Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-07-27


/,nc". They call the child Enid Trc,lllon.
CHAPTER II Contnucd
When Brand and Spence entered
Jones' bedroom they found him hard
at work washing the child's clothing.
'Shc's asleep" he said. Jerking his
head toward Il bunk. Il gev' her
pint Of mixture. She cried n bit when
there was no more to be had, but
warm bath with some boric acid in it
made her sleepy. An there she is.
snug as cat
The domesticated Jones was up to
his elbows In lather of soap.
'Have you noticed any laundry
marks or initials on her clothing?"
aS..ed Brand.
"Yes. Here you are"
He fished out of the bubbles little
vest. on which were worked the letters
E. T. in white silk.
"Ah. That Is very important We
can establish her identity. especially If
the laundry mark Is there also"
I'm feared there's nothing else"
said Jones. I've not looked very care
fully, as it'll take me all my time to
get everything dry afore the tug comes.
AS for ironin', 1t can't be done. But
my nissus II see after her until some
body turns up to claim her"
THAT may be never"
"Surely we will get some news Of the
ship which was lost"
'Yes, that Is little enough to expect.
Yet 1t Is more than probable that her
parents are dead. A baby would be
separated from her mother only by TIE
mothers death. There Is q very real
chance that poor e. T. will be left for
years on the hands of those who take
charge Of her now. The only alterna-
tive is the workhouse"
''Thats SO. cap'n," put in Jim. you
always dig to the heart Of subjec'.
even II it's shark"
I'm word. Jones, you can hardly be
asked to assume such a responsibility.
Now. it happens that 1 can afford to
adopt the child II she lives and Is not
duty imposed on me by events. When
the doctor comes. therefore. I purpose
asking him to see that she Is handed
over to Mrs. Sheppard, the nurse who
looks after my own little girl. l will
write to her. My turn ashore comes
next week. Then 1 can devote some
time to the necessary inquiries"
Jones made no protest. lie knew
that Brands suggestion was good
one, and he promised silence with re-
gard to the fight with the shark Men
In the lighthouse service are quick to
grasp the motives which cause others
to avoid publicity. They live sedate.
lonely lives. The noise. the rush, the
purposeless activities Of existence
ashore weary them. They have been
known to petition the Trinity Brethren
to send them back to isolated stations
when promoted to localities where the
pleasures and excitements of q town
were available.
Having determined the immediate fu-
ture of little re. T." whose shrunken
features were now placid in sleep, they
quietly separated. Brand flung himself
YEARLY into q bunk to obtain a much
needed rest, and the others hurried to
overtake the many duties awaiting
them.
Weather reports and daily journals
demanded instant attention. The oil
expenditure. the breakage Of glass
chimneys, the consumption Of stores,
the meteorological records-all must be
tod An Anf4 10
maintained, signals answered or hoist
cd. everything kept spotlessly clean
and meals cooked. Until noon each day
a rock lighthouse is the scene Of I'M
RENTING diligence. and the loss of
nearly an hour and a half of Spence's
watch. added to the presence Of the
baby and the constant care which one
or other Of the two men bestowed on
her, made the remaining time doubly
precious.
About 8 o'clock Brand was awaken
ed from heavy slumber by Jim's
hearty voice:
''Breakfast ready. cap'n. Corfee.
eggs an haddick-ft for the queen,
God bless her! An baby's had another
pint Of Jones' brew-Lord love her lit
tie eyes. though haven't seen 'em yet!
A mint ago Jones sung down to me
that the Lancelot has just cleared
earn du"
The concluding statement brought
Brand to his feet. The doctor would
be Oh the rock by the time breakfast
was ended and the letter to Mrs.
Sheppard written.
When the doctor did arrive he shook
his head obviously at first sight Of the
child.
Il don't know how she lived. She Ia
q mere skeleton" he said.
Brand explained matters and limited
at his theory.
"Oh, the ways Of nature are wonder.
full" admitted the doctor. 'Sometimes
man will die from an absurdly trivial
thing. like the sting of a wasp or the
cutting of a finger. At others you can
fling him headlong from the Alps and
he will merely suffer q bruise or two
OF course, this infant has an excep
tionally strong constitution or she
would have died days ago. However
you have done right so far. will see
to her proper nourishment during the
next few days. 1t Is most extraor
binary case"
Jones had managed so well that the
child's garments were dry and vel
aired. Wrapped In a clean blanket
abe was lowered into the steamers
boat but the doctor. preferring t.
jump, was soaked to the waist owing
to a slip on the weed covered rock.
The crew of the tugboat bailed ou
the derelict and towed her to Pen
zance.
That evening q fisherman brought {
note from Mrs. Sheppard. Among 9th
er things. she wrote that the baby'l
clothes were beautifully made and o.
Q very expensive type. She was fever
ish. the doctor said. but the condition
Of her eyes and lips would account fOl
this, apart from the effects Of prolong
ed exposure.
Brand read the letter to his mate!
when the trio were enjoying an even
Ing pipe on the promenade" the outel
balcony under the lantern.