The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-31
The EVENING STORY
Tide-BOund.
CBy Cora A. Dolman.)


of so. Dick Beauchamp, and the other
nephew.
against the sound of the wind and
waves, hadn't we better turn
around? Mother said 1 was to be
sure you came in by s. She told
me she thought as long as you are
going back tomorrow morning, you
would want to see Miss Reynolds to-
night and 1 wasn't to tease you to stay
away. That Miss Reynolds is cross at
you, she told me-"
"Oh. Miss Reynolds" Dick be-
gan in an offhand way, and then. look
ing out to sea he interrupted himself.
Curious sort of tower that-a light
house, 1 suppose. Funny place to have
it. though, out there on the sand
Isn't it funny said the boy.
Come, let's go back to the hotel"
Forget that" replied Dick walking
resolution out in the direction of the
tower. There was sudden look or
annoyance in his face. Turn around,
boy" he said suddenly, mot for Miss
Reynolds, you know, but for the TIDE.
1t is coming in fast"
The TWO turned quickly about, while
the flood of the incoming tide swept
around before them and formed an
ever increasing stream between them
and the rocks. Hurry, Uncle Dick,
said the boy. my feet are soaked
Something more than soaked feet,
grunted Dick. you'd better swim
You will lose your footing if you try
to walk
By this time they had both been
swept I'D in the incoming tide, and,
with a sudden sense of fear gripping
at their hearts, the two were bathing
against a current that rushed with ris-
ing force toward the coast. In a sec
ond Dick had taken in the situation,
and with confidence in the boys pluck
called out, Make for the open,
quick
He swan up to place a strong re
assuring grasp on the boys coat col
lar. 1--WE can swim out to the tower.
Maybe that is what it is there for. We
will get all tangled up in the current
and rocks and things If we go toward
shore" For few minutes they swan
on with steady even strokes.
Then with few words of direction
from Dick, he and the boy gained
footing on the steps that came out into
the water invftingly. In minute
more they stood in the shelter of the
sea-worn gray stone balcony above the
steps. 81 knew the tide came in with
a vengeance here" said Dick. but l
never knew it was like that"
Richard was examining latch on
the rusty iron-bound oak door that led
from the stone stairs to the inside of
the tower.
"Not afraid of ghosts are you,
sonny ne SAID Laughing.
Don't let's go in anyway" said the
boy. I'VE can dry off on the balcony
here
And we can walk back at low tide"
added Richard. Let me see; that
will be some time in the middle Of the
night. You will have to go to sleep
and forget how hungry you are"
The boy accepted the suggestion,
and before many minutes had passed
he had thrown himself down on the
hol md f-xyi n Gle
What is that? ?" asked the boy when
he suddenly reused himself from half
sleep. Don't you hear something"
"Fiddlesticks,' said Dick with a |
forced laugh, unwilling to admit even
to himself that there came family the
sound of woman'S voice from some
where within the tower.
IT heard it again. said the boy.
"Gee!' but L wish you hadn't said what
you did about the spooks and this
place being haunted. 1 wish it WASH t
getting dark
Dick stepped to the oak door that
led into the body Of the tower and
closed it carefully, and then returned |
to wait patiently for a half hour till
his nephew was sound asleep. Then |
Dick took his own coat and spread
it over the sleeping boy, crept noise |
leSsly to the oak door and passed into |
the room within.
The small unglazed windows of the |
tower let in a few rays of the fast-fad- |
ing light of day and Dick could see
the outlines of a huge stone fireplace |
that, in it's simplicity, reminded Dick |
of the architecture of a thousand
years ago. He also saw a rough oak |
table in the middle of the room.
Great Scott" he gasped, Selling a |
can of jam that had apparently just |
been opened, land crackers, too" he |
muttered, laying hands on a paste
board box.
To be sure anything in the line of
hi hut I1a
tated before calling his nephew to Join |
him in the meager feast that it would |
afford. Who had been eating in the |
tower? Was it the owner of the voice |
which he had heard so distinctly few |
moments before and, if 1t was. where |
was she?
These queries were stopped short
and sickening sense of dread came
over him as a heavy door on the OPP |
posite side of the wall swung open.
Slowly and gracefully the figure of
a woman walked toward him. A ma
jestfc figure dressed in white, crowned |
hair that caught the last golden re-
Election of daylight-reddish hair that
could not possibly belong to any ore |
but Miss Madeline Reynolds.
Even more intense than his first
fear Dick felt embarrassment. To
face the Incompatible Miss Reynolds /
even in this extremity, in his shirt
sleeves, shoeless and collarless-he
had left these accessories on the bal
cony to dry-and still damp with sea
water, was unpardonable. He felt her
eyes, though he could not see them
distinctly since her back was against !
the light.
How long have you been here"
she asked.
"A few hours I should say said
Dick MY watch was stopped by the
sea water We were caught in the
tide. you know-my nephew and my
SELF
Aren't you hungry" she asked,
stepping toward him and revealing a
dozen different graces of girlishness
liz c,dO r- Id