Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-08-31

Constance leaned forward, with
bands on knees Her large eyes looked
into his.
This time. dad. you are not choosing
your words" she said.
II am sorry you should think that"
was the reply. Il selected each phrase
with singular care. Never be misled
by the apparent case Of speaker The
best impromptu Is prepared before
hand"
You dear old humbug." she cried.
Now the quiet deadliness 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 II he par
Yied his daughters questioning they
would be on their knees by his side
forthwith, and he wished to avoid any
further excitement.
"Plcase attend, both Of you" he
growled, with mock severity. II 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 60 on
all the time" he continued. "Other-
wise we should have FIVE hours of spas
modic conversation. As soon as the
tide rises sufficiently to gain an unin-
terrupted run across the reef we will
have at least two hours Of comparative
quiet. About 4 o'clock there will be
second edition for an hour or so. sup.
pose that any suggestion Of bed
"Will be secuted" exclaimed Enid.
"a nice pair of beauties you will be
In the morning" he 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.
''In the second drawer Of the desk
you will find Telegraph. It Is only
o toy, but will justify me-"
They ran together and found the lit
tie circular mirror. The next wave
passed unheeded. Smiling, he went up
to the lamp. Even yet there was hope
they might 60 to bed when the respite
came.
After much talk of disordered hair.
wan cheeks, rings round the eyes,
cracked lips and other outrageous de-
fects which pretty woman mourns
when divorced from her dressing table,
Constance called him.
Here Is a queer thing" she said.
"Have you heard any steamer boot
ingY
"No." he answered. Bending between
the two Of them. he saw that the point
er Of the auriscope bore due southwest,
though the last siren of which they had
any knowledge sounded from the op-
posite direction.
He picked up a 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," he said. ION
night like this they give the coast a
wide BERTH"
He quilted them again. The girls,
having nothing better to do, watched
the dial to see II any change occurred.
He heard them use the small trumpet
three times. Then Enid sang out:
"Oh, do come. dad! It goes back to
the southwest regularlyr'
He Joined In the watch. The needle
was pointing north In obedience to the
sound waves created in the room.
Suddenly 1t swung round nearly half
the circumference Of the dial.
"Hushv' he said. They listened In.
tently. but the roar Of wind and water
was too deafening. They could hear
naught else. He went to the south
west point Of the glass dome. but the
lantern was 80 blurred with rivulets Of
water that he could see nothing save
tawny vastness where the light fell on
the flying spindrift.
To make sure he tested the auriscope
again and with the same result.
"A vessel Is approaching from the
southwest" he announced gravely.
"Evidently she IL whistling for help.
hope she will not attempt to approach
too near the reef. I must have look
out"
He put on an oilskin coat and tied
the strings of a sou'wester firmly be-
meath his chin.
The small door Of the lantern opened
toward the bay. 30 he had no difficulty
In gaining the gallery. The girls
watched him forcing his way against
the wind until he was facing it and
gazing in the direction Of the Scllly
isles.
"Perhaps some poor ship Is In dan
ger. Connie" whispered Enid. 1T
makes me feel quite selfish. Here was
I. thinking Of nothing put my own
peril. yet that little machine there was
faithfully doing its duty"
1T was not alone In Its self aban-
donment.. We shall never know. dear
est. how much father suffered when he
sent rs of with q Jest on his lips.
am sure he thought the lantern would
b blown away"
"And he with It'll Oh, Conniev'
eyes. He believed II that awful
thing took place while we were below
We might escape. I can see It all now.
had the vaguest sort Of suspicion,
but he hoodwinked me-"
Had We known we would not have
left him!" cried Enid passionately.
Eyes. we would. Think of him,
sticking to his post. Was 1t for US to
disobeyf
Overcome by their feelings, they
stood in silence for a little while.
Through the thick glass they could
dimly distinguish Brands figure. A
great wave assailed the lantern, and
Enid screamed loudly.
Don't, dearl' cried Constance shrllly.
sFather would not remain there IL It
were dangerous"
Nevertheless they both breathed more
freely when they saw him again, an
mdeterminate shape against the lumi-
nous gloom.
Cnncfouro fott no che cxoo1r