Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-10-19
Chapter ZII-Continued,

ut occurred to me that this light isn't
here for amusement"
He looked up at the lamp and smiled.
The pillar in those days must have
been u haunt of illusions, for Brand,
like Constance and Pyne himself In
the case Of Mrs. Vansittart, thought
he caught an expression familiar to
bis eyes long before he had seen that
clear cut. splendidly intelligent face.
Eut there was no time for idle specu-
latiOn. He glanced into the we'll Of
the stairs to make sure that no one
was ascending.
Then he approached nearer to Pyne
and said In an intense whisper:
1T is folly to waste words with you.
have reasoned this thing out, and now
will tell you what have decided. !
will take the watch from until H.
At II you will relieve me and I will
go below to secure provisions and
water sufficient to maintain the lives
Of my daughters, you and myself for a
few hours longer than the others. BY
right, If followed the rules 1 have
promised to obey. alone should live.
That is Impossible. A Spartan might
do It, but l cannot abandon my girls
and yet retain my senses. l trust you
because I must have q confederate.
II the weather does not break before
tomorrow night we must barricade the
stairs-and fight-if necessary"
His face was drawn and haggard,
his eyes blazing. He shook as one In
tk,6 fSrcf fHrnnc ~ IN,
await his companions verdict with an
overpowering dread lest any attempt
should be made to question the justice
Of his decree.
Eyes. l figured it out that way. too"
said Pyne. Its queer. isn't 1t. to be
In such a fix when there's all sorts Of
help within call, 80 to speak? We
might as we'll be In q mine closed up
by an explosion. And, I'll tell you
what, I'm real sorry for you.''
Brand, collapsing under the strain,
sank into q chair.
ut Is an awful thing" he moaned,
ITO condemn SO many men, women and
children to such q DEATH"
A spasm of pain made Pyne's lips
tremulous for an instant. He had for
gotten Elsie and Mamie.
But his voice was fully under con-
troll when he spoke again.
you can count on me In the deal In
oil but one thing" he said.
The older man looked up fiercely.
What condition could be imposed In
the fulfillment Of a duty so terrible?
II am here by chance" went on
Pyne. zone of your daughters may
have told you that Mrs. vansittart
came from New York to marry my un-
Gle. Anyhow you would know she was
dear to him by his message today. She
e sort of in my charge. and can't de-
sert her. It's hard luck, as don't care
q cent for her. She's the kind Of wom-
IN old men misunderstanding birdlike
ereatures-when the cage is gilded."
up to the trimming stage. When his
hands were on the lamp he felt surer
Of himself. 1t gave him strength dur
ing the hurricane, and it would
strengthen him now.
There can be no exceptions" he
said harshly. Pyne waited until the
lighthouse keeper rejoined him.
II ought to have put my proposition
before you first and made a speech aft
erward," he said. Constance and Enid
will join you here when you ray the
word, but will be on the other side Of
the barricade."
~N0nsense(' cried Brand. you have
no right to thrust away the chance that
Il given you. You saved all these peo-
pie once. Why should you die use-
lesslyY'
what! Suppose it pans out that
way. Suppose we live q couple Of
weeks and escape. Am I to face the
old man and tell him-the truth? No,
Dir. You don't mean 1t. You wouldn't
do it yourself. What about that shark
the girls told me Of? can guess just
what happened. He wanted the light
Tefreshment in the boat Did you scoot
back when you saw his fin? I'm heap
younger than you. Mr.. Brand, but that
blur doesn't CO."
THANK heaven, we have twenty -four
hours yet" murmured Brand.
1T will be all the same when we
nave only twenty-four seconds. Let US
nx 1t that way right now. Don't you
see. it will be easier to deceive the
girls? And there's another reason. Bar
ricade and shoot as you like, 1t will be
. hard thing to keep threescore des-
perate men boxed up down below.
When they begin to diet ON COLA there
will be trouble. A few Of us, ready to
take chances. will be helpful. Some Of
them may have to die quick, you
know"
Brand closed his eyes In sheer af-
fright. In that way he tried to shut out
q vision.
BE 1t So" he gasped. MAY the Lord
help u.s."