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(DIDSOimrcR BflHGfllNS T
THE
By
Louis Tracy,
PILLAR of
Author of
-The
Winds
of the
Morning"
Many lines of Clean and Perfect
Merchandise Kadically Underpriced
LIGHT
Copyright. 1004. by
Edward J. Clode
v. It
iitg'
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K.
(CONTINUED.)
Constance was kept buay flying up
.and down to the kitchen, while Enid,
Mvlug met nil immediate demands in
the matter of n hot beverage nnd some
thing to eat, supplemented her labors.
Pyiie worked like n Trojan. As each
pile of sodden gnrments was delivered
to him he squeezed out as much water
ns possible with his hands and then
Applied hlmBclf to the task of baking
them dry. He did this, too, in a very
efficient way, speedily converting the
kitchen into n miniature Turkish bath.
At the end of an hour he had succeeded
so well that more than one-half of the
females were supplied with tolerably
dry and warm underclothing. With
their heavier garments of course noth
ing could be done.
Once, on the stairs, Enid detained
Constance for n moment's chat.
"Mrs. Vansittart is odd," she said.
Constance, so taken up was she with
many errands, had forgotten the lady.
"How thoughtless of me," she cried.
-"Is she better?"
"Yes, but when I went in just now
to give her her clothes she said to me,
'Are you the sister of the other of
Constance Brand?' It was no time for
explanations, so I Just said 'Yes. She
gave nic such a queer look and then
.smiled quite pleasantly, apologizing
for troubling me."
Constance laughed.
"PerhapB she knew dad years ago,"
she said.
"What do you think Mr. Pyne said
4bout her?"
"How can I tell? Did you speak of
lier to him?"
"1 lold him she had fainted when you
delivered his message. He said, 'Guess
she can faint as easy as I can fall off
bouse. Isn't he funny?"
"I think he Is splendid," said Con
stance. The wreck was now wholly demolish
ed. The first big wave of the retreat
ing tide enveloped the lighthouse and
smote It with thunderous malice.
Screams came from the women's quar
ters. "Go, Enid," said Constance. "Tell
them they have nothing to fear. They
must expect these things to happen for
aiearly two hours. Tell them what dad
said. Twenty-five years, you know."
Brave hearts! What infinite penetra
tion inspired the man who first said,
-'Noblesse oblige!"
Constance looked In at the kitchen.
Pyne loomed through a fog of steam.
'Tay no heed to these" she was In
terrupted by another mighty thump
nnd cataract roar "these blows of
Thor'H hammer," she cried.
"Play me for nn anvil," he returned.
She descended to the depths to reas
sure the men. Talking with shrill
cheerfulness at each doorway was
easy. 'It helped her to go down, down,
feeling stone nnd iron trembling as
every surge was hurled many feet
Above her head. At last she stood on
the lowest lloor. Beneath her feet was
naught but granite and iron bars. Here
wns solidity. How grateful to know
of this firm base, rooted in the very
world. Her heart leaped to her mouth,
"hut not with fear. She was proud of
the lighthouse, strong In the knowledge
of its majestic strength.
Nevertheless In this place, the source
of her own .sense of security, she found
uneasiness among the men. They were
Jill sailors In this lowest habitable
region. Their preconceived Ideas had
been rudely reversed. The ship, the
noble structure which defied the storm
by yielding to Its utmost fury, had for
them no terrors. But the stnrk pillar
which flinched from no assault be
wildered them. It was Impossible to
believe that it could withstand the
"H7io arc ynut" she whispered.
strnlu. Ha! Listen to that. The bat
tering ram of ocean applied to a thin
shaft of stone. Surely it must be
pounded Into fragments.
Said otic with indefinite bellow amid
tho black turmoil: "I cau't stand this,
mates."
"Up nloft for me!" cried another.
"Let's die wltti our eyes open, nny-
how," chimed in a third.
But a light flashed in the rolling orbs
of the man who was already on the
stairs. Astounded, ho drew back.
Constance stood in their midst, a mere
girl, radiant, smilingly unconcerned,
addressing them In calm words broken
only by the fitful noises.
"Sorry your quarters so very un
pleasant. Only last n couple of hours.
Twenty-five years far worse gales.
Want any more cocoa?"
"Thank you kindly, miss, we're quite
comfortable." This from the man who
wished to die with his eyes open.
"Please, miss, may we smoke?" said
he who couldn't stand it.
Constance hesitated. Blithely uncon
scious that n whiff of mutiny had
swept through the storm tossed fold,
she pondered the problem. She saw no
harm In it.
"Yes," Bho said. "Smoke by all
means. I will ask my father, and If it
should be dangerous I will come buck
and let you know. In a few hours It
will be daylight and If tho sea falls he
will come and open the door."
By sheer inspiration she had uttered
the formula destined to annihilate the
necromantic bluster of the hammering
waves. Open the doors so tins pon
derous racket was a mere tldai trick,
a bogy, which each passing minute
would expose more thoroughly.
"All right, miss, an' Gawd bless yer!"
growled one who had not spoken hith
erto. There was a chorus of approval.
Constance gave a little gulp. Tho cul
tured and delicate lady lying in the
bunk above had not spoken so.
"Indeed," she gasped, "God has
blessed some of us this night."
Then she fled, further utterance fall
ing her.
Nearer the sky Brand tended the
lamp and discussed matters with Chief
Officer Kmmett. The sailor, with tho
terse directness of his class, told how
the Chinook had made an excellent
voyage from New York until she ran
Into bad weather about 400 miles west
of the Lizard.
"It seems to me," he said, "as If we
dropped on to the track of that hurri
cane after it had curved away to the
uorrard and that the blamed thing
swooped down on us again when we
were abreast of the Bishop light." .
Brand nodded. This surmise agreed
with his own theory of tho storm as
Indicated by the sea.
Mr. Emmett hold out a clinched fist
with thumb Jerked toward the reef.
"I wouldn't breathe a word if he
wasn't gone," he said, "but tho old man
was drlvln' her too hard. I knew It,
nnd the chief knew it" he meant the
chief engineer "but ho wouldn't listen
to either Mac or me. Fact Is, he was
fair crazy to set up a new record for
tho boat. She's been crossln' the At
lantic forty times a year for upward
of twenty years, and the recent alter
ations, although they added fifty feet
to her length, only Increased her en
gine power in proportion."
"You surprise me," broke In Brand.
"You speak as If the Chinook were
nearly as old as this lighthouse, yet I
have never even heard her name be
fore." "You know her well enough all the
same," said tho other ruefully. "This
Is her maiden voyage sluco she wns al
tered, an' they reehrlstened her, too
always an unlucky thing to do, I say.
Bless your heart, man, she Is the old
Princess Royal. Eh? What's that?"
Ho guffawed mournfully at Brand's
Involuntary exclamation.
"Certain! Well, surely I ought to
know. I have passed most of my serv
ice with tho company in her, nud when
I took a crew to Cramp'" to navigate
her to New York after she was smart
ened un I little imagined I would seo
her Inld by forever the next time we
saw tho lights of old England. My
goodness, even what was left of the old
girl ought to know her way better'n
that."
"But what did really happen?"
"Drlvln her, I tell you-drlvln' her
full pelt to land the malls at South
ampton twelve hours ahead of sched
ule. With that awful sea lift in' her
and a shaft twenty feet longer, what
could you expect? Poor Perkins! A
rare hard worker too. Now he's gone
down with his ship an' over 200 passen
gers an' crew."
"Judging by tho number saved I
feared that more wore lost."
"It's tho off season, yoji know, Tljo
Wash Fabrics.
Challios at Go per yard.
Organdies and Dimities at 8,
9, 10, 12 and 15c.
Madras at 10, 12 and 15c.
Taffeta Effects at 12, 15, 25
and 30.
Fancy Whlto Goods at 10, 12,
15, 20, 25 and 35c.
White Linon for Shirtwaist
Suits, 3(5 inches wide, only 20c,
regular price 25c.
ladles' Collars.
To make room for now goods:
Turnover Collars at 5o to 25c.
Other wash Collars at 15o to
50o.
These are BARGAINS.
I
A three months' trial subscription to
to the Delineator for 25c.
You know our reputation for square
passenger list was light. For the Lord's .
sake, think of what it might have been I
in May or June!" '
"It is bad enough ns it is. All has not
ended with the disappearance of the J
vessel."
The sailor shot a sharp glance at I
Brand. I
"You can't be thlukiu' any one was to '
blame" he commenced. But Brand
waved aside the fancied Imputation. j
"Bhrue!" he said. "With a broken j
shaft! In that whirlwind! No, no. I ,
sent for you to talk over the now diffi
culty which has to be faced. There are
food, water and fuel here for three
men for two months. If you do a little
sum you will find that the available
stores on tho basis of full rations will
maintain eighty-one people for two
days and a quarter."
"But we're only six miles from the
mainland." Mr. Emmett hud not yet
grnsped the true meaning of tho fig
ures. "I have been hero more than once for
six weeks at a stretch, when, for all
the assistance we could receive, we
might ns well have been within the
arctic circle."
Again the sailor Jerked his thumb to
ward the reef.
"Is It as bad as all that?" ho queried
anxiously.
"Yes."
"But six weeks! Good Lord!" Mr.
Emmett had done the little sum.
"That is exceptional. A week Is tho
average, unless tho unexpected hap
pens, after a gale like tills. And a
week will test our endurance to tho
limit."
Mr. Emmett whistled softly. A gris
ly phantom was creeping at him. Ho
shivered, and not from cold.
"By Jove!" he said. "What's to bo
done?"
"In tho first placo you must help me
V maintain Iron discipline. To leave
the rock today or tomorrow will be an
absolute impossibility. On the next
day, with luck nnd a steady modera
tion of the weather, wo may devise
some desperate means of landing all
the active men or getting fresh sup
plies. That Is In the hands of Provi
dence. I want you to warn your offi
cers and others whom you can trust,
either sailors or civilians. Better ar
range three watches. My daughters
will have charge of the stores. By go
lug through the lists In the storeroom
I can portion out the rations for six
days. I think wo had better fix on that
minimum."
"Of course I will back you up to
every way," said Mr. Emmett, who felt
chillier at this moment than at any
tlmo during uie nlgnt. "I know you
are acting wisely, but I admit I am
scared at the thought of what may
happen If Uioso days pass and no
help Is available."
Brand knew what would happen and
It was hard to lock the secret In his
heart, lie alone must live. That was
essential, tho one thing carved in stone
upon the tablet of his brain, a thing to
bo fought out behind barred door, re
volver in hand.
Whatever else took place, If men and
women, perhaps ills own sweet girl,
were dying of thirst and starvation,
the light must shine at night over its
allotted span of tho slumbering sea.
There on the little table beside him
lay the volume of rules and regula
tions.. What dld.lt say 7.
Gloves.
Long wrist, black or white,
silk or lisle thread.
Long wrist black silk lace
Mitts.
Black and white silk, doublo
tipped lingers, at 50c.
Lislo thread Gloves at 25c.
Corsets.
An odd lot of Corsets at 25,
40, 70 and 85c. These Corsets
have also sold at from 40c to
$1.25.
Some American Boauty Cor
sets at 70o each.
Tho host 50o Summor Corsot
in town.
Hadbags, 25c to $1.50. An all-leather
handbag, with coin purse, at 75c.
"The keepers, both principal and ns
slstaut, are enjoined never to allow
any Interests, whether private or other
wise, to Interfere with the discharge
of their public duties, the Importance
of which to the safety of navigation
cannot be overrated."
There was no ambiguity In the words,
no halting sentence which opened n
way for a man to plead, "I thought it
best." Those who framed the rule
meant what they said. No man could
beud the steel of their intent.
To end the intolerable strain of his
thoughts Stephen Brand forced his
lips to a thin smile and his voice to
say harshly:
"If the worst comes to tho worst,
there are more than 3,000 gallons of
colza oil in store. That should main
tain life. It is a vegetable oil."
Then Constance thrust her glowing
face Into the lighted area.
"Dad," she cried cheerfully, "tho
men wish to know if they may smoke.
Poor fellowB! They are so miserable,
so cold and damp and dreary down
there, rieaso say 'Yes. "
CHAPTER IX.
HE purser, faithful to his trust,
had secured the ship's books.
He alone among the survivors
of the Chinook had brought a
T
parcel of any sort from that ill fated
ship. The others possessed the cloUies
they wore, their money and In somo
cases their trinkets.
Mr. Emmett suggested that a list of
those saved should be compiled. Then,
by ticking off the names, ho could
classify the inmates of the lighthouse
and evolve some degree of order In tho
community.
It was found that there were thirty
seven officers and men, Including stew
ards, thirty-three saloon passengers, of
whom nineteen were women, counting
the two little gltis, nnd seven men and
one woman from the steerage.
"It Isn't usual, on a British ship, for
tho crew to bulk so large on the list,"
said Mr. Emmett huskily, "but It
couldn't be helped. The passengers had
to be battened down. They couldn't
live on deck. Wo never gave in until
the last minute."
"I saw that," said Brand, knowing
the agony which prompted tho broken
explanation,
"An' not a mother's soul would have
escaped If It wasn't for young Mr.
Pyiie," went on the sailor.
"Is that the name of the youngster
who climbed the foremast?"
"That's him. It was a stroke of
genius, his catching on to that way
out. He was as cool as a cucumber.
Just looked up when he reached tho
deck an' saw tho lighthouse so near.
Then he asked me for a rope. Planned
the whole thing In a second, so to
speak."
"He is not one of tho ship's com
pany?" "No, sir; a passenger, nevvy of Cy
rus J. Traill, tho Phlladclphian mil
lionaire. Haven't you heard of Traill?
Not much of a newspaper reader, eh?
There was a lady on board, a Mrs.
Vansittart, who was coming over to
marry old Traill, so people said, and
tho wedtlln' was fixed to take placo In
Paris next weok. Young Pyno wns
actln as escort."
"Is slio lout? What a terrible thing!"
JTho jcliltjf officer glanced down, tho
Summer Underwear
Children's sloevoless Vests, 5o.
Children's long sloere Vosts
at 15o, were 2.1c.
Nazareth Waists, 20o each.
Ladies' sizos, 8f , 10, 12K. 25o.
Extra large sizes, 124, &. bo
uillon Suits at 20, 40, 60o.
Union Suits, long sleovo and
long tight cuffs, at50o.
Gauze Drawers, laco trimmed,
at IGo.
Hosiery.
Hose at 10, 13& 15, 18, 25, 35.
Embroiderod Hone, 15, 18, 35o.
Ladios' lace Hose, 15, 25, 35o.
Children's and Missos' Hose,
lxl rib, 10, 12Ki W. 25c
dealing. Test it
purser's"! (Hts 'anil slapped his thigh
with much vehemence.
"No, by gosh! Hero she Is, markod'
O. K. Well, that beats tho band!"
"So the lad has discharged his trust
to his uncle?"
Mr. Emmett was going to say some
thing, but checked the words on his
lips.
"Queer world," he muttered; "queer
world."
With that he devoted himself to plan
ning out tho watches. Soon he and the
purser betook themselves to the depth
with a roll call. As they crept below
gingerly these sailor men were not at
home on companion ladders which
moved not when the shock came they
met Enid for tho first time. She, com
lug up, held the swinging lantern level
with her face. They hung back polite
ly. "Please come," she cried lu her win
some way. "These stairs are too nar
row for courtesy."
They stepped heavily onward. Sho
flitted away. Emmett raised his lan
tern between tho purser's face and his
own.
"What do you think of that?" ho
whispered, awe stricken.
The man of accounts smiled brondly.
"Pretty girl!" he agreed, with crude
ly emphatic superlatives.
Emmett shook his head. Ho mur-
mured, to ntmself : "I guess I'm tired.
I see things."
Enid handed an armful of dry linen
to the damp, steaming women in the
lower bedroom. Sho was hurrying out.
Somo one overtook her at the door. It
was Mrs. Vansittart.
"Miss Brand," she said, with her all
sufficing smile, "give me one moment."
They stood In the dark and hollow
sounding stairway. The seas were lash
ing the column repeatedly, but tho
night's ordeal was nearly ended. Even
a timid child might know now that
the howling terror without had dono
its worst and failed. Prom the cavern
ous depths, mingling with tho rumblo
of the storm, came the rhythm of a
hymn. Those loft In gloom by tho with
drawal of Mr. Emmett's lantern were
cheering their despondent souls.
Surprised, even while Enid awaited
the older woman's demand, the listen
ers heard tho words:
"Awake, my soul, and with tho sun
Thy daily stago of duty run;
Shako off dull sloth, and Joyful rfso
To pay thy morning sacrifice."
The rough tones of the men wero
softened and harmonized by tho dis
tance. It was a chant of praise, of
thanksgiving, the offering of those who
had been snatched from death and
from mortal fear moro painful than
death.
The singing ceased ns suddenly ns it
began. Mr. Emmett and the purser
wero warning the first watch.
I Tho Interruption did not seem to
help Mrs. Vansittart. Sho spoko awk
wardly, checking her thoughts as
though fearful sho might bo misunder
stood or say too much.
(To b Continued )
- - -
A Certain Cure for Chilblains.
Shako into your shoes Allen's Foot
Ease, a powdor. It cures chilblains,
frostbites, damp, sweating, swollen
feet. At all druggists and shoo stores
25 cents. Samplo free. Address
A Hon S. Oluihtod, LoRoy, N. Y,
1
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