The Red Cloud chief., 1906-08-10
(CONTlNUED.)

CRY wind was no longer able to bchead
the waves. With Il rising tide and the
gale assisting there would soon be Il
sea worthy of Turner in his maddest
mood.
Good gracious, dad" cried Con.
stance. "how pale you are! And your
forehead is wet. What have you been
doing?'
Brand hastily mopped his face with
q handkerchief.
During some of the heavy gusts"
he explained, II was compelled to
stand on the trimming stage. And-the
micrometer valve required adjust.
ment."
She eyed him narrowly. The margin
of suspicion was wider.
There is nothing else wrong?' she
asked.
He approached and kissed her ear.
''Since when did my little girl begin
to doubt me?" he said quietly.
Her eyes filled. Even the hint of Il
reproach from him was intolerable.
For the life of her she could no longer
control the flood of terror which welled
up beyond restraint.
Forgive me, dad" she murmured.
'but | thought, and / still think, that
we were and are in a position Of the
utmost peril. l can't help knowing
that 1t is high water about 2 o'clock.
1t is now only a quarter to l. The
worst IS not over. Dc you think l can
not read you dear face! Dad, If there
is danger don't send us away again"
Tears were streaming down her
white cheeks. Enid, holding the tray
in speeches. bewilderment during this
outburst from her proud and self re-
liant sister, set it down on the writing
desk with a crash.
"Oh, dear" she walled, 81 don't want
any cocoa if were gug-gug-going to be
drowned"
's,T' rtainly If Stephen Brand had i'm
led w minutes earlier that he was
touf to laugh long and loudly in a gen
Iiue surrender to an uncomfortable
I spEm of mirth he would have feared
leT. his wits were leaving him. Yet
he laughed now until his vision was
. Furred. And the wonderful relief OF
IT. What a tonic after the ordeal he
had endured!
1t CHANGED just then that an eman-
cipated wave embraced the granite col
umn, hit the cornice and deluged the
lantern, its disintegrated mass striking
the glass with force enough to break
any ordinary window. The astounded
girls could not refuse the evidence OF
eyes and ears. Here was the frantic
sea leaping TO a height of 40 feet and
more, yet their father was treating the
incident as the merriest joke Of many
q month.
No better cure for their hysteria could
be contrived. Brand was obviously not
acting. The hearty pulsations of laugh
te, had restored his ruddy color. Evil
IDENTIFY they were alarmed about moth
ing.
Here, Enid, drink your parting cup!'
he cried. "Have no fear. 1t Is only
the dochan doris before many another
feast"
Feeling somewhat ashamed Of them
selves, though smiling very wistfully,
they obeyed him. He slipped his cocoa
with real nonchalance. Another wave
turned q somersault over the lantern.
Brands only anxiety was to blow at
the steaming liquid and cool 1t sufi-
GENTLY.
Yet was he watching them and ham
mering out the right course to adopt.
Tie alone understood that to the novice
the amazing ordeal from which the
lighthouse had successfully emerged
was as nauSht compared with the
thundcrous blows of the waves, the
astounding reverberations of the hollow
pillar, the continuous deluge of spray
striking the lantern, which the infuri-
ated sea would inflict on them.
To urge any further effort to sleep
was folly. They must remain with him
and he comfOrted.
Being reasonable girls, of fine spirit
under conditions less b%enumbing, it
was better that they should grasp the
facts accurately. They would be tlmid,
of course, just as people are tlmid 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.
~ s%up-pup-pose So" she stammered.
Better sup up your cocoa" said
Constance. Now l am quits with you
for this afternoon"
"Ill tell you what" went on Brand
confdentially. "In that locker you will
find a couple of stout pilot coats. Put
them on. AS ! cannot persuade you to