Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-20

oilskins with a noise that muffled the
throb of his engine. The motorboat
rose on the crest of big waves and
then dived down into pitchy blacSnesS
for it was night. He had lest his bear
ings an hour ago. when he had left
MADDEN harbor for the short trip down
the coast after a catboat which had
gone adrift. and now he was trying to
find the harbor's mouth once more.
He tried to discern the familiar light
that would set him on the right course,
but the lighthouse seemed blotted out
in the storm.
81 ought to be somewhere near the |
harbor's mouth by this time" he pant |
ed after he had recovered from a /
drenchiug wave. He bent forward and !
peered ahead as if to pierce the black !
ness with his keen eyes.
Seems as if ought to see the ledge !
light unless-unless something's hap
pened to Peter Langdon" He inclined
his ear, and close at hand he heard
the roar of waves breaking on ragged
rocks. Good Lord, if it isn't the ledge,
and no light"
| The wheel spun around in his strong
I hands, and the motorboat put about
until she was headed straight for the
| booming waves. If joel Webster had
not known the ledge like a book he
might have gone straight to destruc-
! ton on the bristling rocks that encom-
passed the lighthouse. But his ear was
trained to the voice of the sea. and at
! Just the right moment he swung his
little craft around into the narrow
opening that gave upon comparatively
quiet water.
1t was a matter of considerable skill
to make q landing in the storm, but at
last he moored the boat safely and
crawled along the platform until he
came to the narrow iron stairway that
led to a door above the highest water
mark.
His repeated battering brought quick
light steps across the floor and the
sound Of a frightened voice from
within.
"Oh, is anybody there?" called the girl.
eyes" he shouted back. but the wind
tore. the words away. and he had to
repeat his cry again and again before
she understood that his voice was not
the cry of frightened gulls or the
scream of the raging wind.
The door opened outward, and he
staggered within the warm, coy shell
ter of the sitting room. The girl was
busy locking the door and so she did
not look at him until he had removed
his dripping sou'wester and pushed
back the tangled hair from his wet
forehead
ooh, it's you, JOEL" she faltered
with a little backward step of alarm.
Eyes. it's me-" said Joel Webster
crisply. u was out in the storm. and
l noticed the lamp wasn't lighted
What's the matter?"
Its none of your business what's
the natter called an angry voice
from the adjoining room. Dora. is
that fresh Webster boy in, theref"
Yes, it's me-" repeated Joel for thu
second time. He drew near the com
municating door and looked in on the
recumbent form of a large. old man
who appeared TO be suffering grea
pain. whats the matter-hurt your
self?" asked Joel bluntly.
Broke my leg" growled Peter Lang
don ungraciously.
where's Marshall?"
went ashore this morning ant
, hasn't come back. Drunk as lord.
reckon" groaned the lighthouse keep
err Dora here tried TO get the LAM
going. but she couldn't, bless he
heartr'
, I'm going to light the lamp for you
anI 1,-hoD TIC ooipCv uOod I'll cOD1a IN n
and make you comfortable" announce
Joel in matter of fact tone.
Peter Langdon half raised himself il
. bed and shook his fist at the youn
man. Don't you dare touch my lamr
! Joel Webster! Didn't l warn you OF
these here premises a week ago? Didn'
l say | wouldn't have you aroun
), khere:'
Joel folded his arms and looked tn
irate keeper in the eye. Yes, you tot
=, me all that. Mr.. Langdon. but tina
u hasn't got anything to do with lightin
: the lamp tonight"
1T hasn't. eh? Why not?"
Because what you said to me the
=. has got to do with Dora. The Oni
. reason / came tonight was because
. saw the light was out and I though
: you were in trouble" Joel spoke firm
ly and without one backward glance q
the girl who stood behind him.
You leave that lamp alone" con
manded Peter wrathfully. You needn
. try to play the good Samaritan wit
me-"
You mean you're going to turn m
= out in this storm again:" asked JO'
. quietly.
= IF you could get here you can q
= away" growled the keeper.
. "Oh. father" cried the girl. pleas
don't speak like thatr'
You must hate me a lot. Mr. Ian,
don" said Joel slowly. IF knew tn
D reason why I'd be better satisfied
y, He turned abruptly away and opene
: the door that led 10 the spiral stairwa.
: I'm going TO light the lamp" he sal
= over his shoulder and. without waitin
- for Peter LanGdons snarii1E rernOl
- STRANGE. he closed the door and ascen,
ed 70 the lamp room In a few III
meEts the four burners were sendir
long red rays through the drivil