Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-18


rups danced on their saucers.
Not another word could Enid utter.
she was paralyzed.
THAT fellow--arrived--in the nick Of
kime--to emphasize my remarks" said
Brand, lighting his pipe. This Is your
baptism of fire, II may strain meta
phor. But you are far better situated
khan the soldier. He gets scared out
bf his wits by big guns which are COM
paratively harmless and when he has
been we'll pounded for an hour or so
he advances quite blithely TO meet the
almost silent hail of dangerous bullets.
30. you see, in his case, ignorance Is
bliss"
"Are we in blss?" demanded Con-
stance.
"You have been. The lighthouse has
butfaced a hurricane such as has not
Visited England before in my lifetime.
It is over. The wind has dropped to a
No. 10 gale and we have not lost even
h bit Of Skin to my knowledge. Now
he cannonade is beginning. Certainly
we may have the glass broken by n
are accident, but no worse fate can
oefall u.s."
A heavy thud was followed by
1eluge without. They heard the water
pouring off the gallery.
Constance leaned forward. with
hands on knees. Her large eyes looked
nto his.
This time, dad, you are not choosing
Tour words" she said
IT am sorry you should think that"
vas the reply. II selected each phrase
With singular care. Never be misled
BY the apparent ease of speaker The
best impromptu Is prepared before
hand"
You dear old humbug." she cried.
Now the quiet deadiness of the scene
which followed the temperance of
Enid and herself from their bedroom
vas manifest to her. Enid, too. was
boxing from one to the other In eager
triving to grasp the essentials of an
pisode rapidly grouping its details into
equence. Brand knew that If he par
led his daughters questioning they
ioud be on their knees by his side
orthwth and he wished to avoid any
lrther excitement.
please attend, both Of you," he
rowed, with mock severity. Il am
ding to tell you something that will
Onsole you"
His voice was drowned by some part
L the Atlantic whirlng over the Ian.
Pm.
This kind Of thing does not go on
II the time" he continued. "Other-
Use we should have five hours of spas
bodic conversation. AS soon as the
de rises sufficiently to gain an unin-
trrupted run across the reef we will
ave al least two hours of comparative
uiet About o'clock there will be a
econd edition for an hour or so. sup
ose that any suggestion of bed
will be secuted" exclaimed Enid.
"a nice pair Of beauties you will be
the morning" he grumbled artfully.
Not even Constance was proof
cainst this new burden Of woe. She
lsnced around.
You say that" she cried, "knowing
bat the nearest looking glass is yards
Way"
He pointed with his pipe.
"1n the second drawer of the desk
Pu will find Photograph. 1t is only
toy, but will Justify me-"
They ran together and found the lit
e circular mirror. The next wave
lssed unheeded. Smiling. he went up
the lamp. Even yet there was hope
hey might go to bed when the respite
line.
After much talk Of dsordered hair,
an cheeks, rings round the eyes,
Facked lips and other outrageous de-
fcts which pretty woman mourns
hen divorced from her dressing table,
Onstance called him.
Here is a queer thing she said
Have you heard any steamer boot.
~"
mo" he answered. Bending between
be two Of them, he saw that the point
OF the auriscope bore due southwest.
Tough the last siren of which they had
by knowledge sounded from the op-
bsite direction.
He picked up a little trumpet re-
pmbling the horn Of a motor car.
II use this for tests" he explained.
S tiny vibrator quickly brought the
hedle round toward his hand
1T is improbable in the highest de-
rec that any steamer IL near enough
affect the auriscope." he said. "On
night like this they give the coast a
ide berth"
He quilted them again. The girls,
Pving nothing better to do, watched
be dial to see If any change occurred
e heard them use the small trumpet
hrec times. Then Enid sang out:
"Oh, do come, dad. It goes back to
be southwest regularly"
He joined in the watch. The needle
las pointing north in obedience to tho
bund waves created in the room
uddenly it(swung round nearly halt
be circumference OF the dial.
"Hush!' he said. They listened in
(ntly, but the roar Of wind and water
as too deAfening. They could hear
aught else. lie went TO the south
lest point of the glass dome. but thu
intern was so blurred with rlvulets OF
alter that he could see nothing save
why vastness where the light fell OF
be flying spindrift.
To make sure he tested the auriscope
gain and with the same result.
"A vessel Is approaching from thu
blItlwpst' he nnnOupcpd era VplV