Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-03-31

an effort and Mrs. clates looked at
her curiously.
Miss Prents been telling you about
Steve, Empton?" she queried. She's
pretty doleful at times. You see, she
and Steve set everything by each
other and"
Il guess I'd better go upstairs,
Mrs. Clates, and get on something
thicker" Miss Ritchdon interrupted.
IT'S growing rather cool"
We'll, maybe you had" returned
Mrs. Clates, with hint of vexation in
her tone.
The wind steadily increased during
the Afternoon and by supper time it
was blowing stir gale.
"'Tain't often we have a 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'sall ready, we have 1t 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
ratified the windows on the eastward
side.
IT'S dry storm" went on the cap.
tain, and his voice had a suggestion Of
the quarter deck. "Therell be some
wrecks before tomorrow morning if
this wind holds, and there amt no
sign of its dropping. Scott" he ex-
claimed, as the door burst open and
the wind sent the Harmerston Weekly
flying about the room. Bear a hand
lively, Persis! And you, Miss Ritch-
don, catch hold and shovel We've got
to get the door to or the winders will
blow out, and then where'll we be-"
There came 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
pened beforehand summer, tool" he
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 a vessel in dis
tress-maybe it's a wreck"
Miss Ritchdon sprang to her feet
ooh! 1 can't sit here!" she cried.
Cant 1 go out-out where can see
for myself?"
The captain regarded her with dis
favor. well, 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 it, Miss
Ritchdon, s'pose l can manage it,
but it'll be pretty hard beat to wind
ard. You get into your sweater-a
shawls no good-a hat? My, all the
hatpins you could stick in wouldn't
hold it on! Put on hood and tie it
tight, too. Well go out the back
door,"
The two struggled down to a bluff
commanding the harbor, buffeted by
the wind that tugged at Miss Ritch-
don's skirts, as If seeking to hold her
back. The sea was pounding on the
rocks below them, and it's foam flew
high, shifting them with a sudden on
slaught of spray at every fiercer gust.
Capt. Clates drew the girl behind
projecting shoulder of rock. That's
a mite better" he painted. where's
the boat?" he inquired of a bystander.
There she is-just outside, a big
schooner-yacht."
Capt. Clates shook his head. She'll
never make it in this gale, Jack; she
can't clear the point"
Guess you're right, captain" re-
Joined Jack Somers, deferentially.
hoarse shout came from the
shingly beach below them as the life
saving crew made it's appearance
dragging mortar into position, while
crowd OF hardy sailors, more burly
than ever in their sou'westers and
cork belts, showed the lifeboat into a
welter of foam, scrambling aboard at
the last moment to send their boat
seward with mighty oar strokes.
Amy notion whose yacht 1t is?"
queried Capt. Clates.
"They say it's that feller's who went
off on a cruise two weeks back
name s Kenton," Somers responded.
"Ah!" lola Ritchdon's voice went
out in a sharp cry. "Geoffrey Kenton
was my friend-my lover"
MY pity and grief" muttered Capt.
Clates, turning toward the girl who
covered by his side.
Somers gave sudden shout Of con-
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
a-running before the wind into shoal
water!"
Miss Ritchdon felt hand laid gen.
thy upon her shoulder and, looking up,
she saw Rosetta Prents face, no
longer anxious, with wandering gaze,
but calm and confident.