The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19
did Hector McKin and Walter Grind-

1 their example. MT. Jacob Romer did not laugh. He informed himself, how ever.
 Now Jacob Romer had been. oecu- pied for some time with great oper
 ation, having for it's object the turn ing of all the Incubus properties into a limited company. Everything had gone to his satisfaction. Half Of his 1 entire h holding he would receive in cash. Kahn was to remain as man ager-director. The name of Romer was to disappear from the concern. He 1 would be simply Mr Romer of Gorm Castle, of whose wealth no man knew 1 the figure, of unimpeaehable conner l cial credit and conduct-but-with a daughter who preferred to live with couple of old lighth ousemen a rocky promontory a couple of miles away!
 Based of the daily cares of his own 1 affairs. Jacob Romer made pilgrimages at carefully spaced intervals to watch the growth of the new installation at 1 Portogarten.
 From the first the little house on l the Rough Island Peninsula was gay with flowers. The foundations Of the I lighthouse, dovetailed. fitted like a puzzle. At last the dainty white shaft 1 began to rise. Uncle Barny's money was flowing bravely in that direction. But up Ion the butt of the heugh," as 1 they called 1t, the wary experienced eye of tn ancient pit-master saw that all was not going so we'll This WAS in no wise the fault of Phil Calmont. who. having much at stake, work ed early and late. But "sinkers' are a difficult and exigent set, and must have their money on the instant-1 not some time before. Otherwise those concerned "ructions,' are apt to arise with cyclonic suddenness.
 Then sometimes Uncle Barny's dol lars. tn ough doubtless on the way, fall- ed to connect, and the business on the top of the Port Heugh was in danger of failing also. It was when these crises were growing more frequent that MT. Romer, having left his car rlage below, strolled up to the new workings to see the manager. He likei to talk to him.
 Some who had worked for hlm over at Kirktown affirmed that there was bound to be laugh somewhe ere under the old mans waistcoat"
 But they were wrong. Jacob Romef was merely feeling his way to Kind action. He had not often put himsell about for the purpose during his il1e, and to tell the truth. was little out of practice.
 Indeed he went .elumsily enough to work First he bemoaned his own loss, of an occupation. He had not even hobby. and he refrained from ian guage" when Phil in the innocence or his soul suggested photography or stamp llecting.
 T am one of the unemployed now he said "I hope you don't mind an old digger eomin' up here sometimes knew your father and all that-al our lives. in fact-good fellow, Cal mont And you are shaping very fairly since you left us. But you won't mlnn my saving that you need grounding. Well, you will get 1t before you are through"
 Jacob did not say more at the mo- ment but each time he came n doaeu a little more. He was kindly, too, anu after a while our lonely Phil became more and more glad to see the old man in the grey suit, the tight, close- cropped whiskers and shaven race con, ing slowly up through the scateeIe" bazels and brches on the Portogarteh slope. Sometimes he would send ms coachman on to the little nm .ne Port telling him to return In an houi Then he would talk 10 fhh 'ii
 carriage came back
 n1,n not here in the interests of h. cuhus & Co. you know" Mir Romer would say; T leave all that to hahh now. But I know your father, I take an interest in these good lolh down there a
 He pointed to the lighthouse anu the ere was a twinkle in his eye.
 "They are building tower, ana sliih ing a pit at the tame time, he salo "and I fear they have never ewnal is ;ts1 .sat down before and counted the cost, have no experience in towers, and the Lighthouse Board may -heip But I know all about this business oi nit-sinklne, and it gets rid of the aoi- lars quicker than ski1nming them in'o the sea, eh, Master Philip? +
 Phil nodded grave assent, anu al +his the old man sat down on the only ayailable chair, cane-bottomed, rooihy, and much mended-but, when you Knew it's ways, comfortable. at,
 However. MT. Romer at this time dla not know its,ways, ana II Fhiiip nai not caught him he would nave soho heels over head. Of old tune 1acop Romer would have exploded iuriousis' But some new influence Mas as He actually laughed at the mishap.
 "iently does itv he said. reseatlhs h,msalf, tits that near foreleg. But I'll he ready for her tricks next eiihe -skittish little thing!
 "yes sirv, said Phil, stupidly. For if MT. Romer had turned somer saull in at the door, he could not nave peen more astoniShed tndh Ut .'ii conversation proceeding lroih su'a mouth. o,,inuad CT s,,nnose YOU have few shares Ill this new undertaking. They are noe having you a wage, 1 belleVe'-oh"' e' thenq Yes we shall put 1t al shares' Now am nterested-exceedingly ih- taras+aa in the success of this ven t,re-you really need new sule ol olothee Master Phil,-And if you see ,,a,r way to make over to me some nart of your shares, I would give you an exceedingly good price TOT theih Th,nk if over l am not man to force anything. Only be sure that there is nothing but the utmost gooo- will under all this. I began late' anu vou will say that I have good oeai of lost time to make up. Irue enouen Mast Phil, But please remember ,nas I was never a free man beIore aho- ah well-it doesn't matter!
 He said no more, but ambled off leaning heavily on his stick, his fig ure growing less through the trees. He was evidently ageing and Phil said to himself that wonders would never cease.
 Phil had understood in moment that Jacob Romer had begun to speak of his daughter. but that at the last moment eff such an expression can be used of Jacob Romer) courage failed him. ful than Phil would not nave peiieVea word of this. The old lion scented something good, and meant to nave ms finger in the Port pie-a little cloud It~oar than Phil Calmont'S