The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-20
Plumber Island ~ !: 5es e. ' Is y
A AfunseyC
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright. me Frank A Afunsey Co

I pearing down the passage with consid-
! cradle alacrity. and the sound of his
| light, flying ascent Of the stairs had
| died out before Topelius appeared in
/ the kitchen
/ He drank his coffee slowly. slipping it
IN a thoughtful mood, one old, gnarled
hand resting above that Of his daugh-
ter, who drew a chair up by his side at
the table Few words passed between
them, who had need Of few, so complete
was their sympathy and understanding.
But she knew of what he was thinking
of her welfare and future happiness
under the altered conditions that would
, be theirs so soon as Iopelius could get
his resignation accepted and a successor
installed al the lighthouse, for they were
agreed that until then they must stav
and be loyal 70 the light.
Her heart was glsddened because Of
the change that had come over him in
the last twelve hours; there was a new
and younger liSE- IL his eyes, he moved
and spoke with more assurance than
was his wont
He complained. as he finished the cup,
!, that ne stu felt sleepy Perhaps an
She rose and went 20 the stove. and
while there heard him sigh heavily.
Startled, she swung round in time to see
his head sinking upon the table. With
q cry, she dropped the cup and spranE
70 his side He was sound aSleep or
seemed 10 be, and no effort of her own
awaited 10 rouse him. she cried aloud
TO him. shook him. dashed cold water
in his lace, and at length, IN an eXtreTn-
Ity OF anguish. rushed 10 the speaking
tube connection with the iamproom of
The tower and WhiSJled for willing
Inc assistant keeper responded in
SANITY, and as prOmptly-hardly wait
ing 70 hear her stammered explanation
told her he would come down at once
which he did
If there was any noticeable change in
ms demeanGr as he dashed into the
room the frantic girl was IN no suitable
state OF mind to remark IL Her father
nad nOt-stirred, nor could she see that
tOr All her attentions there was any
change in his condition, unless il were
JnSst ms stupor became the SOunder.
Best get him on the sOfy," com
WanGed willing, with an assumption OF
authority that she welcomed, not know
ing what TO do Let me take his head
and shoulders and You his feet" con-
tnued the maE- He'll rest easier so.
She Obeyed, almost weeping with
anxiety Nothing of this sort had ever
aHected John TODelius within her mem
DRY. and she feared-heaven knows
what she did fear
II was not until they had the head
keeper laid at length upon the sofa that
she so an mixing of the TRUTH and
Ihen Il was only when, having sent her
10 the kitchen Tod water, William
Stealthily followed her. and without
Woru OF warning seized her suddenly
round the waist. caught both her hands
IN one OF his own, and held them help
less. and fairly flung her through the
paSSaseWay into the tower. accomplish
ing so much almost before she could
recover from her surprise and under
stand what had happened
= ne ron do2r changed upon her, a
prisoner, and the key was turned in the
lock before she could rise. The man had
uuug her brutality against the stairs
ala only oy chance had she escaped a
serious INJURY Then, not knowing What
she Gld or said, she flung herself against
the BarF1er, beating It with her clinched
hands and ShT1ekIng 10 be freed and al
lowed TO return to her father. n was
some little while before she was caIu1er,
Sutnclently tC listen to the EXPLANATION
Wnlch-with iueNpdCabie consideration.
waited 10 make
There's no use wasting YOUR breath
screaming, Miss Todd" he told her in
ms ordinary tone, precisely as II nothing
unusual had happened
There's no one but me to listen, and
We g9L other things 20 tend TO II
@oh @lp the cap n He amt in no
danger whatever He's Just had a 7-0r
OF DOPE IN his coffee that'u keep him
quiet I'VE or six hours-rnaybe not -
lonE-and he'll wake up feeling all the
peter Tor It You mark nv words
NoN, you go and look after the IfZht.
IKE a good girl, and don't xorry.''
Win that he went awav- She heard
ms footsteps passing through fne Io---o
and out the front door When fhev
were gone the silence was absolute and
'a-N" Nt'tAAA l-tl nave guessed how InUe-
vas That she sat there in the bIacLness
"stitiite aud listening. numb with misery
h cry likely 4 was not long. She was
a young woman OF many e6ara eriS-Fcs
which were not as q rule either Looked
10" or found n her sex. Once she rec
ognlzed the fact that she was A mis-
Oner- she cast about for means to Is
cape, and sat up. composing herself
Stirling her SObs. drying her tears for
getting whatever OF iudignity she had
suffered, remembering only that her
father needed her asSiStance-herf father
and, for all she knew TO the cO0trarv-
the man she loved
For by the last quarter Of an hours
work Willing had finally and frrevoc EbIy-
thrown of the mask He stood revealed
ICr what he was, and his DurpOSe va
as clearly defined There was 4 treasure
rrOve in the house on the hill to his he
lief as much as TO CadOgan-s and ia
had put her father and herself o-7+ 81
the way in order that he might dea
with CadOgan and Creaeh without in
reference and undeterred make his de-
parJUre from the island with his booty
The girls heart was heavy with anDre-
hensiOu for CadOgan- Of her father she
knew the worst There was no reason
for believing tbat Willing would have
troubled 10 deceive her further II she
should continue for hours to scream az
the ton Of her lungs she would rouse
nothing b11 the echoes in the tower
But to esc1pe2
The Continuation of This Story VIII