The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-21
CHAPTER XIX.

"Gee!" he grunted frankly. when
after a toilsome progress from the
boat, Rose at length slipped from the
seat formed by the clasped hands OF
the two men. And II vas me who
suggested this!"
The girl responded with n quiet
laugh OF the most natural effect imag.
inable-until 1t ended In a sigh. and
without the least warning she crun.
pied upon herself. and would have
fallen heavily. In n dead faint, but for
Alan's ~quickness.
Good Lord" Barcus exclaimed. as
Alan gently lowered the inert body OF
the girl TO the sands. And to think
| didn't understand she was so nearly
all in-chaftlng her like thatl Id like
to kick myself"
Don't be impatient" Alan advised
grimly; Pm busy Just at present. but
l.. Meantime. you might fetch
some water to revive her"
1t was an order by no means easy
to I'LL. Barcus had only his cupped
hands for a vessel. aud 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 awaited moth.
Ing toward rousing her from the
t~rance-like slumbers OF exhaustion into
which she passed from her fainting
1T.
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
II, God knows! Il would be kinder
TO let her rest, at least until | see what
sort OF a reception that lighthouse Is
inclined to offer u.s."
Barcus nodded. His face was drawn
and gray In the mo~on-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.
Tie had come 10 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 a wlde-armed
II 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.
haps two hundred dwellings.
Nor was this all-even AS Alan hove
In view OF the village he heard a series
Of %staccato snorts, the harsh tolling OF
a brazen bell. the rumble OF a train
pulling out from a station. And then
he saw It's jewel-string OF lights fash
athwart the landscape and vanish as
It's noise died away %diminuendo.
Where one train ran another must.
lie need only now secure something
20 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 al these. at least,
made up the texture OF his hopes: the
outcome proved them somewhat too
presumptuous. He logged down a
quiet village street and into the rail.
road station Just az the agent was clos.
ing up for the night.
A surly citizen, this agent. i~ll.pleased
20 have his plans disordered BY chance
flung strangers. He greeted Alan's
breathless query with a grunt OF In.
grained churlishness.
NAH" he averred, they Amt no
more trains til mornin'. Can't y see
I'm shuttin' up7"
But surely there must be a tele-
graph station"
you bet your life they is--rlght
here In this depot. An I'm shuttin' Il
up. too"
Has the operator gone for the
night?"
Hes going. I'm the OPERATOR. No
business transacted after ONCE hours.
Call raound at eight o'clock tomor.
row mornin'. Now II you'll Jest step
out OF that door. III say g'd.night TO
you"
"But must send a telegram" Alan
protested. II tell you. ! must It's
a matter OF life and death"
Sure. young Teller. II always is
after business hours"
Wont you open up again