Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-12-01

of bubbles soaring the smooth surface
of the distant water and his head reel.
ed.
With trembling fingers he knotted
the rope firmly to the bar, and throwing
off his coat, swung himself over the
brink.
| The sun climbed the sky and slid
down lazily behind the Witches Pillar,
decking the sky with gold and the big
eye of the far-off lighthouse started
dazzling through the gloom. The boats
came in one by one.
| Long after the light in the west had
melted into hazy gray Kitty sat and
unused in the cottage porch. When the
| shadows drew in the lighthouse unclos-
ed its ponderous eye and glared at her
| for moment like some huge beast as
| it crclel round, cleaving the darkness.
II think III just run down an see
| Mrs. Trewlowe, dad she said, shakilyi
| looking through the open door.
| Jem's little cottage, with its screen OF
| tall fuchsias, stood silent and deserted.
| The frenzied beat of her knuckles on
the door echoed back to her mockingly
| through the two tiny rooms.
| A painting woman, with a dingy
shawl thrown over her head, met her
| half way down. Some instinct intangi-
BILE and underlined, seemed to tell each
what she wished yet dreaded to learn;
for no words were spoken, no questions
asked. Their hands met in unspoken
sympathy, and hand In hand they de-
| scendcd the hill.
They paused on the bluff, straining
their eyes In hopes of seeing dark
speck crawl out under the shadow of
the cliffs. A boat was moving outward
toward the deeps where the conger lay,
| and the girls heart grew bitter against
| its occupant and the tiny band of gold
upon her wrist seemed to scorch her
| flesh.
When they stood below the creaking
sign of the Merry Mariners the woman
hung back, and looked at her piteously.
"I'll go in," said Kitty, touching the
woman on the arm.
There was sudden hush as the
white-faced girl tottered in and gave a
hurried glance around.
Isis he here?' she gasped. IL
mean"
An old bag, seated In the far corner
of the room, barred her toothless gums
and uttered a cracked laugh.
mo, he hain't, dearie. | seed him
goin' congerfishin' in his swell clothes.
Praps, If l axed him prettily, he'd put
me in a pictur, tool Eth, dearie? He.
her
81 mean Jem-Jem Holt-my Jem,"
as she painted, catching her breath.
Tied Trewlowe an him went nestln'
on the Pillar this mornin'. Ted amt
back, an my Jem amt back, an-Jem
and Ted Trewlowe-my Jem-is-is-"
She broke down, covering her face
with her hands. The men laid aside
their pipes and went out softly, whis-
perlng among themselves.
The sad-eyed woman was waiting for
her, and together they fastened to the
beach and launched old Andrews boat.
The others were far across the bay al
ready.
The oars splashed sluggishly, and the
boat sped on through the creeping dusk.
At last the girl peered over her shoulder
and stood up, covering her mouth with
her hands.
"Hallor'
An answering cry In a mans deep
tones echoed across the water. and she
bent to the oars once more. Then she
drew back her arm and tossed some
thing into the air-something that glls-
tened with Il yellowish tinkle at the
artists feet.
1t was a narrow chain of gold, en-
bellished with heart-shaped pendant
his gift returned.
The nose OF the boat veered round
and they headed up the bay. The wom-
an still rocked herself, sobbing softly,
but Kitty's cheeks were dry, though
her breath came and went in uncertain
gasps.
A hoarse cheer swelled up through
the night and set their hearts singing.
Kitty's head went down on her hands,
and tears came at last, as the heavy
burden of agonized suspense fell from
her. One by one the boys toiled across
the light. and We're soaked up by the
darkness under the Farcombe shore.
Kitty reused herself and followed.
There was a chattering crowd of men
and women outside the Merry Marin
ers, but they fell aside to let her pass
and they thronged the doorway curl
ously. The room inside was packed
and little Trewlowe, very pale and
shaky, was jerkingly narrating the adj
venture between the sips of his brandy
and water. But Kitty saw no one but
Jem.
He sat in the middle of the room, the
ashen hue of his face, showing clearly
through the CRIME, his hands bruised
and bleeding, and his clothes torn TO
shreds. They had cut away the left
sleeve of his coat. and the brawny vii
lage doctor was setting the splintered
bone OF his arm.
In n moment she was kneeling beside
him haa1lacc of tbo,,, oil NTH No,