The Washington herald., 1907-11-08


10 the sound of the surgeS OF the German
ocean breaking hushed and hollow be-
meath.
Where are we going. mother Vida
questioned. none 50 sure OF the meaning
OF these things. She had never been out
on the sea-edge by starlight before Nor
was she content with her mothers an
swer that Il was "such a nice night. and
they were going to take "a bonny walk all
by themselves"
Then why not go into the town and
SEE The shops? retorted Vida. practically.
But this was quite another thing. past
all the docks and ships. across "A weary
common. then over the level crossing on
the Clinton lire. and 80 10 the dark tran-
Gated mound on the sea Cliff, bristling
with cranes and scaffoldiug.
Then, suddenly seizing Vida I'm A close
embrace. and in hurried whispers be-
seeching her pardon for what she was
about 10 do, Caroline crossed the road
10 leap out upon the black rocks and
white foam far below But as they went.
Vida struggled. SL, was taken with the
quick access Of fear which gives strength.
She escaped from her mother. and ran
screaming along the Cliff road
young man stepped from a light.
I hooded vehicle which he had been driv-
( ing. lie caught up the little girl and
pacided her
My mother Ny mother" she cried.
And where is your mother?" asked
DR.. Hubert Salveson. the young Thorsby
/ doctor for he Was the man with the
! capoted vehicle
"Y0nder. yonder.' cried the child: she
IS going 10 jump into the tide. she tried
TO take me with her."
Hubert Salveson paused a moment. The
girl might Dee romanCing. but. again. she
might not. However. there vas no hest
tation as 10 the young doctors action.
He reached the height Of the lighthouse
I ciih. only IN time 10 see the waft OF a
white dress go over the edge
Here. hold my horse he called out
to Vida, for he had been driving alone.
The girl spraug 10 the mares head
As he rushed after the vanishing
drift Of white, Hubert Salvesou recalled
the time when his brother and he used
to come bird-nesting there-his brother 70
SIT on the cliff top and name the eggs.
He remembered the lodges They We're
an series. il he mistOok not-One below
the other. thick grown with gOrse and
heather He doubted IL any one with the
far enough out 10 fan clear into the
tide beneath.
Nevertheless he let himself down. his
fingers gripping the lodges OF rock He
felt for the next shelf with his feet, for
he was a married man now, and had
no right 10 play fast and loose with his
life.
Presently he was on firm standing
ground, and could catch glimpse or
the creepy pbosphOrescence far beneath
whore the breakers fell. flooded white
and retired. roaring sulkily- For the
space Of a long minute he could discern
nothing distinctly. Then on the same
ledge but a little beneath him. he made
out a lump. huddled and indiStinct, but
plainly human. Living. also as he found
the next moment. II was however al
together impossible for him 10 lift up
Mrs. ROmer higher than his head. and
Vida could not assist him. He. therefore.
called 10 her 10 go and fetch assistance
wherever she could find it.
Jump in the trap and give the mare
her head" he shouted. There is no time
10 lose"
II was pity for all the world. except
perhaps for the being of this story. that
the help which Vida brought back was no
other than her own uncle. Dr. Thomas
with his brother Jacob, and the particu-
lar enemy Of Or. Hubert SalvesOn-
And from this ill-omened meeting flowed
many things.
Among others DR.. Thomas Romer wrote
10 his brother that his wife was definitely
mad and that she would really ba much
better In an asylum. where she could be
taken care Of. She suffered from suicidal.
II not homicidal. mania The advice
jumped altogether with Jacob Romer's
humor. Tom was ready TO assist him,
on the usual terms as arranged between
the brothers. But what to DO with the
child was the question. Tom Romer
called her young wild cat and stead
lily refused 10 charge himself with her
on any terms
After the brief adventure Of the Poor
Side of Thcrsby Asylum. the removal 10
a certain distant dependency Of the great
CORN properties in Scotland was planned.
So that there wife and daughter could be
kept well under the eye of the husband
and father. without being allowed 20
show themselves too much in public
Jacobs scheme, as vaguely outlined in
his head, was simply to isolate his wife
till-well-till death might release him Of
the burden. As 20 his daughter-well. ne
would see. For the present there was no
need 10 disquiet himself about her,
But by this time he had taken James
Kahn, an adventurer Of whom no one
knew even the nationality. as his conf
dant and second-in-COmmand And James
Kahn thought he saw a quicker way to
rid his master of his burden. and at the
same time clear his own way TO the heir
ship Of the possible Incubus millions
He imagined, therefore, the scuttlng OF
The Good Intent. and the abandoning Of
the woman and child on the night OF the
storm. The crew were first sent of by
themselves while the captain and Kahn
landed with their boat farther down the
coast-only the two OF them saved Kahn
did not lose sight of his accOmpIice until
he had seen him safe on his way TO the
Argentine Republic with couple OF hun
dred pounds in his pocket-the payment