The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-08-18

! boat as it awaited her coming. Soon
[ the old man stood by the lads side.
! Her story was soon told.
What did they mean, Uncle Tom
| What have you got in your keeping?'
She glanced at package, tied up
! tightly in his colored handkerchief,
which he held firmly in his hand.
There's been a bad accident up at
the quarry and the men here have all
helped. There must have been listen
er by when the foreman entrusted the
little heap to me. We thought we were
alone"
The brave old man was strong in his
determination of daring the robbers.
but he soon gave in to the girls plead
ing. He could not fail to see that COM
mon sense was on her side.
The boy was silent and deeply
thoughtful. Soon he spoke:
Uncle Tom and Katherine let me
tell you what to do. We can not, as
uncle says leave the money here at the
quarry with any one, for the foreman
has gone; and as katherine says, we
cannot keep it safely IT. the cottage,
even if we could get it there, for
there's not single safe hiding place
in it, If the robbers miss uncle at
the pier they'll surely search the cot
tage I'm certain we wouldn't risk
leaving it out under a ledge anywhere.
Hut there is a safe place between here
and the cottage. Let us take it to the
lighthouse. I'll trust anything with
Austin Duer'
The boys earnest eyes sought ap
prevail Of his words from the girl. A
flush dyed her cheek, Her heart beat
quickly. She answered steadily and
earnestly:
Yes. indeed, he can be trusted. I'd
trust him with this treasure as I'd
trust him with-my life!'
The old man sighed, then smiled. He
knew that between the brave light
house keeper and the girl so dear to
him there was more than friendly in
terest He felt it would not be long
before he would be called upon to trust
not merely earthly treasures as now,
but the child of his adoption, to Austin
Duer,
The boys words and the girls ready
assent carried the moment. The boat
shot over the waters again, this time
with three occupants. The boy out
lined a plan of action for dealing with
the would-be plunderers. The old man
and the girl fell under his quiet gen
eralship. and caught a good deal of
his enthusiasm. Both promised him
ready obedience. Both had sense
enough to see that cunning, better
the towards who had planned to way
lay and rob-perhaps murder--a de-
fenseless old man.
Soon the strange lighthouse, strong
yet so skeleton-like, was reached. Aus
tin Duer had seen the boat drawing
near and was on the bridge. As the
man and girl held the boat steady
amid the crested waves the boy
reached for the precious package.
fats 4 q
Austin" said the lad, take this;
guard it as the apple of your eye till
uncle comes for it, but ask no ques
tons. Say a prayer for the scheme
we've on hand tonight. GOOd-by. Keep
the bundle safe!'
A wave of the old mans hand, an
upward look from Katherine's bright
eye. and again the boat sped over the
water with the strong young fellow at
the oars.
What's up, I wonder" unused the
lighthouse keeper, as he lithely climbed
the ladders to put away the precious
package in safety.
Not to the curve of the coast where
the cottage stood on the heights. and
where by the bater's edge the plum
derers were hidden, sped he little boat,
but adOWn toward the village, where
between two friendly rocks it was Sc
cured. Lightly it's three occupants
gained a footpath, and, separating,
went to this cottage and that, as the
boy had previously directed
Soon there was a gathering of people
in the village. The dusk was deepen
ing. and in the dim light each one
seemed armed with slender pole. The
boy went from one to another, till all
stood in two single files, one facing the
water. the other turned from the VIII
age toward where the Mccormack
cottage stood. Silence reigned. The |
old nfe-saver took once more to the
boat and rowed out then adown |
toward the curve, at the pier of which |
be usually landed. In a loud, free voice |
he sang a boat song. On the land, |
above and below the cliffs, moved a |
silent single file of men and boys-aye, |
and Of women. too.
Among the rocks, hidden, but with |
ears alert, the two plunderers caught !
the first note of the bOatman's song. |
BE ready He comes!" they whis |
pered.
The first stanza is finished, the boat |
mans voice rises louder in the chorus. |
1t is the signal Above and below the |
cliffs countless torches are lit and flash |
heir cleaning light hither and thither
where all was darkness an instant be- !