The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-11-09
Continued from last week.)


ter Of the situation now, announced his
intention to bout ship and make for
Mounts sbay.
zee doan ketch me tryin' to sail
close to Gulf Rock when zee can't zee a
boats length ahead" he said emphatic
ally. II be sorry, ladies both, but zee
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 III spile. All the
rest
Crash! A loud explosion burst forth
from the dense heights Of the storm.
The Daisy, sturdy as she was, seemed
to shiver. The very air trembled with
the din. Pollard had his hand on the
sail to swing it to starboard when Con-
stance put the tiller over to bring the
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 so uneX-
pected.
"Mr. Brand must ha' iced u.s." pro-
nounced Ben. That's warnin' to we
to go 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 reverberations of
the distant bell.
'That Is too urgent to be intended
for u.s." said Constance. "We were
just halfway when the snow COM
menced.'
II did not notice any vessel near the
rock" cried Enid TREMENDOUSLY. did
you, Benz
POllards slow utterance was not
quick enough. Before he could an
swer a third rocket Numbered it's 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.
1 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. Eff we'm in trouble I'd as soon
ha' you two CELLS aboard as any two
men in Penzance."
AT another time the compliment
would have earned him q torrent of
sarcasm. Now it passed unheeded.
The situation was bewildering, alarm
ing. There were three keepers in the
lighthouse. The signal foreboded i'll
ness, sudden and serious illness. Who
could it be?
In such a crisis charity begins at
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 q 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 future
means of earning livelihood, he APP
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 it. Work at your draw
the bane of true art. But where Con-
ME 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
months1out 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 spasmodic
clang of the bell came more clearly
each minute. Pollard, kneeling in 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 tho
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
tried:
Twenty minutes, Ben
What relief it was to hear her own
voice. The tension was becoming un.
bearable.
Fright y are, missy. No need to
slack off yet. TIES clearin bit. Wen
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 snhdned murmur of a mill