Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-11

/ few powerful blows with the back OF the
| ak wedged Il firmly enough 60 bear any
| ordinary strain. The rope ends reeved
| through the pulley on the tree were lying
| where they fell from the girls hand at
the close of the struggle. He deftly knot
| ted them TO the rigid bar, and few rapid
| turns uf n piece Of wreckage passed be-
tween the two lines strung them into n
tautnefs that could not be attained by any
amount OF pulling.
fr watched the operation in silence. The
| sailor always looked at his best when hard
at work
The half.sullen. self-contained expression
! left his face, which lit up with enthusiasm
| and concentrated intelligence. That VIII ch
| he cssaycd he did with all his might VIII
| power and physical force worked harmoni-
| ously. She had never before seen such
| man.
He toillng W tn steady persistence, felt
| not the inward spur which sought relief In
| speech, but Iris was compelled to say some
| thing.
II suppose" she commented tn an air OF
! much wisdom, you are contrving an over
head railway for the safe trans of your
self and the goods?'
"Y-Yes"
why are you 80 doubtful about it,"
Because I personally intended TO walk
across. The ropes will serve to convey the
packages"
She rose impcriously. 81 absolutely for
| bid you to enter the water again, Such
! suggestion on your part is gu te shameful.
| You are taking a grave risk for no very
| great gain that can see. and II anything
| happens TO you | shall be left all alone In
this awful place"
She could think OF no better argument.
Her only resource was woman's expe-
| dient-a plea for protection against threat
enlng lis
The sailor seemed to be puzzled how best
| to act.
| Miss Deane," he said. there is no such
| Serious danger as you imagine. Last time
| the cutie caught me mapping. He will not
| do 80 again. Those rifles | must have. II
| II W II serve to reassure you. will go along
| the line myself"
He made this confession grudgingly. In
| very TRUTH IL danger stlll lurked in the
/ neighborng sea, he would be far less able
to avoid II while clingng to n rope that
sagged across the channel than II he were
on his feet and prepared to make a rush
backward and forward
Not until Iris watched him swinging
along with vigorous overhead clutches did
this phase of the undertak ng occur to her.
"Stop!" she screamed.
He let go and dropped into the water
turning toward her.
What is the matter now?" he said.
Go on do 90
He stood meekly on the farther side &c
listen to her rating.
You knew all the time that II would bs
better to walk. yet to please me you adopt
ed an absurdly difficult method. Why die
you do it?"
We'll, am very. very angry with you
'I'll tell you what" he sad 'if you will
forgive me l will try to jump back.
once did 10 feet inches in-er-in
when you look at stretch of water tn,
| same width"
81 W sh you would not stand there talkln,
nonsense. The tide will be over the rec
in half an hour" she cried.
Without another word he commence,
operations There was plenty of rope an
the plan he adopted was simplicity itself
When each package was securely fastene,
he attached II 20 a loop that passed owe
the line stretched from the tree to tn
crow ar.
II 'his loop he tied the lightest rope h
could md and threw the other end TO Iris
, By fling lightly she able to land a
her feet even the cumbrous rife chest 70
the travelling angle was so acute that tn
heavier the article the more readily
sought the lower level.
They toiled in silence until jerks coul,
lay hands on nothing more of value Then
observing due care he quickly passed tn
channel For instant the girl gaze,
affrightedly at the sea until the sallo
stood at her side again.
you see" he said, you have scare,
. every cuttle within miles" And he though
that he would give many years of his liz
to take her in his arms and kiss away he
anxiety.
But the tide had turned in a few minute
the reef would be partly submerged II
carry the case Of rifles to the ma inland wa
n manlfestly impossible feat, SO jerks, nov
did that which, done earlier. would hav
saved him some labor-he broke open tn
chest, and found that the weapons wer
apparently in excellent order.
. He snapped the locks and squinted dow
the barrels Of half dozen to test them
These he laid to one side Then he rapldl,
constructed small raft from loose tim
bers. binding them roughly with rope, anc
to this argosy he fastened the box OF tea
| the barrels OF -four, the broken saloon chair
and other small articles which might be o
use. He avoided any difficulty in launchIn,
the raft by building II close to the water
edge. When all was ready the rising It'd,
hoated II for him he secured 1t to his long
est rope, and gave 1t vigorous push OF
into the lagoon. Then he slung four rhei
| ahO Irio