Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-18

lamp iessened. The use that was lis
second nature caused him to raise the
wicks and admit more draft. Even
while his deft fingers arranged the
complex burner his ear caught q
change in the external din. The shrek
of the wind dropped to thunderous
growl. This was Il gale, not tempest.
God be praised, the crisis had passed!
The hurricane had lasted thirty five
minutes. A similar tornado sufticed to
wreck one-hnlf of the city of ST. Louis
This one. us he learned afterward,
swept around the south of Ireland,
created n tidal wave which did great
damage to the Sicily isles and the
licaGlant:; of the south coast, vet spent
itself somewhere in the North sea.
Dweilcri in inland cities were amazed
AMI incrcdulous when the newspapers
spoke of its extraordinary violence. A
truth is harder to swallow than lie
all the time
Up clattnved Enid with the steaming
beverage, Constance, the lantern bear
er, providing the rear guard.
II do believe it is blowing worse than
ever" said Enid. striving desperately
to be unconcerned. III reality the an
cry wind was no longer able to behead
the waves. With Il rising tide and the
gale assisting there would soon be q
sea worthy of Turner in his maddest
mood.
Good gracious. dad" cried Con
hn, In
forehead is wet. What have you been
doing?'
Brand hastily mopped his face with
handkerchief
During some Of the heavy gusts"
he explained. II was compelled to
stand on the trimming stage. And-thc
micrometcr valve required adjust
ment."
She eyed him narrowly. The margin
of suspicion was wider.
There is nothing else wrong?" she
asked
Hc approached and kissed her car.
"Since when did my little girl begin
to doubt me:" he said quietly.
Her eyes filled. Even the hint of q
reproach from him was intolerable
| For the life of her she could no longer
control the flood of terror which welled
up beyond restraint.
Forgive me, dad" she murmured,
but thought, and l still think, that
we were and are in position of the
utmost peril. l can't help knowing
that it is high water about o'clock.
1t Is now only a quarter to /. The
worst is not over. Do you think can
not read your dear face! Dad, If there
is danger don't send us away again."
Tears were streaming down her
white checks. Enid, holding the tray
In speeches. bewildcrment during this
outburst from her proud and self re-
liant sister, set it down on the writing
desk with Il crash.
"Oh, dear" she walled, II don't want
any cocoa if we're gug-gug-going to be
drowned"
Certainly If Stephen Brand had i'm
agined two minutes earlier that he was
about to laugh long and loudly in gen
uine surrender to an uncomfortable
spasm of mirth he would have feared
lest his wits were leaving him. Yet
he laughed now until his vision was
blurred. And the wonderful relief Of
it! What a tonic after the ordeal he
had endured!
1t Glanced just then that an eman-
cfpated wave embraced the granite col
umn, hit the cornce and deluged the
lantern, its disinteerated mass striking
the glass with force enough to break
any ordinary window. The astounded
girls could not refuse the evidence of
eyes and ears. Here was the frantic
sea leaping to a height of 40 feet and
more, yet their father was treating the
incident as the inca, j.... Vi ...ny
q month.
No better cure for tleir hysteria could
be contrived. Brand was obviously not
acting. The hearty pulsations of laugh
ter had restored his ruddy color. Evil
IDENTIFY they were alarmed about moth
ing.
Here. Enid, drink your parting cup!
he cried. "Havc no fear. 1t is only
the dochan doris before many another
feast"
Feeling somewhat ashamed of them
selves, though smiling very wistfully,
they obeyed him. He slipped his cocoa
with real nonchalaEce. Another wave
turned Il somersault over the lantern.
Brands. only anxiety was to blow at
the steaming liquid and cool it sufi-
GENTLY.
Yet was he watching them and ham
mering out the right course to adopt.
He alone understood that to the novice
the amazing ordeal from which the
lighthouse had successfully emerged
was as naught compared with the
thunderous blows of the waves, the
astounding reverberations of the hollow
pillar, the continuous deluge of spray
striking the lantern, Which the infuri-
ated sea would intlict on them.
. To urge any further effort to sleep
was folly. They must remain with him
and be comfortcd.
Being reasonable girls, of fine spirit
under conditions less benumbing, it