Yellowstone monitor., 1914-10-01
CHAPTER XIX.

| SssV6 En Mn
"Gee!" he grunted frankly, whe,
after toilsome progress from tn
boat. Rose at length slipped from tn
seat formed by the clasped hands a
the two men. AND 1t was me VIII,
suggested this!"
The girl responded with a ouie
laugh of the most natural effect imae
inable-until it ended in a sigh an,
without the least warning she crum
pied upon herself, and would hay
fallen heavily, in dead faint, but 70
Alan's Qutckness.
Good Lord!" Barcus exclaimed. ae
Alan gently lowered the inert body ot
the girl to the sands. "And to think
| didn't understand she was so nearly
all in-chaffing her like that! I'd like
, to kick myself"
Don't be impatient" Alan advised
grimly; Pm busy just at present, but
Meantime, you might fetch
some water to revive her."
It was an order by no means easy
to fill; Barcus had only his cupped
hands for 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
In the end Alan gave up the effort.
She's 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! Il would be kinder
to let her rest, at least until see what
sort of reception that lighthouse is
inclined to offer u.s."
you'll 60, them" Barcus inquired
I'D just as lief, myself !"
mo; let me-" Alan insisted. Its
not far-not more than a quarter of
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 on 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 lightkeeper when he
paused. struck by sight of what till
then had been hidden from him.
The promontory. he found. formed
the eastern extremity of wide-armed
IL shallow harbor where rode at moor.
ings q considerable number Of small
craft-pleasure vessels assorted about
equally with fishing boats. And barely
an eighth Of 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 grounds community Of per-
hape two hundred dwellings.
Nor was this all-even as Alan hove
in view OF the village he heard series
of staccato snorts, the harsh tolling OF
q brazen bell, the rumble Of q train
pulling out from station. And then
he saw its tewelstring Of lights fash
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 ral.
road station Just as the agent was clos
Ing up for the night.
A surly citizen, this agent, Hl-pieasou
to have his plans disordered by chance
flung strangers. He greeted Aan's
breathless query with. q grunt OF In
grained churlishness.
sNah," he averred, they amt nc
more trains till mornin'. Can't y see
I'm shuttin' up?''
.But surely there must be 2 teie
graph station"
"You bet your Life they is-rignt
here ia this depot An I'm shuttin
up. too"
HAS the operator gone for the
night!" ~
"He's going. I'm the op'rator. No
business transacted after ONCE hours
Call raound ct eight o'clock tomol.
row mornin'. Now II you'll Jest step
out Of that door, I'll say s'd-nisn1 g
you" 49,.
..But must ssnd : telegram, A.an Ia.
protested, u tell you, must ~
! matter of life and death.
.Sure. young teller. Il always -