The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-12-10

ILL lu-CldluQS Q6T ike LQal! llhS
to kick myself"
Don't be impatient" Alan advised
grimly; "I'm busy just at present, but
Meantime, you might fetch
some water to revive her"
1t was an order by no means easy
to fill; Barcus had only his cupped
hands for a vessel, and little water
remained in them by the time he had
dashed from the shadows back to the
spot where Rose lay unconscious,
while the few drops he did manage
to sprinkle into her face availed moth
ing toward rousing her from the
trance-like slumbers Of exhaustion into
which she passed from her fainting
fit
In the end Alan gave up the effort.
shes all right" he reported, releas-
ing the wrist whose pulse he had been
timing. "She tainted, right enough,
but now she's just asleep-and needs
it, God knows! 1t would be kinder
| to let her rest, at least until see what
( sort Of a reception that lighthouse is
inclined to offer US"
You'll go, them" Barcus inquired.
"I'd just as lief, myself
mo; let me-" Alan insisted. "Its
not far-not more than quarter Of a
mile. And she'll be safe enough here,
in your care, the little time I'm gone"
Barcus nodded. His face was drawn
and gray in the moon-glare. Thank
God!" he breathed brokenly, you're
able I'm not"
He sat down suddenly and rested his
head his his knees: Don't be longer
than you can help, he muttered
thickly.
He had come to the headland Of
the lighthouse itself before the ground
began to shelve more gently to the
beach; and was on the point of ad-
dressing himself to the dark and silent
cottage Of the ightkeeper when he
! paused, struck by sight of what till
then had been hidden from him.
The promontory, he found, formed
the eastern extremity Of a wide-armed
if shallow harbor where rode at moor
ings a considerable number of small
craft-pleasure vessels assorted about
equally with fishing boats. And barely
an eighth of a mile on, long-legged
wharves stood knee-deep in the water,
like tentacles flung out from the sleepy
little fishing village that dotted the
rising ground-a community of per-
hape two hundred dwellings.
Nor was this ali-even as Alan hove
in view of the village he heard series
Of staccato snorts, the harsh tolling Of
brazen bell, the rumble of train
pulling out from a station. And then
he saw its jewel-string Of lights flash
athwart the landscape and vanish as
it's noise died away diminuendo.
Where one train ran another must.
He need only now secure something
to revive Rose, help her somehow up
the beach, and in another hour or two,
of a certainty, they would be speed
ing northwards, up the cape, toward
Boston and the land Of law and order.
Such thoughts as these, at least,
made up the texture of his hopes; the
outcome proved them somewhat too
presumptuous. He logged down
quiet village street and into the rail.
road station just as the agent was clos
ing up for the night.
A surly citizen, this agent, ill-pleased
to have his plans disordered by chance
flung strangers. He greeted Alan's
breathless query with grunt of in
grained churlishness.
"Nah," he averred, they amt no
more trains till mornin'. Can't y see
I'm shuttin' up?''
But surely there must be tele-
graph station"
"You bet your life they is-right
here in this depot An I'm shuttin' 1t
up, too"
HAS the operator gone for the
night?"
Hes going. I'm the op'rator. No
business transacted after Office hours.
Call raound at eight o'clock tomor-
row mornin'. Now If you'll jest step
out Of that door, I'll say g'd-night to
you"
But I must send telegram" Alan
| protested. II tell you, must. It's
matter of life and death"
"sure, young feller. 1t always is
after business hours"
Wont you open up again"
81 tell you, no."
In desperation Alan rammed a hand
| into his trousers pocket. will dol
lar influence your better judgment?"
he suggested shrewdly.
Lets see your dollar" the other re-
turned with no less craft-open in
credulity informing his ccuntenance.
And, surely enough, Alan brought
forth an empty hand
Make light" he said sharply. "My
moneys in a belt round my waist.
Open your Office. You'n get your dol
lar, all right"
"All right" he grumbled, reopening
the door Of the telegraph booth and
making a second light inside. There's
blanks and a pencil. Write your mes
sage. It amt often do this-but Ill
make an exception for you
Alan delayed long enough only to
make a few inquiries, drawing out
the information that, for one who had
not patience to wait the morning
train northbound, the quickest way
to any city Of importance was by boat
across Buzzard's bay to New Bedford
Boats, it was implied, were plenti'
full, readily to be chartered.
A timetable supplied all other need
full advice. Alan wrote his message
swiftly.
Addressed to Digby, his man OF
business in New York, it required that
gentleman to arrange for motor-cor
to be held in waiting on the water,
front Of New Bedford from 800 a. m