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

Enid. yet he would avoid the least risk
out there. That would be endangering
bis trust. Oh. I am glad we are here.
have never lived before this hour"
Enid stole q wondering glance ut her
sister. The girl seemed to be gazing
Into depths Unreasonable. Afterward
the words came back to her mind
THAT would be endangering bis trust"
Brand faced the gale full Eve min.
ntee. He returned hastily.
T sThere Is big steamer heading this
wy-a liner, I fancy" he gasped, half
choked with spray. II fear she il disa-
bled. She is firing rockets, and sup
pose her siren is going constantly.
though cannot hear it."
He ran to the room beneath. Flush.
Cd with this new excitement, the girls
donned their oilskin coats and arrang-
ed their sou'westers. When he hur-
ried up the stairs he was carrying four
rockets. He noted their preparations.
Don't come out until I have fired the
alarm signal" he shouted, land tie
your dresses tightly around your
knees"
They heard the loud Kissing Of the
rockets, and the four reports travelled
duly from the sky. Three white star
bursts and one red told the Lands End
coast guards that a ship in need of
help was near the Gulf Rock. Proba-
bly, they had already seen the vessels
signals. In any event they would not
miss the display from the lighthouse.
Walking with difficulty. the girls
crept out on to the balcony.
Brand had already gone to the wind
ward side. The first rush of the gale
made them breathless. yet they perse-
vered and reached him. They were
greeted by climber. but their father,
with hand on their shoulders, pressed
them down. and the spray crashed
against the lantern behind them. He
knew they would take no harm. When
the vessel passed. their boots and stock
ings would be soaked. Then he could
insist that they should 60 to bed.
At first they distinguished nothing
save chaotic blend of white and vel
low foam. driving over the reef at an
apparently incredible speed. Over
head the black pail Of the sky seemed
to touch the top Of the lantern. Around,
In vast circle carved out Of the MUIR
Ky wilderness, the wondrous beam of
the light fought and conquered its I'M
wearied foes. Constance caught the
three quick flashes Of the Seven Stones
lightship, away to the right. She fan
cied she saw a twinkling ahead, but
this was the st. Agnes light. and neil
Their girl could make out other sight
nor sound until Brand pointed stead
lily toward one spot in the darkness.
Before they could follow his indica-
ton they were compelled to duck to
avoid another wave. Then, as II 1t had
just popped up out Of the sea. they d.
| vined a tiny white spark swinging
slowly across q considerable area. 1t
was by that means that Brand had es-
timated the size and nearness Of the
steamer, and soon they glimpsed the
red and green side lights. though ever
and anon these were hidden by the tor
rents Of water sweeping over her
decks. OF the vessel they could zee
nothing whatever.
Steadily she rolled along her fearful
path. Having once found her, there
was no difficulty in estimating the ra-
pidity Of her approach. Enid. whose
eyes were strong and farsighted. fan
cied she caught a fltful vision Of big
black hull laboring In the yellow waves.
Though It was difficult to speak. she
crept close to Brand and screamed:
"Is she drifting on to the reef?"
ri fear So" he answered.
'"Then she will be lostv'
ayes. unless they manage to pass to
s'uth'ard."
Luckily for poor human nature. men-
tai stress and physical effort rarely
unite forces. The mere attempt to re-
slst the wind, the constant watchful-
ness needed to avoid the ambitious
seas. though these. strange to say. ap-
peared to be diminishing In size and
volume as the tide rose. served to dull
the horror Of the threatened tragedy.
Brand quilted them for an instant to
glue his eyes to the lantern after wip-
Ing q space on the glass. He must see
II the lamp needed tending. Satisfied
by the scrutiny. be stood behind the