Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-08-22

me that the octopus is Il noble creature,
filed with high ideals and writing at
the thrusts Of the muckrakers," Eliza
told them.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Fruit Of the Tempest.
EITHER O'Neil nor his host was
I'M in sight when the girls came to
breakfast. The men had risen
early, it seemed. and We're
somewhere out in the storm. A wilder
cane was raging, the rain was whirled
ahead of it like charges Of shot. The
mountains behind Kyak were invisible
and to seaward was nothing but, a dim
y discernible smother Of foam and
spray, for the crests of the breakers
wind. The town was sodden: the
streets We're running mud. Stovepipes
were down, tents lay ,1attened in the
miro, and the board houses were shak-
ing as if they might fly to pieces at any
moment The darkness was uncanny,
and the tempest seemed to be steadily
growing in violence.
When an hour or two had passed
with no word from the men Eliza an
nounced her intention of looking them
up. She had spent the time at a win
dow, straining her eyes through the
weller, while Natalie had curled ur
cozily with book in one Of Trevor's
armchairs.
s" but, , asSrls' sy99n Rss &rsRih .,l.
O'Neil is all right"
"Of course he is. I'm not going out
to scold him and bring him in. want
to look at the storm"
$50 do I, but it won't do any good.
can't make it blow any harder by get
ting my feet wet"
You read your novel and talk to
Mr.. Trevor when he comes back. He
knows we're to blame for this storm,
so you must be nice to him. | can't"
She clad herself in raincoat, sou'wester
and boots and hurried out. Walking
was difficult enough, even in the
shelter Of the village, but not until
she had emerged upon the beach did
she meet the full strength of the gale
Here it wrapped her garments about
her limbs until she could scarcely
move. The rain came horizontally and
blinded her. The wind fairly snatched
her breath away and oppressed her
lungs like heavy weight. She shield
al Ioc ho
clinging to stationary objects and
watching her chance she managed to
work her way onward At last she
caught sight of O'Neil standing high
above the surf. facing the wind def
antly, as If daring it to unfoot him.
He saw her and came in answer to
her signal But to breast that wind
was like stemming rushing torrent.
and when he reached her side he was
painting.
"Child, what are you doing here?"
he demanded.
81 couldn't wait any longer! she
shouted back. you've been out since
daylight. You must be wet through"
He nodded. II lay awake all night
listening. So did Trevor. He's begin
ming to worry already"
Already? If the breakwater stands
this
'The storm hasn't half started.
Come! Wen watch it together" He
took her hand, and they lunged into
the gale. battling their way back to
his point of vantage. He paused at
length and, with his arm about her.
pointed to the milk white chaos which
marked Trevor's handiwork.. The rain
pelted against their faces and stream
ed from their slickers.
After long time he spoke. "See!
It's coming up!' he said.
She felt no increase in the wind, but
she noted that particles of sand and
tiny pebbles from the beach were fly
ing with the salt raindrops. Her mus
cles began to tremble from the con-
slant effort at resistance. and she was
relieved when Murray looked about for
a place of refuge. She pointed to pile
of bridge timbers, but he shook his head.
They'll go flying If this keeps up"
He dragged her into the shelter OF
little knoll. Here the blasts struck
them with diminished force, the roar
ing in their ears grew less, and the la
Dor of breathing was easier.
High up beyond reach of the surf a
dory had been dragged and left bottom
up. Under this the wind found fin
ger hold and sent it flying.
Even where the man and the woman
crouched the wind harried them like
a hound pack. but by clinging to the