Show J 4 1 t AS THE TIDE CAME cAMri IN I T l aId ald wa was a cruel bl blow ii 1 dealt ea I 1 as Gerl Ger Ger- Willis s t I IT thought ought b l by the blind f lessly stupidity i tears ty cars o of oC t the Fate Fhate e hearts which remorse i r out of at Ind ini in in- d no nothing nothing- people to p e. e He felt relt ho he had deserve ment He had b such treat trent l been een I and Ind and Just as ns a married VC years year yea r fling ning- to tardy public W was ws s begin I II recognize his aj I 1st st st. hi his wife had ability a us an art art- r was as the tIe one being suddenly died Sh She whom he loved had loved with a a. passion and devotion rare It was for or her unhappily Iv and hoped sake he ho had tolled for tor su success cess It I love was her the tho land latent and sympathy that had awakened genius WithIn t the tho hIm liIn him and at 10 first t blush of hi his Success sn r. r u she had een callousness wafted away It was was' u j diabolical on the part of or destiny to p permit such drown unutterable misery to the best lI life e That devils and highest aim i of ot hI his were working the s and l U- U he Uhe a mere puppet ho was certain Por For das ho raved about tearing Up his best pictures and destro destroying tv u his tools and everything J that reminded him or of r his Ms erstwhile beL be be- L art rt A fortnIght of ot this thia and brain fever set in It wa was a hard struggle le but his doctor eventually l pulled him through and sent him on I a three months' months holiday A Accompanied by hi his three 3 three rear old car I son son Nigel Nig Gerald Willis wont a away I He lie spent a month in Scotland another an an- I an-I other month in Ireland and decided I to finish up with a few foss' weeks in I Wales I Nigel was the one remaining green pot in his he heart rt Since h he had been Convalescent the tho child had rare rarely I left his Ills presence prE The fellow was wonderfully like hi his mother and the love lOVa and devotion Willis had lavished on her now clung round hi his little son A bright intelligent lad he was with nothing of the baby about him him either cither in speech or manner The hitherto grief began to wear weal down before the onslaught of at this merr merry precocious bo boy Gerald Willis was waa getting to bo be e him him- jolt bolt again as a a. healthy appetite for the palette and brush Indicated Bo- Bo fore ho lie left home he told tho doctor that he would never put the tho brush to canvas again The professional lonAl man h had d smiled ar and l humored him pretending pretending pre pro tending to believe him During hl his stay tny In Scotland ho had had sharp attacks of th the brush and fever when gazing at somo grand or noble lew At Oban ho lie had been unable to restrain himself an any longer and swallowing lowing his words and intentions he ho forth forthwith procured the r necessary ma ma- After Arter this progress towards robust health was moro more marked The little village of lie lies Hes scattered on the cliffs of the tho coast twenty miles west vest of the thc country town The Thc cliffs of some t two o hundred feet above the sea ca are compo composed ed chiefly of sand pebbles and clay in fn places great thick grim- grim looking rocks peep out from beneath Other sections of oC the cliffs are sheer rock from top to bottom Jagged Jags and beaten storm these granite bulwarks defy tho the hungry sea ea ca which scoops coops out Ut the softer sand saud into bays of ot surpassing b beauty auty From Prom Abers a narrow steep and somewhat slippery path leads down downto to 10 A group of broken rocks which are nrc covered at high tide At tho the ebb a glorious view lc Is to be seen from thenon them then themon on nn clear days dars Armed with his sketch book Gerald Willis and Nigel descended descended descended de de- de- de tJ tills this s precipitous path one afternoon afternoon af at- at low Jaw water How It happened ho could not say but with mth tho the boy In his arms Killis slipped lIpped a as h ho was waa cro crossing the tho rough surface of ot tho the rook at the bottom bottom o othe of o othe the cliff cUff HIo Hlo tie light light leg Jeg disappeared In Ina a crevice cre a a. r o ot of which Inter- Inter the the Oio hard hardback black inaz mans nULes Tho mb S- S and the weight of ot the body continuing In the direction of ot tho the first movement caused tho the knee to dislocate dislo dislo- cate With Ith a a. groan of ot agony ho he collapsed into a a. heap above the hole and became unconscious from the sickening sick sick- ening pain Nigel Igel fell tell from his father fath fath- er cr a hut but fallinI on en to his hands and d i feet t to o on the solid ld rock was not hurt After waiting some somo minutes for forthe forthe the tho prostrate figure to get up he ho called Daddy Dadd daddy But no answer an an- s cr came save tho the breaking o of the tide on tho wae of ot th the tho incoming jagged d jocks I Wake Wak up daddy and take me mo home Daddy wako wake up wake ake up Gerald Willis thought ho he was in a adark adark adark dark cave eo with water rushing everywhere every overy- whore where in an alarming manner A speechless terror seemed to possess the tho from him as an unknown monster depths of ot the tho cave sprang on to him and gripped his leg Horrible demoniacal demoniacal demo demo- laughter laus sounded in his ears Pres Presently It all an faded and tho voice of or his liis distressed bo boy became intelligible intelligible intelli intelli- gible to him Daddy Daddy wake wale up What did it all mean Was ras the tho house on fire or had robbers broken in Ho He fancied ho he was as at nt home HIs Hia mind struggled to regain its supremacy supremacy he discovered discovered discovered dis dis- dis- dis another groan aC acy and with covered himself lying on the tho hard hardi tearful Nigel calling to him rock ock with i What had he ho lying there thero Vh Why was burning burn burn- happened There was a 0 great reat jug ing sensation at athis his knee but no u. feel feel- Had um UL beyond ing thoughts his leg ot off at that Joint His and presently he mastered mastered mastered mas mas- grew clearer the facts Ho tried to get got up movement caused at a hut but tho the slightest t horrid feeling of ot sickness and faint faint- 11 neBS flees Ive fallen and hurt my leg leg- but I Ishall Ishall shall soon bo all right again NIg his The Tho bo boy put his arms arras around fath fathers father's ri neck happy again at the sound of ot his voice Tho llio seriousness of tho the situation began began be be- to dawn on tho injured mans man's gan Jan mind He tried to move himself again overwhelmed helmed I but ut the least attempt r sensation The awful with an him coming In In two hours the as tlde v was he where hero water would cover the place was vas fixed The spot was waa s rarely visited against his being being being be be- the chances chancos were and and discovered He might shout ing hearing ono one was within see Bee If nn any Help Help Help The rhe sound ro l ro over the hard rock and echoed round r surface of the came cliffs but no visible response the S. S ho shouted but all nil allin Again and again vain in lit Ms is thought Good heavens heaven he another tragedy Fate Fato about to enact held hero hore whilst that Am rn I 1 to be and neuter nearer nearer tide tido creeps last in a long bo lie grasped I and ind finally 0 deadly embrace awfulness of or the prospect The Tho tho the balance of or his mind nearly rl upset lIe to With AVith difficulty difficult ho schooled d himself situation calmly the view vIe here I cannot It i I 1 am to drown two less than In watch me mc let lel Nigel rock this I the tle tide will er co hours Before that time lime Nigel and and me l In must jUSt t go o away awny agony ho he shouted mental In his and ittle Nigel frightened again crept close to his father trembling attempt to 10 ye- futile After Arter another the tho grip of the from move his leg him Could he struck rock lock an idea He was but make N Nigel el understand old Ho months three cars ears and a few fe o his age but still above was Avas Int Intelligent more than a hab baby scarcely carcel he lie was steep and sillery slippery slip sill 1111 very Tho rho cliff path V was never climb that could child l pery er ery the certainly easier to It was wa unaided how could a atin atin down but 5 get et up than thap Nigel climb It If And tin tiny tot like how lio would he ho understand understand un un- supposing ho did enough to follow tho the path road the nearest mile mite to lor for half halt a It I t I 1 i I Y f I I Ii I c I I t I l 4 S 17 kI k I L 4 I I r I I I II I I i I I I 6 0 r rI I I i C I I S 4 i t I t 0 T and then to find a cottage or some someone one ODO to como come to his assistance Sup- Sup paso poso tho the child slipped and was waa killed he his he-his his father would father would be bo drowned also and there was no iio one to mourn their loss It would be better so 80 If It either survived the other it would mean much suffering for tor the tho ono one lotto loft 11 it seemed hopeless to send tho the boy but it was the only chanco chance and the sooner the better The tide was creeping creep creep- ing lug up and even if It the boy succeeded In making any one understand many minutes minute would elapse ore oro help camo Already Alread tho surgin Burgin water was as makIn making mak mak- In ing Its appearance at the bottom of ot the hole In which his leg ICI was stuck Nigel he said bald with some agitation agitation agitation tion could you walk up the path and cross tho fields on tho top of at the lane and go o to tho the cottage we passed this morning Yes Daddy answered tho the child not understanding what his Ills father meant I have hayo hurt my leg and it Is stuck in this tills hole I want ant you OU to go up the tile cliff cUt path and over the tho fields straight to the cottage and knock at atthe atthe atthe the door and sa say Come Como quick father Is hurt on tho the rocks Nigol Nigel crept closer to his father and replied You como come too too Dadd Daddy There Thero was something so pathetic in inthis tills this childs child's voice and gesture that the fathers father's eyes oyes grew misty with tears he hold held in check How could ho make mako tho child understand You could walk up the tho cliff cUtt without without without with with- out daddy couldn't you ou The boy looked wistfully injo Ino the tho eyes ces that were so earnestly looking into his trying to grasp that his father wanted him to doSee doSee doSee do See I cannot get het my leg from froni this hole and if Ir we stay hero the big sea will vill come up and cover us and then there wont won't be either r or child opened his eyes daddy addy Tho The wonderingly wonderIng He Ho had never heard his father speak in such a strained tone tono before He kept a tight grip on tho the delicate hand beside him with his own chubby chubb fists Willis began to t see ee that ordinary words were useless unless uttered in a commanding olce and assuming a astern stern stein look and speaking in a loud voice olce ho said said- XI sa say Como Come quick father is hurt on the rocks Come Comp quick juick father is hurt on tho the rocks repeated Nigel Now go bO up the path and o or tho the fields to that cottage and sa say Como Come quick father athel is hurt on the locks rocks Tho The boy bov began heg-an to cr cry and nestled close to his hilS fathers father's bosom Dont co cry laddie It wilt will be all right he lie said assuming a coaxing tone He lie had impressed ed tho the boy with tho the idea that something was wrong by hy using harsh tones and now encouragement encourage encourage- mont ment seemed Deemed necessary Now run up tho the cliff and bring someone and daddy dadd will give you ou a anice anice nice new v boat Will vill I have havo tho the boat oat when I fetch I the man daddy dadd Yes Now Xo what have you to say y sayto sayto I Ito to th thi man at the cottage Da Daddy dy will give o me mc a nice new boat boal lies HON on tho the rocks Willis repeated the correct words again and NIGel Nigol wild said them after actor him hand hanl in iii the direction ho was ng to go He Ho kissed the child and waved his hisa a Q chol choky sensation rose rOle up in his throat and ho Ito could no not spunk Nigel crept o over tho slab Iah of rock lock and started tho the ascent The path was as in view from tho thu spot Willis sat He could see tho the first twenty yards ards and then it would be out of sight for tor thirty more when It was waa lost again until within a few feet moio more from the top where It led Into a field and finall finally disappeared Nigel turned a few yards on the path and feeling frightened ho he turned to descend Go on ani shouted his father waving his arm frantically The Tho little fellow seemed to understand understand understand under under- stand and without another glance glanco behind behind be be- e- e hind went up walking on hands and feet at times when tho the precipitous path was Wl too slippery or steep for his feet alone lb Ho disappeared round the first bend from tho the view of the staring watching eyes below A little way further further fur fur- ther on a spring spread its moisture across tho the track and mado made the next fow low yards ards very ery slippery and dan dangerous erous for such a tiny climber His feet foet went I from under him and he fell forward on tho the cold slimy surface He struggled to his feet again with the front of his white linen tunic and hit his hands bedaubed with nast nasty brown mud He began to think of returning I but his fathers father's voice seemed to sound In l his ls ca ears s. s s saying Ig Go on He lie I t tried I again and anu Knell on anu feet he he carefully picked his way over o the dangerous places and soon camo came cameto to tho the bend where shere the anxious watcher below bolow with starting eyes awaited his reappearance When Nigel started Willis was a aprey aprey aprey prey to all kinds o of f fear ar and unspeakable able dread but when he ho saw Nigel again at al tho the bend he almost shouted with delight lIe He had forgotten his leg le-g but an nn extra twist of his body In getting a better vi view ow of at the tho infant climber brought the sweat of ot agon agony to his brow Following the path NIgel Nigel Ni Nl- gel g-cl vanished from hi his view but he kept his eyes on the top of or the tho path lath tho the spot where the boy would appear for the Vast kist time The last time how ho those words echoed through his brain would it really bo be the last time What hat emotions held him captive are aro be beyond ond the writers writer's weak pen lien to delineate The rho surging love that had held his wIre wife in iii Its passionate embrace no now no gripped that tiny figure ure toiling wearily up the steel ep face faco of tho the cliff clift He had always al loved the child but never as at this mom moment ent The lad was a long time reaching the top Had anything happened Presently the staring staling starine e eyes es saw sav a alight alight light colored figure appear on the top of tho the path for a moment and with a feeling of exultation hope revived revl again With a peculiar motion the little little littIe lit lit- tle tIe figure seemed to Hwa sway to 0 the precipitous pro pre side for a sh short abort rt second and then with a strange lurching movement movement move move- ment it dashed over the side and disappeared disappeared dis- dis appeared from view M My 1 God he shrieked hes he's gone gone In his eagerness to watch the little figure at the top of tho the cliff he had twisted his body to the tho utmost t limit an and on tittering uttering these frenzied words ho had his leg a nast nasty Jar The intense agony abOn brought a speedy unconsciousness unconsciousness un un- un- un con consciousness otherwise he lie must have gone gono mad A tum tumbled led Inert muss hola holay ho holay |