The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-05-27
Not on the
Chart
ALighthouse Storu
By CLARISSA MACKIE

\
The rain fell in long, slanting sheets
and drummed against Joel Webster's
oilskins with a noise that muffled the
throb of his engine The motorboat
rose on the crest of big waves and
then diyed down into pitchy blackness,.
for it was night. He had lost his bear
ings an hour ago, when he had left
MADDEN harbor for the short trip down
the coast after 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
drenching 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 Langdonp' 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 hghtr
The wheel spun around in his strong
hands, and the motorboat put about
until she was headed straight for the
booming waves. If Joel Webster had
NOT kno1un tho lodoo iko hook 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.
to make 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 door above the highest water
mark.
His repeated battering brought quick
light steps across the floor and the
sound Of frightened voice from
within.
ooh, is anybody there?' called the girl
''Yesp' he shouted back, but the VIM
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 be had removed
his dripping sou'wester and pushed
back the tangled hair from his wet
forehead
"Oh. it's you, Joelr' she faltered
with a little backward step of alarm
Eyes. it's me-" said Joel Webster
crisply Il was out In the storm. and
I noticed the lamp wasn't lighted
What's the matter?"
TITS none of your business what's
the matterp' called an angry voice
from the adjoining room. Dora, is
that fresh Webster boy in thereY
Eyes, it's me-" repeated Joel for the
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 great
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 and
hasn't come back Drunk as a lord. |
reckonr' groaned the lighthouse keep
er. Dora here tried to get the lamp
going, but she couldn't, bless her
hearth
I'm going to light the lamp for you
and when it's going good I'll come bach
and make you comfortable" announced
Joel in matter of fact tone.s
Peter Langdon half raised himself il
bed and shook his fist at the younr
man. Don't you dare touch my lamp
Joel Webster! Didn't | warn you OF
these here premises week ago? Didn't
| say wouldn't have you around
here?''
Joel folded his arms and looked the
irate keeper in the eye. yes, you told
me all that. Mr.. Langdon, but that
hasn't got anything to do with lighting
the lamp tonight"
1T hasn't. ehq Why not?"
Because what you said to me ther
has got to do with Dora. The only
reason | came tonight was because
saw the light was out and | thought
you were in trouble" Joel spoke firm
ly and without one backward glance al
the girl who stood behind him.
"You leave that lamp alone." com
manded Peter wrathfully. You needn't
try to play the good Samaritan will
me-"
"You mean you're going to turn me-
out in this storm again2" asked Joe
quietly.
eff you could get here you can gel
away" growled the keeper
"Oh, father" cried the girl. please
don't speak Hike thatp'
''You must hate me lot. Mr. Lang
don," said Joel slowly. IF knew the
reason why I'd be better satisfied
He turned abruptly away and opened
the door that led to the spiral stairway
'T'm going to light the lamp" he said
over his shoulder, and. without waiting
for Peter Langdon's snarling remon
STRANGE, he closed the door and ascend
ed to the lamp room. In a few mo
nents the four burners were sending