-.IIMWifoftillWW'jiflWli v 'v '.tHtT'' ' 4...JS,..- l"14t fifrWf&t.f'Rp&,tiP?fl Yon Can Prink THE ... By ... Louis Tracy, PILLAR 0 Author of "TKe Wind, of the Morning" . 1 f LIGHT rv Copyright. 1004. by Edward J. Clode f AIU r M W JS a I- ' I & 1 J' Br - (CONTINUED.) """It "aeeiuB to "bo in tbo fumlly right," he hazarded, looking at Con stance. "Alus," said Enid, "I um an Ameri--can." "I'll smile now, If that Is nil," sold Pyne. "But, please, I am not joking n little bit. When you go ashore you will prob ably hear all about me, so I may as well take the wind out of the sails of gossip. I am a mere waif who caino sailing in out of the west one day in a little boat which must have come from the new world, as no one appeared to have lost either me or it in the old. Dad picked us botli up and adopted me." Pyno did not know whether to take her seriously or not until he sought continuation In a pair of tranquil eyes, which he gazed into at every opportu nity. "It is quite true," said Constance .gravely. "I suppose that the mystorl-! for." J to do more than Blgnnllinportnnt news nil , very brlelly." "But this is Important," cried Mrs. Vanslttart shrilly. "It is of the utmost Importance to me." " 'Frald It can't be helped, ma'am," said Pyne civilly. "Anyhow, we're not ashore yet, and I can't see that any time will be wasted." The electric bell Jangled In the room, causing Mrs. Vanslttart to Jump vis ibly. "Oh, what is It?'' she screamed. "My father is calling one of us up," explained Constance. "It may bo . message from Jack. You go, Enid." Enid hurried away. She had scarcolj reached the next iloor before Mrs. Van slttart, who seemed to have moods iu full compass, said sweetly: "Convoy my deep obligations to Mr Brand, won't you, Charlie? Indeed, you might go now and write out the text 0 my message to your uncle. Some early opportunity of dispatching It may of- otis nihility between parents and long lost children which exists in story books Is all nonsense in reality. No family could bo more united and devot ed to ouch other than wo are, yet Enid is not my sister, and my father Is hers only by adoption. Ho found her, half dying, drifting past tills very rock, and before lie could reach her he fought and killed a dreadful shark. Wo are very proud of dad, Mr. Pyne. You sec, he is our only relation. Enid knows neither lier father nor mother, and my mother died when I was a baby." "Great Scott!" cried Pyne. lie turned quickly toward the door. Mrs. Vauslttnrt, very pale, with eyes that looked unnaturally large in the faint light, stood there. For an instant lie was startled. He had not seen Mrs. Vanslttart since they came to the rock, and he was shocked by the change In lier appearance. He did not like her. Ills alert Intelligence distrusted her, but It was not his business in life to select a wife for his uncle, as ho put It, auid he had always treated her with respectful politeness. Now, owing to some fleeting aspect which he could not account for, some vague resem blance to another which he did not re member having noticed before, ho viewed her with n certain expectant curiosity that was equally unintelligi ble to him. She hold out a scrap of paper. 'Mr. Traill Is hero," she said quietly "Here!" he repeated, wondering what ! Paris." "All right," ho said In the calm way which so oJl'ectually concealed his feel ings. "Shall I escort you to your room?" "By no means. I came here quite un assisted. Miss Brand and I can chat for u little while. It Is most wearying to bo pent all day and all night in one little room. Even the change to an other little room is grateful." Pyne bowed, and they heard his steady tread as ho ascended the stairs. "Quito a nice boy, Charlie," said Mrs. Vanslttart, coming forward Into the kitchen, with Its medley of queer look ing, hissing, steaming contrivances "Yes. We think ho is exceedingly nice," said Constance. She wondered why the other woman seemed always to stand in the shadow by choice. Tho strongest light in tho darkened cham ber came from the, grate, and Mrs. Vanslttart deliberately turned away from It. "If all goes well ho will soon bo my nephew by marriage," went on the other. "I quitted Now York yesterday week in order to marry his uncle in Paris. Bather a disastrous beginning to a now career, is it not?" "I hope not, Indeed. Perhaps you are surmounting dllllcultlos nt the com mencement rather than at the end." "It may be. I am so much older than you that I am less optimistic. But you did not grasp tho significance of my words. I said I was to bo married iu she meant and perplexed by her ley, .self contained tone, while he thought It passing strange that she had no other greeting for him. "Well." she said, "that is tho best word I can And. He Is near to us as 'near as a steamer can bring him. Mr. Brand has received a signaled message. Ho wrote It out and sent it to me by a innn. I Inquired where you wore and was told you wore engaged in tho kitchen." For some reason Mrs. Vanslttart seemed to bo greatly perturbed. Her presence put an end to the gayoty of Hie place quite effectually. The young man took tho paper Id Bllence. He read: Dear Madam A signal Just received from tho Falcon runs as follows: "Mr. Cyrus J. TralU Is on board and sends his love to Etta and Clinrllo. Ho will ninltc vcry preparation for their comfort uslioro nnd trusts they arc bearing up well under lucvltablo hardships." Yours faith fully, STEPHEN BRAND. I'yno strode to tho door. "I must see if I can't get Mr. Brand to answer the old boy," lie cried. "Per liaps you have attended to that al ready." She did not make way for him to pass. "No," she said. "I camo to seek you on that account. If not too Into, will .you tell your uncle that I do not wish to delay a moment In Penzance? Ho will plense mo most by arranging for 41 speclnl train to await oil. arrival at the station." "What's the hurry?" he demanded. "A woman's whim, If, you like, but a fixed resolve nevertheless." "Will you travel In that rig-out?" ho asked quizzically. "It is an easy matter to call at a shop If we reach Bhore by daylight. Then I enn purchaso n cloak and hat to servo my needs; otherwise It Is mntterless how I nm attired. Will you do Uils?" "Why, certulnly." Sho gave a little gasp of relief. In another Instnnt Pyne would have gone, but Enid, who happened to glance through the window which opened to iWtird tho northwest, detained him. "There Is no hurry now, for suro," she said. "Tho Falcon Is halfway to Cam du by this time. I do uot sup Dose 6he will return until It Is too dark "Yes," said Constance, still nt a loss to catch the drift of an announcement which Mrs. Vanslttart seemed so anx ious to thrust upon her. "Well, the Chinook was wrecked last night, or, rather, early this morning. The name of tho ship was not made known throughout the world until long after daybreak. It is quite Impossible that Mr. Traill should have reached this remote corner of England from Paris In tho Interval." For one moment tho girl was puz zled. Thou a ready solution occurred to her. "Oh. of course, that Is very simple. Mr. Traill was awaiting your arrival In Southampton, thinking to take you by surprise, no doubt. That is sure to be the explanation. What a shock the lirst telegram must have given him!" "How did ho ascertain that his neph ew and I were alive?" "Tlh very first thing father did was to telegraph tho names of all the sur vivors. I know that Is so because I saw the message." "Ah! Ho Is a mnn of method, I sup pose. You are proud of him, I heard you say." "I think there is no one like him in all the world. We are so happy nt homo that sometimes I fear It cannot last. Yet, thank God, there Is no ex cuse for such nightmare terrors." Mrs. Vanslttart cooed In her gentlo ,way. "Indeed, you have my earnest good wishes in that respect," sho said. "Do we not owe our lives to you? That is an excellent reason for gratitude, if a selfish one. But some day soon you will bo getting married and leaving tho parental roof." "I do not wish to die an old maid," laughed Constance, "yet I hive not discovered n bettor name tlian my own up to tho present." Sho fancied that Mrs. Vanslttart winced u little at this remark. Deem teg fter visitor to be a bundle of nerves, Bho Jumped to tho conclusion that tho other woman read into tho words some farfetched disparagement of her own approaching marrlago. "Of course," sho continued, affably tactful, "I will hold another vlow when tho right man asks 1110." "Were you In my place," murmured hor visitor, apparently thlukhig aloud 3 TIMES A DAY ALL YOUR LIFE WW BENEFIT " PLEASURE Is tea drinking a harmful habit ? That depends on the tea and the manner of making. The right tea made in the right way is a most healthful and nourishing beverage. This is a proven fact. It is also a proven fact that Defiance Tea is the right tea to use, because of the great care in selecting and curing. If prepared properly, it makes not only a most deliciously flavored and fragrant drink, but a nerve soothing, brain-resting and body-building beverage for women, children and men for every meal or whenever a refreshment is needed. If you want the best cup of tea you ever tasted, order a supply of Defiance Tea today and follow carefully the directions for making, printed on each package. Defiance Tea is put up in half-pound parchment-lined pack ages, which retain all its original strength and flavor. FREE A Beautiful Breakfast Set of 31 pieces is being given to all users of Defiance Tea and Coffee. Full particulars in each package. Ask your grocer. LETTS-SPENCER GROCER CO., - St. Joseph, Mo. rt SSVhYM &dW v trJ-. u 15 r? ?:yd" ijjjofl m rather Than ""utldres'slng Constance, "you would not be fearful of misfor tune? You would not read an onion of ill luck into this dramatic Interruption of all your plans? After many years of widowhood I am about to be mar ried again to a man who Is admirable iu every way. He is rich, distinguished in manuer and appearance, a person of note not only In tho States, but on tho continent. No woman of my years might desire a better match. Why could not the way be made smooth for me? Why should the poor Chinook, out of tho hundreds of mall steamers which cross tho Atlantic yearly, bo picked out for utter disaster? It Is a warning a threat from the gods!" The unconscious bitterness of her tone moved the girl to find words of consolation. "I would not question the ways of Providence In the least," sho said. "Surely you have far more reason for thankfulness thnn for regret." "Regret! I am not regretting, but I have gone through such trials that I Constance teds deeply touched. am unnerved. There, child! Forgive mo for troubling you. And and kiss me, will you, and say you wish 1110 ' well?" She moved nearer, as if driven by uncontrollable Impulse. Constance, not prepared for such an outburst, wus nevertheless deeply touched by this ap peal for sympathy. "I wish you all the Joy and happlnesn which I nm sure you deserve," she said, stooping to kiss tho wan, shrinking face held up to her. Mrs. VniiBlttnrt burst Into a parox ysm of tears und tottered toward tho door. "No, no," she gasped as Constance caught her by the arm. "Do not conio with mo. I urn shaken. It will pass. For God's sake, let me go alone!" P CHAPTER XII. YNE found Enid rosy red nnd Inclined to be tearful. Tho dy ing light of day was still strong enough In the service room to permit these things to be seen. "No bad news, I hope?" he Inquired, though thp sight of Stephen Brand Boated at his desk aud placidly writ ing was reassuring. Tho question steadied her to an ex tent. "It Is nothing of any consequence." she said and darted past him. Brand looked up from his Journal. He smiled, though tho .American thought there was a hint of pain In his eyes. "I am going to lose one of my girls," ho said. "Oh, no; this Is not a loss by death, but by marriage. If I were 11 Frenchman I would describe It as gain ing a son. Enid has Just received what Is tantamount to a proposal." "By flag wagging?" Pyne was natu rally astounded. "Yes. You would uot expect one of the people from the Chinook to bo so enterprising." "I don't know," suld Pyne, punctu ating each word with u deliberate nod. "Well, in any case, I would not have forwarded the application after an ac quaintance of eighteen hours," ob served Brand, with equal deliberation. "They're two powerful Uno girls," said Pyne, steering clear of the point. "They have just been telling 1110 how Miss Enid happened along. It rends like a fairy tale." "Sho was given to me by tho winds and waves, yet sho is dear to me us my own child. I shall miss her great lyIf all goes well hero." "I've cottoned on to both of them something wonderful. But, If I am not Intruding into private affairs, how comes it that Miss Enid is being tele graphed for? Of course I can under stand the gentleman being In a hurry. I would feel that way myself If tho conditions woro favorable." Pyne could bo as stolid as a rod In dian when the occasion demanded It. Brand found no hint in his facoiof tho hidden thought In his words. "Have they said anything to you of a man named Stanhope?" Inquired the lighthouse keeper, resuming the entry In his diary afler a sharp glance up ward. "Y-yes. They pointed him out to mo this moriiinfi-; in the navy, I think; fel low with a title and that sort of thing." "No. Ills mother Is Lady Margaret Stanhope, being 1111 earl's daughter, but his father was a knight. IIo has boon paying attentions to Enid for a year and moro to my knowledge and to his motltti's exceeding Indignation, I fju cy." "That Is where wo on the other side have tho pull of you." "navo you? I wonder. However, Lady Margaret's views have not trou bled me. I will deal with her when tho time comes. At present It looks fulrly certain that Master Jack has settled matters on his own accouut. I may bo mistaken, of course. How do you interpret this?" Ho closed tho journal and handed to Pyne a memorandum taken down let tor by letter by a eullor as Brand read the signal: "Mother scuds lier love to Enid." "Did mother ever convey her lovo to Enid before?" nsked Pyne. "No." "Then I call that neat. I tako off my hat to Stanhope. IIo and mamma have had a heart to heart talk," Brand leaned his head on his hands, with clinched lists covering his ears. There was a period of utter sllenco un til the lighthouse keeper roso to light the lamp. Pyne watched him narrowly. "I may be trespassing on delicate ground," ho said at last. "If I am, you are not tho sort of man to stand on ceremony. In the States, you know, when the authorities want to preservo a park section they don't say, 'Please do not walk on the grass.' They put up a board which reads, 'Keep off.' We never kick. We're used to It." "My notice board, If required, will be less curt, at any rate," replied Brand, and they faced each other. Though their words wore light, no pleasant conceit lurked in their minds. There was a question to bo asked and answered, and It held the Issues of life und death. "What did you mean just now by Raying, 'If all goes well here?' Is there any special reason why things should not go well?" Tho young Phllndelphlan might havo been hazarding an inquiry about a matter of trivial Interest, so calm was he, so smooth his utterance. But Brand had made no mistake In esti mating tills youngster's force of char acter, nor did he seek to temporize. He extended an arm toward the reef. "You hear that?" he said. "Yes." "It may boll that way for weeks." "So I havo boon told." "By whom?" "Mr. Emmet t told 1110." "Ah! IIo and I have discussed tho matter already. Yet I Imaglno that neither he nor any other man In tho place save myself grasps tho truo meaning of the fact." ' "I've been theorizing," said Pyne. "It occurred to mo that this light Isn't here for amusement." Ho looked up at tho lamp and smiled. Tho pillar In those days must have been a haunt of illusions, for Brand, like Constance and I'yno himself In the case of Mrs. Vanslttart, thought ho caught an expression familiar to his eyes long before ho had seen that clear cut, splendidly Intelligent face. But thero was no time for Idle specu lation. Ho glanced Into the well of the stairs to mako sure that no 0110 was ascending. Then lie approached nearer to Pyno nnd said In an Intense whisper: "It Is folly to waste words with you. I havo reasoned this thing out, and now I will tell you what I havo decided. I will tako the watch from 8 until 12. At 12 you will relievo mo and I will go below to Bccuro provisions nnd water sufficient to maintain tho lives of my daughters, you and myself for a few hours longer than the others. By right, If I followed tho rules I havo promised to obey, I alone should live. That is impossible. A Spartan might do It, but I cannot abandon my girls und yet retain -my senses. I trust you because I must have a confederate. If tho weather does not breuk beforo tomorrow night wo must barricade tho Btalrs-and light if necessary." Ills face was drawn aud haggard, his eyes blazing. IIo shook as 0110 In tho Urst throes of fover. IIo seemed to nwnlt his companion's verdict with uu overpowering dread lest any attempt Bhould be made to question tho Justice) of his decree. "Yes. I figured It out that way, too," eald Pyne. "It's queer, Isn't It, to bo In such n llx when there's nil sorta oft (Continued on pago G) 1 1 1 1 1 1 r u I I I ' M I ' J , 'I m lik id II I'L 'I r Is i: ti 1 :l i' JJ .. ri M m w r ttfiiftf'wnrftffoWwiiiM i ' , x yif?"