deck
of the Equatoria and listened to the orches-
tra playing that Viennese awaits just befor
everything happened.

“That was another world—a world not
half so real and true as this. I feel some-
how that this casting away is just the reel
beginning of my life—that I had merely
danced and laughed before. I sat in the boat
through the long hours and watched those
strong. silent sailormeu rowing, pulling the
rest of us helpless creatures out of the greedy
jaws of the sea, and I thought about my
life back there—all frills and fancy trim-
mings. nothing real. nothing vital. And—
and I think the thoughts that came to me
out there and the awakening I experienced
and the resolutions I formed as I watched
those sturdy mcu who could do things, have
helped me to make my dccision—here—now
—-betwccu you two."

HE stopped and looked searchingly from

one to the other.

“There was one thing I forgot to say—”
began Wyuant. but she silenced him with
a wave of the hand.

"Because you are so wealthy and because
you would naturally lead me back to the
frills and fancy trimmings—"

“Wait,” interrupted Gantz. “we agreed
to tell you—3’ -

“And because Sam is poor," she went on.
unheediug. “with a fight to male in the
world. needing the help and sympathy that
I long to give now to some good man—"

“Bold on—listen—things have changed!"
shouted Bob Wynantr’

“And maybe not altogether because of
these things—but to a great extent I know
—because I have always hesitated between
you___u

“Stop. You don't understand!" cried
Wynant.

“I choose Sam," finished Eleanora Kem-
pcr. She stepped forward and reached forth
her hand to Gantz.

To her wonderment Gantz hesitated and
did not grasp her hand nor give her the
expected kiss. He was fumblinggin every
pocket he possessed, fumbling for something
which required an ageolong minute in a“
finding. Finally he produced a photograph.
the face of which she could not see. but
upon the back of which she could see a red
scrawl. Gsnta held the picture above his
head, then started to tear it asunder, Wy.
nant sprang at him.

“No. no. no—it's yours! You have to
keep it—you can't escape!" ‘

But Gents was too quick. The tropic
breeze whisked away a hundred piece. of
torn cardboard before Wynant could pinion
the other’s wrists. Realising the situation,
Wynant drew back. Gents reached for the
waiting hand and drew her to him. Fog a
minute Bob Wynsnt watched them. than ht.
turned and walked away. ‘

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