Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-01
DAILYNOVELETTE
SALVAGE
BY Mary Buzzell
ATTAIN PYNE, keeper of the light

NATHAN PYNE, keeper of the light
~ house on ledge rising abruptly
from the ocean, cast an all embracing
eye over the surrounding waters ther
turned TOWARD the house with a stento-
rian:
Hey, Charity !" and fair haired
girl at one of the narrow windows re-
turned a prompt, "Yes, dad-what is
it?"
I'm going now, and don't you try
any stunts on the water while I'm
gone !, We're in for bad weather, if ]
read the signs right! However, I'll
be back before dark If nothing happens.
Good-by, honey" and stepping hto
the dory he pushed off with a last
hoarsely shouted admonition to the
watching girl 20 be careful. And with
laugh she promised and went back to
her work. Since the death of her
mother when she was but a child, she
had lived alone with her father.
Then, having finished her work in :
doors, she took book and settling her
self in sheltered nook between two
boulders, prepared to enjoy an after
Moons reading. An hour-two hours
passed unheedcd. She looked up from
her book. The sky was black under
the beetling clouds and the wind was
rising. The frothing waves hurtling
against the rocks below moaned with
n dismal insistence that made her shiy :
er. She stood up to scan the water, but
saw no sign of the dory. What if
something happened to dad But she
would not allow herself to worry-yet
To keep from thinking she went into
the house and busted herself in making
kettleful of chowder-for dad would
be ravenous when he got in from his
trip. By the time this was set on the
back of the range to "ripen" the room
was dark. Wrapping n thick shawl
around her shoulders, she went out
again to find the waves, churned to q
yeasty foam, coming higher and higher,
each striking with a reverberating boom
that struck terror to her heart. And
the lighthouse was dark
She ran to the house and up into the
tower, and when the great light sent its
white rays far out over the water she
felt new courage. SO down and out
again-tiiis time with u coiled cable in
her hand. And thcn-hark-aboye the
noise of the crashing waters, there came
from the depths IL faint:
"Ahoy! The lighthouse !" and with
a fear stricken heart she answered the
hail with a brave:
Don't give up, dad-don't give I'D !!
I'm coming!" and even as she spoke.
making fast the rope to boulder-for
she realized that her idolized father
was out there-and in danger!
So regardless of her own peril, she
fairly flew down the rocks till she stood
on the dock, now we'll under water.
A head appeared above the foam---and
sinewy hand tried to grasp the edge of
the dock-fumbled uncertainty and
slipped from view.
''Dad-dad-" she screamed franti
cally, "try again, here to your right !!
The rope-the rope! Catch the rope 7"
Again the hand showed above the
spume; and with sobbing prayer for
success, she threw the knotted rope's
end toward it. At first it fell slack !:
then she felt a feeble tug, followed by
q Choked:
Pull, Charity For Gods sake
pull - and with set teeth, and with
every ounce of her splendid young
strength, she pulled.
And at last, the head and shoulders
Of her father emerged from the clutch
ing waters smothering foam; and a
limp form across his shoulders told her
that not only was he battling for his
own life-but for that of another-and
she braced herself anew. And inch by
inch, her torn and blistered hands
shortened the rope till her father, gasp
ing for breath, reached the dock; and
with his daughters help, from there to
the safety of the rocks above. And
after regaining their spent breath, they
half dragged and half carried the inert
form of the man saved from a watery
grave up into the warm kitchen Of
the lighthouse.
After they had all got into dry cloth
ing, she made her two patients drink
strong black coffee; and fed them spar
ingly of the hot chowder, and soon the
sturdy old keeper of the lighthouse was
able to tell her what had happened.
/, AS he was passing a lightship an
chored to ride out the storm, the young
marine-weak from a recent illness
had fallen overheard almost in the path
of the dory, and he managed to get
him into the boat, where he soon lost
consciousness. And then, when nearly
home, a terrific gust of wind had
twisted the oars from his chilled hands !;
and the dory, dashed on the rocks, was
misunderstanding them into the
stormy waters.
"And if it hadn't been for you, Char
ity," he finished, I'VE should have
been gone by this time But as it is
we'll, according to maritime law. we both
belong to you-for you salvaged us from
I the sea! !"
And Lansing Barstow, the "sal-
vaged" marine, looking straight into the
tear wet eyes of the girl holding a
spoonful of chowder to his lips; whis-
pered brokenly:
"God bless you! I shall be only too
glad to belong -
The next complete novelette-A Pilot
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