The Huttig news., 1910-10-08
an effort and Mrs. Clates looked al


 her curiously.
 Miss Prents been telling you about Steve Empton?" she queried. Sne's pretty 0oleful at times. You see. she and Steve set everything by each other and"
 Fl guess I'd better go upstairs Mrs. Clates, and get on something thicker" Miss Ritchdon interrupted Its growing rather cool"
 Well, maybe you had" returned Mrs. Clates, with hint of vexation ln her tone.
 The wind steadily increased during the afternon and by supper time 1t was blowing stiff gale.
 "'Taint often We have harder blow than this, even in winter, re- marked Capt. Clates Guess you'd better not go out for supper, Miss Ritchdon-you might blow away; sup per's all ready, we have it at half after five, summer n winter. Seems like the middle of the afternoon, this time of year
 Miss Ritchdon, nothing loath, took seat at the hospitable table, shivering little at every howl of the wind as It rattled the windows on the eastward side.
 Its dry storm" went on the cap tain, and his voice had a suggestion of the quarter deck "There'll be some wrecks before tomorrow morning If this wind holds, and there aint no sign of It's dropping. Scott!' he ex- claimed, as the door burst open and the wind sent the Harmerston Weekly i flying about the room. Bear hand lively, persis! And you. Miss Ritch. don, catch hold and shovel We've got l to get the door to or the winders will blow out, and then where'll we be?'
 There came a moments lull and the three pushed the door shut. while Capt. Clates hurriedly showed heavy chest against it and wiped his fore head. Don't recollect that ever hap exclaimed Guess folks will stay in- doors tonight" He stopped and seemed to listen. "Hark," he whis. pered. 'The bells ringing on the life saving station. There's vessel in dis tress-maybe it's a wreck"
 Miss Ritchdon sprang to her feet "Ohi I cant sit here!" she cried Cant l go out-out where I can see for myself?"
 The captain regarded her with dis favor. Well, I don't see why any sen. sible girl" he began, protestingly. but a look from his wife checked him "Er-well, if you're set on 1t, Miss Ritchdon, l s'pose I can manage it. but it'll be pretty hard beat to wind ard. You get into your sweater-a shawl's no good-a hat? My, all the hatpins you could stick in wouldn't hold it oni Put on hood and tie ii tight, too. We'll go out the back door,"
 The two struggled down to bluff commanding the harbor, buffeted by the wind that tugged at Miss Ritch don's skirts, as if seeking to hold hel back The sea was pounding on the rocks below them, and its foam flew high, smiting them with sudden on slaught of spray at every fiercer gust
 Capt Clates drew the girl behind g projecting shoulder of rock. That's a mite better" he panted Where's the boat?" he inquired of bystander
 There she is-just outside, big schooner-yacht."
 Capt. Clates shook his head "She1 never make 1t in this gale, Jack; she cant clear the point" Guess you're right, captain re | joined Jack Somers, deferentially A hoarse shout came from the shingly beach below them as the life saving crew made it's appearance dragging a mortar into position, while a crowd ol hardy sailors, more burly l than ever in their sou'westers and cork belts, showed the lifeboat into a welter of foam, scrambling aboard al | the last moment to send their boat seaward with mighty oar strokes.
 Any notion whose yacht it is?' | queried Capt. Clates.
 They say it's that feller's who went l OH Ou d CiuiSc tWO WtchS Ddck- name s Kenton,' Somers responded | "Ahi" lola Ritchdon's voice went out in sharp cry. "Geoffrey Kenton was my friend-my lover--'
 My pity and grief!" muttered Capt Clates, turring toward the girl who covered by his side.
 Somers gave a sudden shout of con. 1
 sternation. Whats that blamed idiot up to, anyway" he cried excitedly ''He couldn't beat to wind ard long enough on the old tack to make the channel, and now he's fell off and drumming before the wind Into shoal wateri"
 Miss Ritchdon felt a hand laid gen. tly upon her shoulder and. looking up she saw Rosetta Prent's face, no