The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-06-20

room below, but he hesitated.
Peter Langdon needed him sorely.
Some one must relieve the injured man
Of the agonizing pain of his broken
limb. Joel thrust prejudice aside and
returned to the lower room and ap'
preached the bedroom door.
You won't be blamed because your
lights not burning" he announced
cheerfully. Now. M. Langdon, II
you'll let me. think can fix that les
of yours so you'll be comfortable till
doctor gets out here in the morning.
You know I've been quite handy about
helping set broken limbs. and
Get along with your ordered Peter
flercely. II don't want you to come
near me-"
Then I'll 60 ashore and fetch doc.
tor tonight" and Joel picked up his
hat and shrugged into his oilskins. In
an instant he had opened and closed
the outer door and was gone into the
stormy night. mann.
Dora Langdon sank down beside the
bed and hid her face in the blankets.
"Oh. father" she cried, why did you
let him go? Perhaps he will be drown
cdr
What If he is?" demanded the man
fercely. would you carer
There was a little silence while the
girls shoulders heaved with emotion.
"Of course I'd care" she said in a
mufiled tone.
A look of pain wrinkled Peters harsh
features. "Then-then you must like
him lot" he said hoarsely.
II do. father. she sobbed.
II thought-maybe you'd be satisfied
with Just me-" he said In a low tone
II lost your mother when you was
born. and l set store by you. Dora.
thinking maybe you'd care enough
about me to stay with me, but I've got
to give you up to him. hate the
young jackanapes"
"Oh. father. dear. don't think shall
love you any less.' cried Dora. throw
ing her arms around his neck. Don't
you understand how anybody can care
for more than one person at time?
When you loved my mother, couldn't
you love your own mother too?"
Peter Langdon swallowed lump 10
his throat and muttered under his
breath. Dora could not hear what he
said. but she felt that his mood was
softening Don't worry about Joel,
father" she pleaded. "You know he
said the other day that he would new.
err marry me without your consent. so
you see you can keep me prisoner
here in your tower all my life If you
wish"
Would you be happy and contented
to stay with me alone" asked her ia
ther.
II might not be entirely happy. IA
Their. but l would try to be contented,"
she said steadily.
There was silence between the two
after that which lasted well into the
night The waves roared on the rocks
at the base Of the tower, and the wind
screamed wildly as IT chased the fly
ing rain. Father and daughter were
thinking of the brave young form with
face set toward Hadden harbor. The
older mans fierce jealousy had driven
Joel forth into the widest storm Of the
season. Would he reach the shore
alive?
II he did not, how could Peter Lang
don make up the loss to his daughter
He asked himself this question over
and over as the long hours passed
Dora arose after awhile, and with
white. set face she attended to little
han hnl d,,<in hot oh mil
be distracted by the acuteness Of her
anxiety. Now and then she admins.
tered cordial to the suffering man
on the bed. but after awhile he lay very
quiet with closed eyes, and she thought
he was asleep.
The sitting room clock was Ginning
when there came beating Mt the
outer door. Dora few to open 1t with
trembling fingers. and two storm swept
men entered the room. The girl ran
to and fro. helping the doctor and Joel
Webster to shed their oilskins and
bringing them steaming bowls of gin
ger tea.
Sensible little girl" approved DR..
Brown as he set the bowl on the table.
"Now for your father. Dora"
Joel sat in the background. white and
worn with the strain of his nights
work. At least he could keep out OF
Peter Langdon's way until that man
Of wrath had been made comfOrta BILE.
| Perhaps then there might. be spare
bed. Joel nodded gently or to sleep
sitting bolt upright on his chair.
II want Joel to help" said Peter
Langdon in a mild voice as the doctor
made his careful examination. and II
was very happy Dora who gently
shook Joel into wakefulness and whis.
pered her fathers request.
As the three busted themselves over
the broken leg Peter Langdon. quite
unmindful of pain. uttered his thoughts
aloud. "As soon as the sea goes down,
doctor, wish you'd bring the minister
over. We're going to have a wedding
here"
"O-ho!'' smiled the physician. $50
that's the way the wind blows, eh I
Going to like life ashore. Doray'
Joel had found the hand Of Dora's
father and was gripping It gratefully,
Before the girl could frame nm answer