The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19

in the presence of either of the couple of joint stock fathe CTS.
 Now however, he saw a way out of this. He was to have three hundred shares In the concern. All was proper ly arranged. These he could certainly dispose of at what he could get for them Thus he would tide over the worst-the time of the building of the model lighthouse on the point. the lan- tern installation, and so on. Then once more Uncle Barny would be available in his eptirety-or perhaps by that time tsuch things had happened) the mine would be paying it's way
 The next day you may be sure that Phil heard the airy clink of bit and bridle down In the road beneath the copsewood. A short colloauy followed and then the carriage drove on. Phils heart beat heavily. It was now or never If he did not get more capital at least, some temporary assistance the Portogarten Pit would be fail ure. Still worse. they would all think it had been his fault. Had he not had a free hand? Certainly, except with regard to money. The white tower down on the point, the petted child of the old ligh thouseman's fancy, had taken most of that.
 HAdsACA I Ail, 71iA Jacob Romer, gaily. He was always jocose when he came up to the Port Mine. It was a little daily relaxation which he allowed himself. Besides, he could look down on the cottage at Rough Island, and see his daughter moving about with quick determined steps on the white paths cut among the green turf of the "links'--while beyond was the to-and-fro of the work ffA11 1f,arra nf hA Point Light.
 He laughed. Then he, moved on a few steps to a new point of view and laugh ed again. No one in the memory of man had ever card Jacob Romer laugh like that before.
 But it was by no means done ill., naturedly. He clapped Phil on the back and put the question for which the young man had been waiting. This was Friday and there was not enough money in the bank to pay Saturdays wages bill He had spoken to Billy but that careless capitalist had only answered. .Oh, sure, many is the time I have had to wait three months out on yonder light for my money. Unc Barny has failed to connect again that's all Give them your note of hand. if they come botherin'"'
 And with that he made off to su- perintend the instalment of a new pat ent steam syren down at the Point.
 If we can't beat the SSerry in light power, we will out-bellow the old lady by miles," was what he confided to Dick Finnan-who, though not so deeply interested financially, was equally enthusia stic.
 As for Vida she cooked and swept and superintended the operations of Emma Smith every morning of the week when she remained to clean up and do the rough work. Vida made herself pretty of afternoons, and played on her cottage Broadwood. And if she thought at all of the anxious, pale-faced young engineer on the heights of the Port Heugh up in the Bothy with only one of the pit-head hands to cook for him, it was not in the knowledge of man-least of all the person chiefly interested-that she did it. So for comfort to himself the youth talked to her father--that is, to her real father-who in Vida's opin- ion was still the slayer of her mother.
 Well about those shares-how many have you got?" said Jacob Ro- mer.
 "Three hundreds' said Phil, his nerves quivering.
 Who is your lawyer%" said Jacob balancing himself in Phifs chair, of which he had now learned the secret.
 "Purves of Coatestown," said Phil.
 Well" said Mir. Romer, If you like I will take a hundred and fifty of these -and-lkeep you going till the stun you take out balances your weekly working expenses and leave you a hundred pounds to the good'
 Pbaip gasped. He could hardly