Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-04
CHAPTER Nv.

CHAPTER Nv.
@1HERE comes q time in the life
Of every thinking man or wo-
man when the argosy of ex-
~ istence, floating placidly on
smooth and lazy stream, gathers unto
itself speed, rushes swiftly onward
past familiar landmarks of custom and
convention, boils furiously over resist
ing rocks and ultimately, If not sub
merged in an unknown sea, finds itself
again meandering through new plains
Of wider horizon.
Such pcrilous passage can never be
foreseen. The rapids may begin where
the trees are highest and the meadows
most luXuriant. No warning is given,
The increased pace Of events is pleas
ant and eXhilnrating. Even the last
Wild plunge over the cascade is neither
resented nor feared. Some frail craft
are shattered in transit, some wholly
shaken, some emerge With riven sails
and furnished embellishments. A few
not only survive the ordeal, but there
by fit themselves FOR more daring ex-
PLOTS, more soul stirring adventures.
When the two girls stood with Ste
phen Brand in the narrow entrance to
the lighthouse, the gravity of their
bright young flces was due solely to
the fact that their father had announc-
cd the serious accidents which had be-
fallen his assistants. No secret mont
tor whispered that fate in her bold and
merciless dramatic action had roughly
removed two characters frsm the stage
to clear it for more striking events.
Not once In twenty years has 1t hap
pened that two out OF the three keep
ers maintained OIL rock station with
In signaling distance of the shore have
become incapacitnted for duty on the
same day. The thing was so bewilder
ingly sudden, the arrival of Constance
and Enid on the scene so timely and
unexpected, that Brand. Il philosopher
of ready decision in most affairs of
life, was at loss what to do for the
best now that help, of sort I'm.
dreamed of, was at hand.
The case of Jackson, who was scald-
ed, was simple enough. The board of
trade medicine chest supplied to each
lighthouse Is a facsimile of that car
ried by every scagoing steamship. 1t
contained the ordinary remedies for
such an injury, and there would be lit
tie difficulty or danger in lowering the
sufferer to the boat.
But Bates affair was different. He
lay almost where he had fallen. Brand
had only lifted him into the storeroom
from the foot Of the stairs, placing
pillow beneath his head, and appealing
both to him and to Jackson to endure
their torture unmoved while he went
to signal for assistance.
The problem that confronted him
now was one of Judgment. Was it bet
ter to await the coming Of the doctor or
endeavor to transfer Bates to the boat?
He consulted Ben Pollard again. The
girls were already climbing the steep
stairs to sympathize with and tend to
the injured men.
DO you think it will blow harder,
Ben, when the tide turns 2" he asked.
The old fellow seemed to regard the
question as most interesting and novel.
Indeed, to him some such query and
its consideration provided the chief
problem of each day. Therefore he
surveyed land, sea and sky most care
fully before he replied:
ut may be almost anything afore
night, Misser Brand"
At another time Brand would have
smiled. Today he was nervous, dis
traught, wrenched out of the worn rut
of things.
II fancy there is some chance of the
doctor being unable to land when lie
reaches the rock. Do you agree with
me?'
His voice rang sharply. Ben caught
its note and dropped his weatherwise
ambiguity.
It'll blow harder, an mebbe shaw
ag'in," he said
Il shall need some help here in that
case, SO will retain the young ladies.
OF course you can manage the boat
easily enough without thcm?"
Pollard grinned reassuringly.
"We'm run straight in WI thiccy
wind" he said.
So they settled it that way. all SO
simply.
"A man sets up two slim masts n
thousand miles apart and flashes com
prehensible messages across the void.
The multitude gapes at first, but soon
accepts the thing us reasonable. Wire
less telegraphy" is the term, as one
says by mail"
11hoIo Il ro,n, ,,,,. a,,,,t,,..
curve Of the earth at that moulent, but
the Marconi station was Invisible
There was no expert In tefepatlic sen
sation present to tell Brand and the
fisherman that the!s commonplace
words covered magic code.
Jackson. white and mute, was lower
ed first. The, brave fellow would not
content himself with nursing his
agony amid the cushions aft. When
Bates, given some slight strength by ii
stiff dose of brandy, was carried with
Infinite care down three flights OF steep
and narrow stairs and slung to the
crane in an iron cot to be lowered in
his turn. Jackson stood up. Needless
Of circumstances, he helped to steady
the cot and adjust It amidships clear
Of the sail.
"NNell DONE Artie." said Brands
clear voice.
"Oh, bravel' murmured Enid.
Eve will visit you every day at the
hospital" sang out Constance.
Jackson smiled-yes, smiled-thougfi
his bandaged arms quivercd and the
scared nerves OF his hands throbbed
ccruciatingly. Speak aloud he could
not Yet lie bent over his more help
less mate and whispered hoarsely:
"Cheer up, old man. Your case is
worsen mine. An We did 1t for me-"
Pollard, with soul as gnarled as his
body, yet had glimpse of higher
things when he muttcred:
"D'ye think We can hold her, mate,
whites ] hoist the cloth!"
Jackson nodded. The request was a
compliment, recognition. He sat
down and hooked the tiller between
arm and ribs. Ben hauled with will.
The Daisy, as If she were glad TO es-