The Bowbells tribune., 1905-01-20

WOulu nave Dcetl SOOu CLAAS, Sd1u
Nell. Il always did hate him. Do you
think they got off together?"
81 can't say replied the curate,
gravely: 81 can't imagine that any
man who looked as he did could re.
cover. 1t was an awful sight. 1t makes
me shuddcr even now to think Of it,
Il wish bad pepole could be pun
ishcd cleanly.' remarked Nell. 4
don't like 10 think of any one looking
like that
There was something good in them.
after ALL" said Mr. Leife: they did
stick to one another If ever man
took his life in his hands Ruflidge did
when he came back after his mate.
WELL returned the young lady, Il
think good people should be good all
through, and bad people bad. Then
you'd know just how to feel about
them"
81 suppose there's One who does
know" said the curate, quietly, and
Nell had no reply ready.
AS they stood looking at the black
entrance to the quarry Nell found her
tongue again and asked 9 score OF
questions, winding up with the eager
cntreaty, DO let us go in!"
Mr.. I1eife shook his head.
NO" he declared, "once is enough; !;
! and, besides, 1t Isn't place for u
young lady TO walk about in"
But" persisted the young lady, "it
was dark when you came, and now 1t
is daylight
Down there" answered the curate,
''it is as dark at noonday as at mid
night. If Phil were here We might
venture, perhaps"
"Then there he is,' cried Nell, joy
fully, $50 now We can go, cant we?'
Mr.. Lcife was rather taken aback,
for it was indeed the boy emerging
from the darkness with lanthorn in
his hand. AS soon as he saw the GU
| rate he waved his hand and came run
ming, his face big with great tidings.
Come with me-" he said; Eve
something to show YOU"
And without waiting for any word of
assent, the boy turned and re-entered
the quarry.
i
him." said Mr.. Leife. will you stop
here till I come back, or will YOU run
home at Once?'
81 don't want to do either" said
! Nell, looking up at him pleadingly
please let me come, too. | will be
very careful and Go exactly what you
| tell me; will, indeed"
Then, seeing signs of wavering in
the curate's eyes, she repeated, Please
| let me come
well" he began, rather weakly.
Eyes, l WILL" she said, slipping her
small hand into his, and pulling him
gently along.
Whether it was the difference III
their circumstances or because the
| light did not penetrate the gloom, GER
tainly the way seemed TO the curate
much less pcrilous than it had appear
cd a few hours before. AS for Nell,
she was in ecstasies and danced along
so fearlessly that Mr.. Le!fe had more
than once to threaten q prompt return.
At the awkward places. however, nota-
| bly, at the spot where the Weasel had
threatened an attack Of the falling
Sickness" she o5eycl the curatc's li-
rections with absolute dociity. Phil
all the time went OH steadily in trout
only pausing every now and again 10
let them come up close TO him. He
was evidently fun of some purpose, and
had no room left in his mind even fo:
his beloved lizard.
Al length the darkness began TO
thin, till the lanthorn became almost
unnecessary, and soon they caught q
glimpse through the tunnel mouth OF
the gray sky and t,ElblinE sea. They
stood on the ledge where Weasel Joan
had been taken prisoner. The tide was
just about the same height and MI
Lcife lad little difficulty in recalling
the scene. Opposite to them, wcdged
in between TWO sharp rocks, was the
skiff in which Phil had been carried
ashore. And higher up on the strip cf
beach, canted over on her .sidc, now
lay the big man-ofwar's boat, caught
apparently by the same current.
There's something else down there,
too," cried Phil, in high glee, as lie
watched the c,lrate:s face. I'll show
you
And leaving the lan,horn on TIE
ledge, he let himself down.
MI Leife followed. and Nell was
about to do likewise when he stopped
her.
Not till I've seen what it is," he
said, for the half-trembling exultation
on Phil's face had pretty we'll warned
him what to expect.
He spoke so seriously and decisive
ly that Nell made not the smallest de-
mur. but simply sat down on the rock
and kept watch with her bright eyes.
When Mr. Leife descended to- the
beach he found that Phil had disap-
peared. but on going down the shingle
he soon found him llnceling on the far
side of the large boat. AS the curate
approached he looked up with the
strangcst expression on his face--tri-
umph, merrimcnt, and just sugges-
ton Of fear.
"Is he asleep. do you thinko" he