Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-08-03

| happen to note the Daisy and the
course she was shaping. But. during
| the short interval when his telescope
might have revealed to him the idcn-
tity of her occupants, he was suddenly
called by telephone from the oil room
I to the kitchen. When next he ran aloft
In wild hurry to signal for assistance,
he found, to 4is despair, that the
Lands End was already blotted out In
q swirling snOwStOrm, and the great
plain of blue sea had shrunk to a lead
EN- patch whose visible limits made the
reef look large by comparison.
With the mechanical precision Of
habit he set the big bell in motion. Its
heavy boom came f1tfully through the
pelting snowtlakes to the ears of the
two girls and old Ben. The latter, mas
ter Of the situation now, announced his
intention to bout ship and make for
Mounts bay.
zee doan' ketch me tryin' to sail
close to Gulf Rock when zee can't zee O
boats length ahead" he said emphatic
ally. Il be sorry, ladies both, but 'ee
knaw how the tide runs over the reef,
an ties easy to drive to the wrong side
Of the light. We'm try again tomor-
row. On'y the flowers II Spite. AL tho
rest
Crash! A loud explosion burst forth
from the dense heights Of the storm.
The Daisy, sturdy as she was, seemed
to SILVER. The very air trembled with
the din. Pollard had bis hand on the
sail to swing 1t to starboard when Con-
! stance put the tiller over to bring tho
boats head up against the wind. For
an instant he hesitated. Even he. vers-
ed in the ways Of the sea, was startled.
Both girls positively jumped, the sud-
den bang Of the rocket was 80. unex-
{ pected.
"Mr. Brand must ha' iced U.S." pro-
nounced Ben. That's q warnin' to we
to 60 back"
The words had scarce left his lips
when another report smote the great
silence. otherwise unbroken save by
the quiet plash Of the sea against the
bows and the faint roverberations Of
the distant bell.
THAT Is too urgent to be intended
for u.s." said Constance. I'VE were
just halfway when the snow COM
menced."
II did not notice any vessel near the
rock" cried Enid TREMENDOUSLY. Ibid
you. Benz"
Pollard's slow utterance was not
quick enough. Before he could an
swer third rocket Numbered its over
towering summons.
THAT is the help wanted signal"
cried Constance. Ben, there Is no
question now Of going back. We must
keep our present course for twenty
minutes at least and then take to the
oars. The bell will guide u.s."
"Oh. yes. Ben," agreed Enid. Some
thing has gone wrong on the rock itself.
am quite sure there was no ship near
enough to be In trouble already"
'By gum, we'm zee what's the mat
ter" growled Ben. STEADY it is, Miss
Brand. Ell we'm in trouble I'd rs soon
ha' you two gels aboard as any two
men In Penzance."
At another time the compliment
would have earned him a torrent Of
sarcasm. Now 1t passed unheeded.
The situation was bewildering, alarm
Ing. Dhere were three keepers In the
lighthouse. The signal foreboded ILL.,
ness. sudden and serious illness. Who
could 1t BET
In such a crisis charity begins Mt
home. Constance, with set face and
shining eyes. Enid, flushed and ON the
verge Of tears, feared lest their own
beloved one should be the sufferer.
To each Of them Stephen Brand was
equally kind and devoted father. He
never allowed Enid to feel that she
was dependent on his bounty. Only
the other day, when she limited at the
adoption of an art career as a future
means of earning livelihood, he ap-
proved Of the necessary study. but
laughed at the reason.
with your pretty face and saucy
ways, Enid" he said. II shall have
trouble enough to keep you in the nest
without worrying as to the manner of
your leaving 1t. Work at your draw
ing, by all means. Avoid color as
.... uune'of true art. But where Con-
nile and live you shall live, until you
choose to forsake u.s."
No wonder these girls thought there
was no other man in the world like
dad" Their delightful home was
idyllic In its happiness. their only sor-
row that Brand should be away two
months out of three on account of the
pursuit In which he passed his hours
Of leisure during recent years.
Neither dared to look at the other.
They could not trust themselves even
to speak. There was relief In action,
FOR thought was torture.
The dOcile Daisy steadily forged
through the waves. The snsmodic
clang Of the bell came smores clearly
each minute. Pollard. kueeling'ln the
bows. peered into the gloom of the
swirling snow. He listened eagerly to
the bell. With right hand or left he
motioned to Constance to bring the
boats head nearer to the wind or per-
NIT the sail to fill out little more.
Enid, ready to cast the canvas loose
at the first hint of danger. consulted
her watch frequently. At last she
cried:
Twenty minutes, Ben"
What q relief It was to hear her own
voice. The tension was becoming I'M
bearab1e.
fright y are, missy. No need to
slack off yet. TIES clearin' bit. We'm
heave to alongside the rock in less'n
no time"
The fisherman was right. His train
ed senses perceived distinct diminu-
ton in the volume of snow Soon they
could see fifty, hundred. two hundred
yards. ahead. On the starbOard, quarter
| they caught confused rushing noise,
like the subdued murmur of a mill
race. The tide had covered the rock.
"Luff ct is.' roared Ben suddenly
AC<oo,J,-