The Washington herald., 1907-11-16
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

"Ye see" ne said. "reliefs are so on
certain on them island lights that ! wud
rather bedoUt altogether. Of my own ac-
cord. than run the risk av being put % Il
whether 1 viii or whether 1 wont Be
sides It's more manly. II fairly puts q
premium on cadging 10 see other mems
tobacco pouches bulging all over the table
and % feel your. fat and empty, in your
pocket
This subject having been exhausted
Mr.. Bryan proceeded 10 give his late
chief the most alarmingly technical in
formation about the working OF the Skier
~ Light. the shortcomings Of his last
mate, Tom Arrowsmith. the misfits OF the
new spare electric plant. and how one
fell night Goth regular and relief
falling they had TO turn the lantern 10y
hand-hOw the siren would only splutter
and cough. and how they muttered prayers
indiscriminately TO the Virgin. the Saints.
and the God OF all poor sailors 0Utcast
on stormy seas. that IL evil befel the
weight or IL should not come upon these
two toiling watchers, Protestant and
Catholic. but upon the engineers and
storekeepers. the contractors and supply
clerks who had done last months pro-
viding for the Sherry Light.
Tom Arrowsnith cursed them" said
Silly Bryan. with gustO, and when Tom
was finished saying his piece in the STYLE
Of Gen. Booth (for he wears that uni
form when ashore). / took IL up with
as much as l could reminder OF Father
Dinnis upon the althar steps in the ovid
chapel at ROscommOn. And Il there IS a
fair division o pains and penalties when
the last indent sheets are filed out above.
there's a power av Northern Light an
Trinity House men Tat will be down
with something worse than the STUN
mickache"'
But nothing struck your rock?' said
Vida, anxiously.
NO. the morning came. as il always
will honey. il only We wait long enough.
And IL was a clane-swept sea that lay
about US. SO then We reversed engines
and did some thanksgiving-go down on
our knees TO do it. and Tom Arrowsmith
clear forgot 10 miscall the Pope for a
whole day, and 1 promised 20 contribute
10 the army's self-denial fund"
so chuckled old Dick. between puffs
that was the meaning II your giving W
smoking. ! thought there was something
behind that yarn about the tobacco run
ming OUT
Billy looked ashamed, and al once at
tempted to change the subject
He looked across at Vic, and with a
twinkle in his eye, he said. Him an me
nearly began our acquaintance with a
dOoel, but I vanquished him and set him
to wipe crockery. Though / must say
he's no great hand with the drying
towelt'
Whereupon Die Finnan explained that
Mr.. Morris was the underground engineer
OF the Incubus pits. and the best hand
at telling when the men were near 'the
STUFF that ever had been seen in Kirk
town.
"Ah. wen.' said Billy. praise the
pigs. there's a job for every man II onlv
he can find It. Even Tom Arrowsmith.
tie stupidest man that ever Skinned uu
a lighthouse ladder, has his good points
lie can blow his nose equal 10 any
magistrate on the bench-Iike the Skerry
fog horn. but more solemn like" Vic
WAS now in mortal fear lest the talka-
tive Irishman should reveal the cause
Of their disagreement. but Billy con
tented himself with winking solemn, por-
tentous winks. which compromised much
more than the truth markedly told
Vida was sure that the two men had
been discussing her and promptly re-
scented it. speaking sharply to Bily-yes,
even 10 Billy-and not at all to Mr.. Lud-
Ovic Morris
But she was wrong. Billy's secret was
OF a different sort
Honey" he said. presently. addressing
her. don't ye want to go up 10 your
room, just to prink and prettify-clear
up the brasses a bit. as it We're. and
breathe on the refectors? yen be a
bit flashed and blown with your home.
coming. 'Tis something OF windy
night"
'No thank Won said Vida ee4t1;,,
! herself with her feet To the fire, ALWAYS
grateful In the woodland shades Of Glebs
End I'm very well as I am, thank
you
At this Billy Bryan looked no little
disconnected.
I'm a poor hand at an excuse" he