The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-06-29
TRUST A YANKEE
BY MYRA A. WINGATE.

urge me to go. I've plan for build
ing up canning business here. Ev-
cry fellow ought to put something in
to his own town. The building site
~ mine already, and by next year
can begin in small way. Let's do
1t together"
Here the quarrel had begun. Cath
crime could not bear that people should
say her Dan was lacking in ambition.
1t had ended by her saying:
Il will never marry you SO long as
you stay in this town."
Dan had caught her hand when she
would have removed the ring.
take time to think it over, Cain.
shall take the assistant keepers
place at the light during his vacation.
You won't see me for q month"
The girl moved restlessly, as il to
shake off troublesome memories, and
stepped from the shelter Of the rocks
out upon the headland, from which
was visible the great, brilliant eye In
the lighthouse tower, mile beyond
the harbOr entrance. Braced against
the storm wind, she gazed seward.
The light-a stationary one-was
wInking and flashing in manner to
attract notice. After q bewildered
moment it came to her that the winks
and flashes were clumsy adaptation
Of the Morse cote, as familiar 10 her
as the printed word, through her daily
work as operator.
$685." she spelled, $685." sos"
The wireless distress signal!
She sped down the rocky path to
the house, where her uncle, Captain
Barrett, retired, sat before the fire.
place blissfully anticipating supper.
"There's trouble at the light" she
captain agreed.
Trouble, sure enough. Guess I'll
have to CO."
I'm going, too. l can run the en-
gine," announced Catherine.
Sure that the trouble was illness or
accident they stopped on the way to
enlist the young doctors aid. At the
shore, men who were discussing the
unusual behavior of the light offered
help. The captain chose shrewdly.
Doctors an able seaman, and
Cath's good engineer. I'll take Jack.
He's tough as the toenails O. Noses"
Drenched and weary. they reached
the lighthouse at last.
Captain Hatch, head keeper, lay
dashed to his bed, his eyes bright with
fever, his mutterings incoherent.
Leaving the doctor with him, Cath
crime ran up the winding stairs, Cap
tain Barrett toiling after.
On the first landing, beneath the
light, lay Dana white and exhausted
Dan, only partly dressed, his head
clumsily tied up. and one leg broken
and helpless, though he had tied that
up too, with a makeshift splint.
The head keeper Quieted. the doctor
made swift examination and decided
not to set the broken limb until morns
ing While he deftly bandaged the In.
jured head, Dan told his story.
Captain Hatch was taken sick this
noon, with chills," he said. HE
couldn't get warm. He lay down and
l put hot things-flatirons and stove
lids-around him.
This afternoon he grew feverish,
and later went completely out Of his
head and thought l was trying to get
up into the tower to harm the light
lie struck me on the head with flat
iron. Then we fought, and tied him
down, so / could leave him, to light
the lamp. Coming down the ladder
from the lantern to the top-stair land
Ing l got dizzy and fell, breaking nv
leg. tied 1t up as best l could. Didn't
dare risk going downstairs, but man.
aged to crawl back up the ladder with
spare tin Of OIL"
How'd you make signals?" asked
Captain Barrett.
Throwing my coat over the lantern
and jerking it off again. Thought
Cath might see it,
"And the flares?
"Cut of my trouser legs soaked
them and my shirt and sweater in oil,
lighted them and threw them up on
the roof" explained Dan.
"Haw, haw, haw!" roared Captain
Barrett. Trust a Yankee!"
"You stop" cried Cathie indignant
iy. Hes hero, and you know It'll"
"Hero!" snorted Dan. Clumsy
idiot, you meant"
Thought you'd gone back on him."
leased her guardian.
nd marry him this minute IL there
was anyone to perform the ceremony"
said the girl holly.
I'm not ]. P. for nothing" re-
turned Captain Barrett brought my
little black book with me, too"
Dan caught her hand.
"YOu will, won't you, Cath?" he
begged. "rve the license. You know.
You are all the folks have. Don't
leave me-"
Il shall need a nurse here" nut in
the doctor. Cant move my patients
vet"