Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-06-27

pelting Sn0WhakeS TO the ears or the
two girls and old Ben. The latter, mas
ter of the situation now. announced his
intention to bout ship and make for
Mounts bay.
Zee doan' ketch me tryin' to sail
close to Gulf Rock when zee can't zee
boats length ahead" he said emphatic
ally. 81 be sorry. ladies both, but Zee.
knaw how the tide runs over the reef.
an ties easy to drive to the wrong side
of the light. We'm try again tomor-
row. Only the flowers II spile. All the
rest
Crash! A loud explosion burst forth
from the dense heights of the storm.
The Daisy, sturdy us she was, seemed
to SILVER. The very air trembled with
the din. Pollard had his hand on the
sail to swing it to starboard when Con-
stance put the tiller over to bring the
boats head up against the wind. For
an instant he hesitated. Even he, vers-
cd in the ways of the sea. was startled.
Both girls positively jumped, the sud-
den bang of the rocket was go unex-
pected.
"Mr. Brand must ha' iced u.s." pro-
nounced Ben THAT'S warnin' to we
to go back"
The words had scarce left his lips
when another report smOte the great
| silence, otherwise unbrOken save by
the quiet plash of the sea against the
bows and the faint reverberations of
the distant bell.
''That Is too urgent to be intended
for u.s." said Constance. I'VE were
just halfway when the snow COM
menced."
II did not notice any vessel near the
rock" cried Enid TREMENDOUSLY. did
you. Benz"
Pollard's slow utterance was not
quick enough. Before he could an.
swer third rocket Numbered its over.
towering summons.
'"That is the help wanted signal"
cried Constance. ben. there Is no
question now of going back. We must
keep our present course for twenty
minutes at least and then take to the
oars. The bell will guide U.S."
"Oh, yes. Ben" agreed Enid. Some
thing has gone wrong on the rock itself.
am quite sure there was no ship near
enough to be in trouble already"
"By gum, we'm zee what's the mat
ter" growled Ben. STEADY it is. Miss
Brand. Eff we'm in trouble I'd as soon
ha' you two CELLS aboard as any two
men in Penzance."
At another time the compliment
l xvn,,11 1or1 n~r,xE,.1 s1,l,,, - $o..o-A
sarcasm. Now 1t passed UNDECIDED.
The situation was bewildering. alarm
Ing. There were three keepers In the
lighthouse. The signal foreboded i'll
ness, sudden and serious Illness. Who
could 1t be?
In such a crisis charity begins Mt
home. Constance, with set face and
shining eyes. Enid, flushed and on the
verge of tears, feared lest their own
beloved one should be the sufferer.
To each of them Stephen Brand was
equally kind and devoted father. He
never allowed Enid to feel that she
was dependent on his bounty. Only
the other day, when she limited Mt the
adoption of an art career as q future
means OF earning livelihood, he up
proved of the necessary study, but
laughed at the reason.
with your pretty face and saucy
ways. Enid he said, 81 shall have
trouble enough to keep you in the nest
without worrying as to the manner of
your leaving 1t. Work ut your draw
Ing. by all means. Avoid color as
the bane Of true art. But where Con
ME and live you shall live. until you
choose to forsake u.s."
No wonder these girls thought there
was no other man in the world like
dad" Their delightful home was
ldyllic 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
clang Of the bell came more clearly
each minute. Pollard, kneeling In the
bows. pcered 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 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, Zen"
| What relief 1t was to hear her own
voice. The tension was becoming uu.
bearahlc.
Fright y are, missy. No need to
slack off yet. Ties clearin' bit. We'm
heaye to alongside the rock in less'n
no time"
The fisherman was right. His train
ed senses perceived II distinct diminu.
ton In the volume Of snow. Soon they
could see fifty. hundred, two hundred
yards, ahead. On the starboard quarter
they caught confused rushing noise,
like the subducd murmur Of II mill
race. The tide had covered the rock.
"Luf ct Isl" 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 OH un-
til they heard the sea breaking
Lower away!' cried Ben, and the
yard fell with sharp rattle that show
ed how thoroughly Enid had laid to
heart pollard's tuition.
Constance brought the Daisy round
In u wide curve. and Ben got out the
ours TO keep her from being dashed
against the reef.
Ends eyes We're turned toward the
gallery beneath the lantern.
Lighthouse ahoy" she screamed In
Il voice high pitched with emotion.
There was no answering clang OF the
door leading from the room on level
| with the balcony, Not often hnl tho