CHAPTER XI.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 38, 23 February 1884, Page 6

CHAPTER XI.

THE 1-IKST LINK. "And don't you have any change? Is it nothing but htand watch, eat and sleep, and light the lantern day after day !" asked Si Green, ruefully, when he and Duke were sitting alone in the kitchen after supper on the third day of Si's stay at the lighthouse. Duke knocked his pipe against the wall, and then took another whiff before he answered : " Pretty much that, my friend." "Good gracious! it seems to me you might a& well be dead and done with," returned Si, dolefully. " Perhaps some of us consider ourselves ] so, and then again perhaps human nature speaks out even here, and we have our little passion play of temptation, hatred, and the like, to keep us in excitement. Who knows?" And Duke laughed again, and went on smoking. He was a queer fellow, Si thought ; almost as odd as Light-house Dick himself. His laugh wa3 always ready ; he did not seem to have a care in the world, nor a melancholy thought. Only Si's suspicion suggested itself that his light-heartedness was almost too prominent to be quite natural. " I see how he keeps himself absorbed in his books ; the shelves are full, and he is at them all the time," pursued Si, thoughtfully ; but what keeps you up beats me." "Then I'd let it alone," quoth Duke, drily. tm Si stole a cautious glance from under his lowered eyelids at the imperturbable face. Had the man any suspicion of the ceaseless

watch upon them both which ho had tried to keep ! The question he had meditated hesitated, and then fell off blankly from his lips. Instead he said : 11 1 say, though, how shall I get a letter ashore ? I must writo i line to let Franky know how I get along. I've scribbled a bit in pencil. If you've got pon and ink, would you mind backing it for a feller?" " Not if I had the pen and ink here, which I haven't." Si sprang up with alacrity, for that loom he had not seen. " Shall Igo bring it ? Can't 1 find it ?" ; A quizzical smile iust stirred the smoker's lips, " You'vo longed to investigate my domicile, redoubtable Yankee that you are. Haven't you discovered that I keep it locked '? That's a favour the reigning power allows and takes himself. Come, we'll go together for the pen and ink." And catching up the metal lamp. Duke crossed over the narrow entry, slipped the bolt on the outside, and applied the key noiselessly, it would seem, and with more delay than was quite necessary. However, when they entered, there was the small, dim room in remarkably neat order, but silent and deserted. "Who was it said 'Oh, dear?' " queried Si, while ho seemed to be entirely occupied w ith Duke's movements. The latter opened a small desk to obtain the pen, and, unobserved by him, a little slip of paper fluttered out and fell to the flom. Si was equal to the occasion, and bursting forw ard with otters to hold the lamp, he .set his broad foot upon it, and afterward dexterously lifted it to his pocket. Straus sometimes foretell important changes— why might not this, at least, reveal Duke's natural handwriting? And Si was not simple enough to expect, if there were really any foundation for his hopes, that hi.» letter would be directed in an undisguised hand. Ho congratulated himself upon his ruse when the letter was addressed in a backward, cramped chirography, like anything rather than the free, Hoy. ing characters familiar to the Baltimore boarding-house. He thanked Duko with an appearance of the utmost satisfaction. '•Now, the nc\t thing will be to get it ashore," he said, carelessly. ' I suppose the water-boat doesn't come again while I'm here. Docs the man above there send out a mail e^er ?" "He has been known to do it. There's a signal set from the shore if the mail-bag tiieic con tain*, anything to his account. As like as not he'll send one to-morrow or the next day. He'll want to know how Jack's getting on besides. Jack is his chief confidant, you must know." •'I must v. rite another letter, and get Light-house Dick to back it," secretly decided Si. "Before the boat goes ashore again I must manage that." And here he yawned fearfully. " Sleepy, eh, and ready for turning in?" commented Duke. " Well, I'll take myself oIK I'll go up and see that the lantern is all clear, and got to bed shortly myself, to be rea*ly for my watch." " Good sleep to you !" said Silas Green cheerily, and he added mentally, " Speedy and sound, my friend, for I mean to take another look at your room to-night, if possible." The moment Duke's light, springy step ceased echoing on the stairs, Si pulled out his purloined paper and examined it eagerly. His heart gave one exulting bound when he read it. It was an order to the florist who had supplied Helena Yerrington's bouquet of pansies, and the order lead for the ensuing week. The handwriting was a/«c simile of the original order which Si drew forth from his pocket-book and laid side by side with this. A flash of triumph glittered in Si's pale eyes, the first they had known for many weary weeks. He drew one long, slow inspiration as he said under his breath : "The first link. My little Franky, it is your bedtime now. You are pi-aying for me I might ha known it would come at I last." And rising up, he stretched himself to his full height, thrusting out first one brawny limb and then another, like one putting on invisible armour. And such indeed was this bit of encouragement to that patient, stubborn nature of his. " Now I can stand it all, I reckon. Now I ain't likely to be very dull hereabouts," he mutteied, with a low chuckle. u Business is business. When a feller feels he's doing something, it's all the spunking up he wants." Then it occurred to him that Duke might miss the paper, and his suspicions be aroused. He went softly and hastily across the pa«sage-way and tried the door. It was securely fastened, but, nothing daunted by the circumstance, he fctooped down and dexterously insinuated the end of the paper into the narrow aperture under the door, and taking his hat, fanned a current of air after it. He heard its crisp crackle as it floated inward, and retreated, just as there came the sound of Duke's foot on the stairs above. He was coveied up in bed when the latter looked in again to ask : "Has Mr Dick taken his bowl of cold cofl'ee, or shall I carry it up ?" "It is gone. I poured it out when I set away the supper things, and it stood on the table. Somebody's taken it," returned Si, with half a dozen yawns. " All right. Good-night. You needn't be frightened to hear me up. There's a black cloud seaward and I shall run np to the lantern again if 1 wake up before my turn comes." " I hope that won't interfere with my intention's "soliloquised Si, and pinched himself more than once to keep off the drowsiness that presently assailed him, lying motionless in the silence and darkness. Light-house Dick must have been up also in the lantern when Duke left it, for more than an hour afterward Si heard him coming down to his room, which was over Si's. The tread of the two men was as different as their temperaments, one quick, elastic, confident ; the other slow, steady, but as resolute. For almost another hour Si heard Lighthouse Dick pacing to and fro there on his watch. How he longed for the power to pierce, not alone through the heavy plank between them, but to penetrate the more inaccessible fleshy fortress, and see and know what was passing in Light-house Dick's uncommunicative heart. A feverish restlessnesss took possession of Si, as if some spell in those slow diiven steps above had bewitched away the previous drowsiness. Ho sat up in bed, and presently slipped out his stockinged feet upon the floor, and then crept slowly to the door. The light-house trembled, and the waves were roaring loudly beneath the squalls of wind, disgorged by the flying black clouds from seaward. Another time the timid landsman would | have sniveled under the eerie sounds ; tonight he would have faced the crested waves in an open boat, could he have thus laid hands upon his secret quest. But he made the storm his pretext, and striking a light he rushed across to Duke's door, and finding it open to his grasp, he hurried in, exclaiming in well-feigned alarm,

" Oh, Duke, I'm most frightened to death. Do you feel the light-house rock ?" The words died off blankly from his lips. There was Duke's tumbled bed, his jacket lying on the camp-stool, but the bed was empty, the pillow impressed. " I haven't slept a moment, and I've been all ears. He never came out this door in the world !" was Si's astonished reflection as he stared about him. The next moment his eye caught a new object. A light rope-ladder swaying from the open trap-door in the ceiling. A chart had been tacked over the place when he was in before. Si shot out of the room as if a bullet had whizzed him along. " So, ho ! a communication with a room above, a room that must look into Lighthouse Dick's, and the little room he told me | held the fireworks and dangeous chemicals. i Ho, ho ! now I understand how my invisible may take flight, draw up hiS ladder, and dropping the chart, which is nailed to the trap-door, leave all things innocent-looking and safe. So, my plofc thickens, and I need all my eyes and ears." He stood a moment in the kitchen, collecting his thoughts, and revolving what further course to pursue. A louder wailing blast decided him to continue the farce. Lamp in hand, and noisily, he stumbled across the corridor, and knocked at Duke's door. After a moment's delay, during which he fancied he heard the thud of the closing trap-door, Duke appeared, rubbing his eyes like one just roused from a heavy sleep. "What is the matter?" he a&ked, pettishly. " Oh, I'm most frightened to death. Don't you fool the building all <vsluike? Isn't iC a terrible .storm ?" chattered Si. Duke looked at him sharply, and, for an instant, suspiciously ; but, the next moment, evidently convinced of the genuineness of the man's agitation, burst into a hearty laugh. " Why, you poor, simple land-lubber, thih is nothing at all. A few scuds passing over, and the wind a little fresh." "Are you sure there ain't any danger?" persisted Si. "Now, don't you cheat a poor feller- it would be awful mean. I shall go up and ask the other, if you make fun of me." Duke went ofl' into another paroxysm. "I'd like to see Light-house Dick's face, if you did. Uo up, and tell him you're afraid, and ask him to sit up with you to keep your courage up. Come, now, most vuliant Silas ; let me see you do it." "Sho, now! you don't think I'm afraid of a man, do yer ? But this terrible sea's another thing. Come, Duke, come into the i kitchen awhile — do, jest till the worst spell is over." Duke went back for his jacket, and came out thrusting his arms into the sleeves, and still laughing. " 1 can tell you what, if you were going to winter here I shouldn't be so indulgent to you, Mr Verdancy ; and I won't promise to repeat the favour within your week. But if I'm going to sit up, I'd like a cup of coffee. Stir up your tire, Silas, man, and treat your invited guest handsomely." Si obeyed with apparent alacrity, though it must be confessed he was secretly di<smayed at this ready acquiescence. The tea-kettle was soon humming, and the fragrant aroma of the coffee diffusing itself through the little room. "Now, redoubtable Verdancy, I want a story," quoth Duke, his eyes twinkling over the brim of the cup, while he slowly sipped the agreeable beverage. "Something true — you know you wouldn't dare be lying in a storm out at sea — and about yourself." "If you stick to. me for the subject, a poor story you'd have," returned Si, goodhumouredly ; "but I'll tell you about Franky and his hopes." Which he proceeded to do, in his own quaint way ; but that was always eloquent when Franky was concerned. And who, indeed, be he ever so untaught and stifftongued, is not eloquent when moved by genuine affection and truth ? The quizzing look died out of Duke's eyes, and a new re&pect dawned in them as he remarked : "So that is your Sangreal ? Have you faith that you will ever find the golden prize, my man ? I'm afraid your lighthouse wages won't accomplish it. I wonder you didn't turn yoursteps Californiaward." " The Lord only knows what will be ! I've told you Franky 's part; when I have anything of my own to tell, you shall hear it. Why, how the wind's gone down ! — all of a suJdcn, too." " The scuds have all gone over. Now I suppose you Avill be willing to retire to your bed. I'll take a look upstairs, and try for another sleep. I hope you don't intend to come pounding at my door every night it blows a little fresh." " I hope I shan't be hei'e another storm," returned Si. " I believe 1 11 go up with you, and take a look." " Step lightly, then. Don't draw attention of the master here. He has senses as keen as a hound's." Which remark Si remembered the next morning when Light-house Dick came down staira and asked him who was sick to require coffee in the night. He smiled a little, in his own grim fashion, at Si's exaggerated explanation of his novice fears, but whatever observation he might have made was cut short by the descent of Duke, and the announcement : " The shore signals are flying, sir." "I'll come up at once. The glass is there, isn't it?" "Yes, sir." " Any harm in my coming too?" asked Si. "None at all that I know of," was the reply. And so a few min-ites after all three were standing on the balcony, looking off over the leaping mass of foam that seemed to writhe in impotent wrath that its lashing could not sweep away the dauntless shaft which rose to warn heedless mariners away from the treacherous reef. Si's unpracticed eyes failed to detect any shoreward signal, but Light-house Dick saw and read its meaning promptly. "A mail- bag, and — important," he muttered to himself. Aloud he said, doubtfully : "There's a pretty good sea on, Duke." "Yes, sir, but the t'other wind is going to kill it. ' " Do you think our boat would have the best of it ? ' " A good deal the best; for, by the time we come back there'll be turn of tide and no surf," was the confident answer. "It shall be as you say. I'll signal for old Mose to come off with the mail, or you may go with the boat as soon as you please." "Silas would like the trip, maybe," laughed Duke. "If he insists on it, I'll take him too. " At which Silas affected rather more horror than he really felt. While Duke was making his preparations over the boat, Si seized one of the envelopes and followed Light-house Dick into his room. "If you be so good— would you, now ?"| heaßked, in his broadest country man accent, "to back this ere letter for me, to my brother, sir." And Light-house Dick took the envelope, and Bitting down to the book -laden table,

dashed off the address given and handed it back to him. Si went down again to his room with a new wonder. Wasn't it Duke after all ? Here was the familiar handwriting at last —the envelope was directed by the very hand that wrote the florist's order, and addressed the letters of the Baltimore boarding-house. He could not doubt this fact without denying the evidence of his own senses. "If they would only both go off in the boat," wished poor mysti^ed Si. "I wouldn't leave a cranny of this wild old place unsearched for whatever evidence it might give, living or dead." He had faint hopes that this desired result might occur, when he saw the lowered boat swamped at its first descent. "I'm afraid it is too risky, Duke," com mented Light-house Dick, watching from the door-way the other's vigorous efforts to •ight the boat. " I'll come down with you." "Not a bit of need. Let me once push out of this surf, I'm all right." shouted back Duke, " I ahall use the sail and go ashore humming." Which prophecy he proceeded to verify when, with one dexterous thrust and leap, he shot the boat off into a broader trough, and springing in, guided hor out upon the crest of the longest wave and settling into his seat, shook out the sail cautiously, and in a few moments longer went skimming gaily off, the little craft laying over gallantly and flying like a bird with sure and steady wing. "My ! but that's a good sailor !" was Si's involuntary tribute. "An incomparable boatman. I could not have clone as well myself," remarked Lighthouse Dick. " I'll take another look at the trap*door while I have the chance," was Silas Green's resolve, as he descended the stairs. But Duke had forestalled him. The door was securely locked. To make amends Si went rummaging overhead, and found another locked door which evidently admitted to the same room as the trap-door. " What room is this, sir ? I'm looking around for clearing-out jobs," he abked, boldly, as Light-house Dick came out from his door on the same floor. "That is the room where the oils and chemicals and the rockets are kept. Duke has charge of it, and quiie likely he has the key. He wouldn't wantany meddling among such dangei'ous things," was the careless reply, as Dick passed on. " I'll have a peep in there, come what will," determined Silas. And he stepped into the dark closet on the other side, and felt around for nail, or bolt, or any sharp iron with which to pry away the hasp over the key-hole. The closet seemed to be filled with odds and ends of all sorts, but what immediately struck Si's sharpened wits was the fact that the floor was strewn with woollen clothes, and that a cleared space led to a box at one end. Stooping down to this box, he found a ray of light glinting back to his eye, and approaching the eye nearer — behold, there was a complete view of Light-house Dick's room, and every movement of its occupant, had he been there, must have come under Si's observation. He sat down upon the box. It was just the requisite height. And the woollen clothes permitted noiseless approach. Good heavens ! was there another detective at work on his own case ?" Silas went back to the door of the locked room. Yes, there were traces of recentlyapplied oil at the hinges. AVas it merely the ante-room to give noiseless admittance, which the clattering, echoing stairs denied 1 A brilliant idea, although a bold one, suggested itself. Si looked around him, nodded sagaciously, and went to work. Nothing could be simpler of execution, for the place was full of old tarpaulin, sails, boxes, and large trumpery of every sort. Silas ferreted out another low box, put it in a corner, and hung it safely around with walls of dirty duck and cracked tarpaulin. It simply looked like a hanging heap, if one examined, which Silas fancied was not likely in the case of a stealthy watcher in midnight darkness. i His next movement was to take out his pocket gimblet and bore a hole for his own eye to explore into Lighthouse Dick's room. And a score of holes in the tai'jpaulin allowed another peep at the closet visitor, whoever he might be. He crept out. well satisfied with his work. "Only I must take care to be the first one here. The first to come and the last to leave, which ain't very hard in this case. I feel it in my bones that I shall have something to work on to-night, and no more empty speculations to worry me. " Perhaps, had he really known all the night was to bring him, he would scarcely have whistled away so merrily over his kitchen duties for the rest of the day. Pew of us, indeed, approach great dis coveries forewarned of their entire significance. (To be Continued.)