Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-22
HOLIDAYS AT CARRADOC.
[By Grace Mortimer
CHAPTER |.

"You bet" assented q hoarse COM
rade, and 50, in various forms, said ono
and all the group which surrounded the
fire.
1t was built in narrow cleft of
cliff which faced the sea; q rocky plat
form ran out few feet in front, afford
ing secure footroom; the beach lay
hundred feet below.
1t was night; dense mist yelled earth
and sea, the red fire glowing through 1t
like ruby star; from the unseen ocean
came the muiiied boom Of minute
gun.
"Derned, eff she amt most on to the
bari" cried the man with the pole, and
every fierce, listening lace flashed into
cruel triumph. "Quick, now, you Silas!
Speak up"
SiIas Crewe, the finest young man in
Carradoc, raised his gun to his shoulder.
He was in the act of firing when out of
the darkness slight, pale girl sprang
into the circle of light, laying hands on
the gun with an imploring cry.
"You, too, Silasp she said, with pas
sionate reproach; "and | thought SO
highly of you'll Men, what do you mean
to do?"
She turned her dark, dilated eyes full
upon them, meeting battery of SIMS
ter chances, replete with a rage and
fear.
What business had this stranger
come from world beyond their ken
or care-meddling in the private con
Germs of the men Of Carradoc?
'Air this here any of your funeral,
miss2" drawled the man with the pole
stopped and grizzIed rough, with snaky
eyes and leer. Guess us don't med
die none with you though we amt par
tial ter spies in a intorlopers as rule,
nuther."
Miss Gaembcrt was young artist,
who had chosen wild and remote Car
radoc to pass few weeks of the win
ter mt, that she migAt study the winter
sea. She and her old servant, Sarepta,
lived in cottage by themselves, avoid
ed and suspected by all but Silas
Crewo
"Miss, don't we NEEDLE here" he
said, as he removed her hands from
his gun, not roughly, but with resolute
strength, and retained them in his; she
felt his hands tremble, and she saw his
face blanch AZ he spoke to her.
ing what fear said Miss Galembert,
firmly. "But tell mo yourselves what
you are about? Why are you signal
ing n distressed ship with fire and guns
and horns2"
She looked scarchingly at Silas, and
the others left it to him to reply.
"For Gods sake, go home an forgit
what don't concarn ye, miss" said he,
crushing her soft fingers unconsciously.
Come, I'll take We home. This amt
no place fur the wimmen, and he tried
to lead her away.
But she resisted, releasing herself
with proud gesture. She was deeply
disappointed i'll tho stately young fell
low to whom she had been ascribing
all the manly virtues of n diamond in
the rough.
81 will not be driven away" said
she, impetuously. answer my ques-
ton, you, Mr.. Dandy, since Silas Crewe
dares not"
"What dye calc'Iate we're a-doin2'
drawled the man with the pole, who
was Dandy.
az thiuk you are Turing strange
ship on to Carradoc Bar" replied the
girl, with fearless scom.
A fierce muttering broke out among
the men Dark and threatening were
the glances they cast ut their rash ac-
cuser.
Sias Crewe edged i'll between the
young lady and his mates. His hand
some face was fierce and defiant, but
not for her"
can what er we're on'y signaling to
lbs
Dandy, with grin.
She looked ut Silas. He would not
meet her Dyes.
"Yon are deceiving me-" said she.
DO you think Eve never heard of wreck
ers?"
The shot struck home; every count
onance changed, every eye kindled
with sinister meaning; fierce whispers
passed from mouth to mouth.
At this moment the ship fired again.
Dandy signed to SilaS, but before he
could move Miss Galembert snatched
tho gun from him; the next instant it
was crashing down the chtI.
A howl rose, furious, threatening; a
dozen vengeful hands were stretched
towards her. She stood NJ bay, her
hood fallen back, her beautiful face
pale as death, snd her wild, dark eyes
flashing. All the frey heroism of her
hot-heartGd ancestors was tnghng in
her blood; self and selfish fears were
absolutely forgotten; she felt as if she
could have annihllated these wicked
men whom she had surprised at their
tiondish work.
"You towards ~ cried she, with
vehement sCOrn "I0u are wreckerS
them You dare not deny it And
this is the reason for your hatred of
strangers-you feared them Oh, how
little | suspected your your guilty
secret ~
An eager sign from Silas checked the
burning tide of her reproaches. Dandy
and another man, as evii-looking rs
himself, were whispering apart from
the rest, and their furtive glances at
Miss Galembsrt showed that she was
the subject of their condolences.
'Go while you're safe, Miss Galem-
BERT entreated Sjlas. Don't you
goad 'em on TO worse"
A word or two spoken by the two
men reached her ear: u death-thrill
guawed at her heart. They were dis
GUESSING the prudence of getting rid of
the spy who had stolen their dangerous
secret.
The minute-gun fired again,
Then vision of the betrayed ship
flashed before her. She saw honest
mariners gazing hopefully at this red
glow; she saw unconscious children
asleep in the cabins, and auxious
women watching by them, hoping for
tho best, and the brave ship drawing
nearer and nearer the fatal bar, lured
by the death.trap at her side.
The reyulsicn of feeling swayed her
to heroic purpose; she feared for her
life, but she set that fear aside.
81 will not leave this place until l
have done what can to save that ship"
said she, in clear, resolute tones.
They all stared at her in stupefied
silence, while she removed her ulster
and hung it across the niche in which
they had built the fire to hide it from
all eyes but those for whose destruction
II was made.
Small though the screen was, it
effectually concealed the fire from
those in front. She hoped that if she
could conceal it for few minutes only,
the ship would comprehend the nature
of the red star which it had mistaken
for Lookout Light. and would pass on