Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-08-21

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81 aUGs wondering aOhat had become of
yol."
was visible of the great steamer was
some portion of her hull and the SOL
idly built bow, which was not wrench
ed from the keel plate until another
hour had passed.
The agonized cry of a strong man is
a woefuI thing. Constance, by reason
of the gathering at the side of the gal
lery, was unable to see all that was
taking place, but the yell which went
up from the onlookers told. her that
something out Of the common even on
this night of thrills had occurred.
"What is it, dad?" she asked as her
father came to her.
'"The end of the Ship" he said. "The
captain has gone with her."
"Oh, dear, why wasn't he saved?"
81 think he refused to desert his ship.
His heart was broken, expect. Now,
Connie. duty first"
Indeed, she required no telling. AS
each of the shipwrecked men entered
the lantern she handed him a glass Of
spirits, asked if he were injured and
told him exactly how many flights of
stairs he had to descend. But cocoa
and biscuits would be brought soon,
she explained. Greatly amazed, but
speechless for the most part, the men
obeyed her directions.
One Of the last to claim her attention
was the young American, Mr.. Pyne.
Her face lit up pleasurably when she
saw him.
81 was wondering what had become
of you," she said. "My sister has ask
ed me several times If you had arrived,
and imagined that I must have miss
ed you by some chance"
Now, all this was Greek to him, or
nearly so. Indeed, had it been intel
ligible Greek, he might have guessed
its purport more easily.
Holding the glass in his hand, he
looked at her in frank. open eyed won
der. To be hailed so gleefully by
good looking girl whom he had never
to his knowledge set eyes on was
somewhat of mystery, and the puzzle
was made all the more difficult by the
fact that she had discarded the wealth
er proof accouterments needed when
she first ventured forth on the gallery.
'I'm real glad you're pleased. My
name is Charles A. Pyne," he said
slowly.
1t was Constance's turn to be bewil-
dered. Then the exact situation dawn
ed on her.
'How stupid of me-" she cried. "Of
course you don't recognize me again.
My sister and happen to be alone
with my father on the rock tonight.
We were with him on the balcony
when you acted so bravely. You see,
the light shone clear on your face"
''I'm glad it's shining on yours now"
he said.
"You must go two floors below this"
said she severely. 81 will bring you
some cocoa and biscuit as quickly as
possible"
81 am not a bit tired" he comment
ed, still looking at her.
THAT is more than l can say" she
answered, "but 1 am so delighted that
we managed to save so many poor peo-
ple."
How many?"
'Seventy-eight. But 1 dare not ask
you how many are lost. 1t would make
me cry, and 1 have no time for tears.
viii you really help to carry tray?"
"Just try me-"
At the top of the stairs Constance
called to her father:
Anything you want, dad?''
Eyes. dear. Find out the chief officer
and send him to me. He can eat and
drink here while we talk
CHAPTER VIII.
"T~ ~ILEASE be careful These
p stairs are very Steep" said
III Constance, swinging the Ian
- tern close to her companions