The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-11-16

be contrtUcd.
| facts accurately. They would be timid,
| of course, just as people are timid dur
| ing their first attempt to walk 'twiXt
rock and cataract at the falls of Mag
ara, but they would have confidence in
their guide and endure the surrounding
| pandemonium.
Here's to you, Enid. Still we live"
he cried, and drained his cup.
Il sup-pup-pose So" she stammered.
Better sup up your cocoa" said
Constance. Now am quits with you
| for this afternoon"
"Ill tell you what" went on Brand
confidentially. "In that locker you will
! find couple Of stout pilot coats. Put
them on. AS I cannot persuade you to
leave me you must sit down, and it is
cold in here. Moreover, for the first
time in twenty-one years 1 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 no 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" he said. you are like q couple
Of recruits in their first battle"
II am sure began Enid.
A huge wave, containing several hun
dred tons of water, smote the light
house and cavorted over their heads
The house that was founded upon a
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.
7 "That fellow-arrived-in the nick of
time-to emphasize my remarks" said
Brand, lighting his pipe. This is your
baptism of fire, If l 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 an hour or SO
he advances quite blithely to meet the
almost silent hail of dangerous bullets.
So, you see, in his case, ignorance is
bliss"
"Are we in blss?" demanded Con-
stance.
you have been. The lighthouse has
outfaced a hurricane such as has not
visited England before in my lifetime.
1t is over. The wind has dropped to a
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
rare accident, but no worse fate can
befall u.s."
A heavy thud was followed by
deluge without. They heard the water
pouring off 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 be misleG
by the apparent ease Of a 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
ried his daughters questioning they
would be on their knees by his side
forthwith, and he wished to avoid any
further excitement.
"Please 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.
"Ths kind of thing does not go 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 A O'clock there will be a
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 Photograph. It is only
toy, but will justify me-"
They ran together and found the lit
tie circular mirror. The next wave
passed unheedcd. Smiling. he went up