The Red Cloud chief., 1906-07-20

ing. There were three keepers in the
lighthouse. The signal foreboded ill
ness. sudden and serious illness. Who
could it be?
In such a crisis charity begins at
home. Constance. with set face and
shining eyes, Enid, d he'd and on the
verge of tears. feared lest their own
beloved one should be the sufferer.
To each of them Stephen Brand was
equally n kind and devoted father. He
never allowed Enid to feel that she
was dependent on his bounty. Only
the other day, when she limited at the
adoption of an art career as a future
means of earning a livelihood, he APP
proved Of the necessary study, but
laughed ut the reason.
"With your pretty face and saucy
ways, Enid" he said, II shall have
trouble enough to keep you in the nest
without worrying as to the manner of
Your leaving 1t. Work at your draw
ing, by all means. Avoid color as
the banc Of true art. But where Con-
ME and | live you shall live, until you
choose to forsake us"
No wonder these girls thought there
was no other man in the world like
dad" Their delightful home was
idyllic in its happiness, their only sor-
row that Brand should be away two
months out of three on account of the
pursuit in which he passed his hours
of leisure during recent years.
Neither dared to look ut the other.
They could not trust themselves even
to speak. There was relief in action,
for thought was torture.
The docile Daisy steadily forged
through the waves. The spasmodic
ciang Of the bell came more clearly
each minute. Pollard, kneeling In the
bows, peered into the gloom of the
swirling snow. He listened eagerly to
the bell. With right hand or left he
motioned to Constance to bring the
boats head nearer to the wind or per-
NIT the sail to fill out a little more.
Enid, ready to cast the canvas loose
at the first hint of danger, consulted
her watch frequently. At last she
cried:
Twenty minutes, Ben"
What q relief 1t was to hear her own
voice. The tension was becoming I'M
bearable.
Right y are, missy. No need to
slack off yet. TIES clearin' a bit. We'm
heave to alongside the rock in less'n
no time"
The fisherman was right. His train
ed senses perceived Il distinct dimiuu-
ton in the volume of snow. Soon they
could see fifty, a hundred, two hundred
yards, ahead. On the %starboard quarter
they caught a confused rushing noise,
like the subdued murmur of a mill
race. The tide had covered the rock.
"Luff ct Is" roared Ben suddenly.
STEADY now!'
Out of the blurred vista a ghostly
column rose in front. Smooth and
sheer were its granite walls, with dark
little easements showing black in the
weird light. The boat rushed past the
Trinity mooring buoy. She held on un-
til they heard the sea breaking.
Lower away cried Ben, and the
yard fell with q sharp rattle that show
ed how thoroughly Enid had laid to
heart Pollard's tuition.
Constance brought the Daisy round
in a wide curve, and Ben got out the
oars to keep her from being dashed
against the reef.
Ends eyes were turned toward the
gallery beneath the lantern.
Lighthouse ahoy! she screamed in
a voice high pitched with emotion.
There was no answering clang Of the
door leading from the room on a level
with the balcony. Not often had the
girls visited the rock, but they knew
that this was the first sign they might
there were no watchers pacing the
promenade"
"Help us, Ben" cried Constance, and
their united shouts might be heard a
mile away in the prevailing stiffness.
A window halfway up the tower was
opened. A mans head and shoulders
appeared.
1t was stephen Brand.
THANK Godw murmured Constance.
Enid, on whose sensitive soul the
storm, the signal, the Kissing rush Of
the boat through the waves, had cast
q spell of indefinite terror, bit her lip
to restrain her tears.
Brand gave a glance of amazement
at the three uplifted faces, but this
was no time for surprise or question.
II am coming down. he shouted.
Providence must have sent you at