Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-16

windows in the thick walls. Clasping
the iron rail she toiled on, her limbs
failing, her heart humping and her
brain In whirl. Not until she reached
the top step did she drop down to rest.
EExhausted by fatigue and nervous exc
element, she had TO recover strength
before she could even open the door to
the lantern-room.
Fortunately the great lamps were
trimmed and supplied with oil. Every
part Of the machinery was also in work.
ing order. Captain Dutton was ono Of
the most careful of lighthouse keep
ors.
"And he shall see do not mean him
to lose his place for one nights failure
to light the tower" Huldah said, her
heart warming for the first time to tho
silent man who had, in his way, done
his duty by her as well as by the place
of trust he filed. "Who knows, though,
this light may fall upon tho very spot
where he has gone down to the bottom
of the sea-"
Again q SILVER crept over the slender
figure, and only the blazing forth of
the beacon dispelled her vivid fancy.
One by one the lamps flared up, and
were turned into place. The relectors,
polished to their utmost, caught the
cheerful rays, and sent them in far
reaching circle of radiance out through
the darkness and storm, to give warn
ing TO those who were ''gono down to
the sea in ships"
But this was only the beginning of
Huldah's work. II was n chief part of
the keepers duty, she knew, to see
that the lights burned undimmed
throughout the night. Now, however,
she must return to attend to the
dame awhile. But as she turned to 90
there was sudden crashing of the
glass above her, whirring swoop of
some swift-winged creature overhead,
a gust of wind, a flaring of the circle
of lights, and then darkness, rayless,
absolute. The storm moaned and
shrieked in her ears, and Huldah
shrieked, too, hiding her face in her
shawl.
What had happenedp Again the
winged intruder whirred by, beating
the air with wearied and dripping plum
age. All! now she understood Once
Captain Dutton had told her of storm
bird breaking one of his transparencies,
Attracted by the light, doubtless, this
wanderer had dashed against the glass
There was but one thing to be done.
She could not hope to relight the lamps
until those blasts were shut out. She
must find another frame and transpar-
ency.
How the descent was accomplished
Huldah could never think without q
shudder. At the very outset when she
had CROPPED her way TO the landing and
had succeeded in relighting her little
lantern, the door she had latched be-
hind her few open, giving outlet TO
those terrible winds, which tore at her
clothing savagely, cxtinguishing her
light, and leaving her again in dark
ness. OF necessity, she stood still I'M
til the currents had strangled each other
and sunk down into the depths of gloom
below her. Then, shutting her eyes
tightly, she went on her perilous jour
ney.
From the basement stores she pro-
cured the frame and fixtures, and re-
turning with them by the same wind
ing route upward, found it not such o
difficult thing to unhinge and replace
the shattered transparency, the tempest
having lulled slightly, and the force of
the wind being broken. Yet by the
time her task was complete, and the
lamps relit, her strength failed her
Vaguely thinking that maybe she was
going to die, she fell upon the floor,
and with a deep-drawn sigh her eyes
closed.
| Four hours later an Inspector from
the mainland passing TO the island light
house, was hailed by the Captain OF a
brig which had weathered the storm,
and come to anchor for repairs.
"What ais the tower light, sirp" he
asked of the officer, nodding toward
the beacon, through the transparencies
of which steady stream of light was
still pouring, though the sun was doing
his best to dim its glory.
The Inspector frowned. 81 only know
that the keepers neglecting his duty"
The sailor shook his head Some
thing more's amiss, I'm thinking. The
light come near playing us u iack-o'-
lantern trick just before day. She put
on her nighu-cap all of q sudden, and
twas like the pole star had let loose o.
| n |
we'd dashed upon the reefs, only she
walked up and showed us her sinners.
And not a wink has she took since.
Somewhats wrong. Cap'n Dutton's
been prompt as the sun this twenty
year"
"Captain DuttonP Is't Captain Kyle
Dutton that's keeper of the lighthouse
yonderp" asked one of the briggs pas
sengers, starting forward cxcitedly.,
Eyes, Kyle Dutton. He's q queer
chap, but he amt the fellow to shirk
duty"
In q moment the stranger was asked
to be put ashore.
| The landing was effected with little
risk, but those of the boats crew who
assembled the cliff and sought entrance
to the tower found themselves baflled.
The ladder was gone, the iron door
barred. and all their pounding awoke
no response other than muffled echoes
from the interior.
1--WE may get in through q window"
said the Inspector. Hodges, fetch the
boat-hook."
The hook was brought, and at the
second throw caught over the iron
balcony under Dame buttons window.
The Inspector climbed the rope, fol-
lowed by the others, and soon admis-
sion was gained TO the room beneath.
"Here's one of the Seven Sleepers, Z"
said Dick Trail, going up to the couch.
He started back. "Why, it's the
Cap'n's mother, and she looks as if
she were dying"
Two of the men gathered closer to
see what they could do for the poor
woman, and the others began to search
the tower. No clew to the mystery, il
mystery it contained, was found below.
Together in silence they mounted the
winding stairway.
A flood of mellow light poured upon
the group as the officer opened the
j door into the lantern-ronm. Thcre