Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-15
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By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1905. by
Edward j. Globe

He, toiling with steady persistence,
felt not the inward spur which sought
relief in speech, but Iris was compelled
to say something.
81 suppose" she commented with an
air of much wisdom, you are contriv-
ing an overhead railway for the safe
transit of yourself and the goods?''
"Y-yes."
"Why are you SO doubtful about it?"
because | personally intended to
walk across. The ropes will serve to
convey the packages
She rose imperiously. 81 absolutely
forbid you to enter the water again.
Such a suggestion on your part is quite
shameful You are taking a grave
risk for no very great gain that l can
see. and if anything happens 10 you
shall be left all alone in this awful
place"
She could think of no better argyll
ment. Her only resource was wo-
mans eXpedient-a plea for protection
against threatening ills.
The sailor seemed TO be puzzled how
best to act.
Miss Deunc," he said, "there is no
such serious danger MS you imagine.
Last time the cutie caught me nap
ping. lie will not do so again. Those
rifles must have. If it will serve to
reassure you, l will go along the line
myself"
Without another word he commenc-
ed operations. There was plenty Of
rope, and the plan he adopted was
simplicity itself. When each package
was securely fastened he attached it TIC
| a loop that passed over the line stretch.
| cd from the tree to the crowbar. TIC
this loop he tied the lightest rope he
could find and threw the other end tc
Iris. By pulling slightly she was able
| to land at her feet even the cumbrous
rifle chest, for the travelling angle was
| so acute that the heavier the article
the more readily it sought the lower
level
They toilcd in silence until jerks
could lay hands on nothing more OF
value. Then, Observing due care, Ii
quickly passed the channel. For al
instant the girl gaZed affrightedly a
| tie sea until the sailor stood Mt hel
side again.
The tide had turned. In q few min
utes the reef would be partly sub
| merged. To carry the case of rifles tt
| the mainland was a manifestly impos
sible feat, SO jerks now did that which
| done earlier would have saved him
some labor. He broke open the chest
and found that the weapons were ap-
parently in excellent order.
He snapped the locks and squinted
down the barrels of half q dozen to
test them. These he laid on one side.
Then he rapidly constructed q small
raft from loose timbers, binding them
roughly with rope, and to this argosy
he fastened the box Of tea, the barrels
Of -four, the broken saloon chair and
other small articles which might be OF
use. He avoided any difficulty in
launching the raft by building it close
| to the waters edge. When all was
ready the rising tide floated it for him
He secured it to his longest rope and
gave it vigorous push off into the la.
COON. Then he slung four rifles across
his shoulders, asked Iris to carry the
remaining two in like manner and be
gan to maneuver the raft landward.
"While you land the goods L will
| prepare dinner" announced the girl.
please be careful not to slip on tn.
. | l,nt oh
the rifles. If you fell you might dam
age them, and the incoming tide vii
SO hopelessly rust those leave behint
that they will be useless"
81 will preserve them at any cost
though with six in our possession ther'
reassure you, ! will go back quickly"
Before he Geld protest she started of
at run. jumping lightly from rock t.
rock. Disregarding his shouts, she per
severed until she stood safely on Thu
sands. Then, saucily waving a fare
well, she set eff toward the cave.
Had she seen the look of fierce dc
spair that settled down upon Jenks
face rs lie turned to his task of guild
ine the raft ashore she might hav,
wondered what it meant. In any cas-
she would certainly have behaved diff
fercntly.
BY the time the sailor had safel,
landed his cargo Iris had cooked thei
midday meal. She achieved fresl
culinary triumph. The eggs We're fried
81 am seriously thinking of trying t.
boil a ham," she stated gravely. "Hav
you any idea how long 1t takes to cool
one properly"
"a quarter of an hour for eacl
pound"
Admirable! But we can mcasur,
neither hours nor pounds"
II think we can DO both. l will
construct balance of some kind
Ten, with ham sl,ing to one end ant
n rife and some cartridges to the other
l will tell you the weight Of the han
to M ounce. To ascertain the time
have already determined to fashion
sundial. l remember the requisite
divisions with reasonable accuracy
and & little observation will enable III
to correct any Mistakes
You are really very clever Mr.
jerks" said Iris, with childlilse candor
Have you spent several years of you
life in preparing for residence on ,
desert island:"
Something of the sort. l have LEI
"a queer kind of existence, full of use
less purposes. Fate has driven Inc in
to corner where my odds and end
of knowledge are actually valuable
Such accidents make men millionaires.
Useless purposes!" she repeated. !"
can hardly credit that. One uses sucl
a phrase to describe fussy people, aliv
with foolish activity. Your worst enc
my would not place you in such
category"
My worst enemy made the phras
effective ut any rate, Miss Deane."
You mean that he ruined your ca
reer?"
"Well-er-ycs. suppose that de
scribes tie position With fair accura
cy."
WAS he very great scoundrelY
"lIe was and is"
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