Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-18

Constance. Now l am quits with you
for this afternoon"
"1'll tell you what" went on Brand
confidentially. "In that locker you will
find couple of stout pilot coats. Put
them on. AS cannot persuade you to
leave me you must sit down, and 1t is
cold in here. Moreover, for the first
time in twenty-one years will smoke
on duty. have earned little relaxa-
ton of the law"
Out of the corner of his eye he saw
that Constance, If not Enid had not
missed the subtle hint in his words.
But she was quite normal again. She
gave 10 sign; helped her sister into the
heavy REFER, and made herself COM
Portable in turn.
Neither of you will ever regret to-
nights experimentation it Is nicely
over" lie said. You are like couple
of recruits in their first battle"
81 am sure began Enid.
A huge wave, containing several hun
aiSu toiiS III MulCl, ShlolS luC llSul-
house and cavorted over their heads.
The house that was founded upon n
rock fell not, but it shook through all
its iron bound tiers, and the empty
cups danced on their saucers.
Not another word could Enid utter.
She was paralyzed.
"That fellow-arrived--i the nick of
time-to emphasize my remarks" said
Brand, lighting his pipe. 'This is your
baptism of fire, if may strain meta
phor. But you are far better situated
than the soldier. He gets scared out
OF his wits by big guns which are com
paratively harmless, and when he has
been well pounded for IN hour or so
he advances quite blithcly to meet the
almost silent hail Of dangerous bullets.
So, you see, In his case, ignorance is
Bliss
"Are we In bliss?" demanded Con
stance.
you have been. The lighthouse has
Outfaced hurricane such as has not
visited England before in my lifetime.
1t is over. The wind has dropped to n
No. 10 gale. and we have not lost even
a bit of skin to my knowledge Now
the cannonade is beginning. Certainly
we may have the glass broken by n
rare accident, but no worse fate can
bcfall U.S."
| heavy thud was followed by n
deluge without. They heard the water
pouring of the gallery.
| Constance leaned forward, with
hands on knees. Her large eyes looked
into his.
''This time, dad. YOU are not choosing
your words" she said
81 am sorry you should think that"
was the reply. II selected each phrase
with singular care Never he misled
by the apparent ease of a speaker. The
best impromptu Is prepared before
hand"
"You dear old humbug," she cried.
Now the quiet dcadIiness of the scene
which followed the temperance of
Enid and herself from their bedroom
was manifest to her. Enid. too, was
looking from one to the other In eager
striving to grasp the essentials of an
episode rapidly grouping its details into
sequence. Brand knew that If he par
Red his daughters qucstionin.. they
would be on their knees by his side
forthwith, and lie wished to avoid any
| further excitement.
PLEASE attend, both Of you" he
| growlcd, with mock severity. 81 am
going to tell you something that will
console YOU"
His voice was drowned by some part
Of the Atlantic whirling over the Ian
tern.
This kind OF thing does not go on
all the time" he continued "Other-
wise VIC should have five hours of spas
modic conversation. AZ soon as the
tide rises sufficiently to gain an unin-
tcrruDted run across the reef we will
have at least two hours OF comparative
quiet. About o'clock there will be
second edition for an hour or so. sup
pose that any suggestion of bed
"Will be scoutcd,' exclaimed Enid.
"a nice pair of beauties you will be
in the morning." lie grumbled artfully.
Not even Constance was proof
against this new burden Of woe. She
glanced around.
You say that" she cried, "knowing
that the nearest looking glass is yards
away"
He pointed with his pipe.
"ln the second drawer of the desk
you will find a Photograph 1t is only
Il toy, but will justify me-"
They ran together and found the lit
tie circular mirror. The next wave
passed UNDECIDED. Smiling. lie went up
to the lamp. Even yet there was hope
they might so to bed when the respite
came
After much talk of disordcrcl hair.
wan cheeks. rings round the eyes,
cracked lips and other outrageous de-
fccts which Il pretty woman mourns
when divorced from her dressing table
Constance called lin.
Here Is queer thing" she said.
"I1ave yon heard any steamer hoot-
ing?"
NO" lie answered. Bending between
the two of them. he saw that the point.
err Of the anriscopr bore due southwest.
though the last siren of which they had
any knowledge sounded from the op-
positc direction.
He picked up little trumpet re-
sembling the horn OF motor car.
II use this For tests" he explained.
Its tiny vibrator quickly brought the
needle round toward his hand.
ut is improbable in the highest de-
gree that any steamer IS near enough
to affect the auriscope." Ike said "On
a night like this they give the coast n
wide berth"
He quilted them again. The girls.
having nothing better to do, watched
the dial to see If any change occurred.
He heard them use the small trumpet
three times. The. Enid sang out:
"Oh. do come. dad! 1t goes back to
the southwest regularity"
He Joined in the watch. The needle
was pointing north in obedience to the
sound waves created In the ROOM
Suddenly it swung round nearly half
the circumference of the dial.