Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11

he knew that this time there was no way out,
and knowing it he embraced the chance to
pass final ironical judgment on himself. 1t
wasn't even worth while hustling-the tower
was filled with fire; there was no getting out
that way.
Il been gettin' it goin' an comm -cussed
out for dom my duty. The Cover 'ment
won't get no chance to hand me the keys OF
the beach, cause I'm goin to give a darn
good imitation of d. Devlin getting burned
up"
Like Bessemer crucible the tower roared,
>flinging flames and smoke into the lamp
room; it was going up like gunpowder with
the oil that was fed into it. He staggered to
windward to get the scalding smoke out of
his eyes. Five minutes more he'd give him.
<elf. if he wasn't blown into eternity before
hat like a sparrow from chimney top.
There was too much oil soaked wood in the
tower, and there was the tank, and the
rocks below
He peered over the rail trying to pierce the
darkness, dazzled by lurid flashes that shot
out from weather cracks in the tower. The
officer had seen them riding past. A riding
light came hurtlirs over the water, and
madly waved Coston, splitting fire from a
boat.
That's Cap coming and the life bullies.
Precious lot O good they'll do, less they
SflOOC up a line an pun Tic uOWH.
While he looked, with the tower belly1ng
smoke behind him, deep voice rumbled up.
He is up on top! Name o Heaven"
Only Casco could roar like that, Casco,
raving crazy. The motorboat swung in
close, dark figures tumbled out, and to Dew
Inns surprise the lifeboat sped back to the
shore.
Casco shouted, Danny Hold the jump!
Well get the gum
Devlin grinned. He knew the distance
from the base of the tower to the water
thirty feet of bone smashing rock: No won
der Cap was mad, coming out from shore
without the line gun so they could shoot him
help! OF course they hadn't known! 1t
would take them twenty minutes to get it,
going and coming. Swell chance for him!
with that oil barrel roaring under him!
He'd left the scuttle open!
He CROPPED in through the smoke again and
found and closed the trapdoor. "That'll
muzzle her for awhile, anyhow" he said,
still grinning about Casco.
The life savers below worked with axes;
others bundled something together at the
foot of the tower. Maxim me mat" he
said.
Roasting behind and freezing before, he
watched the wind drive the smoke in black
funnel shoreward He looked yearningly at
the water. Boats with dancing lights put
out from shore. He wondered impersonally
if Sara had heard of the fire-and drove the
thought from him, suddenly afraid to think
of her.
THAT tank'll make an awful howl when
she does 60 down." he substituted. "Mebby
better get ready" He reached for his boot
and stopped and slammed his heel on the
hot iron.
The motorboat was coming-and he
gripped the gallery SO hard that section
came away, leaving gap.
With all the lights clustered and tossing
on the water.-for Barnegat boatmen went
out in half gale that night in boats they
wouldn't ordinarily trust in high wind
he could see pretty plainly. The big motor
lifcboat rode high, breasting the seas; but
there were figures in the stern. Casco HIM
self stood in the bow. and the men along the
thwarts; but who was that in the stern
Sheets and the fellow in buttons steering!
His curiosity was satisfied. A shrill cry,
more storm piercing than Casco's, and two
white arms were impetuously uphung.
Danny Oh, Danny!"
Devlin knew that voice and gulped. Cas-
cos roar capped it. shuddering through the
, wind as the tower swayed under Devlin's
feet.
She's bullying out, DAM Jump! You
got to do it,
R,,Io;no ont u,ac chap That meant there