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TEE LIFE-SAVER
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but turned when she came up to him and faced her sullenly.
"Are you a man, Jack Ronald?" she appealed to him. "Are you an officer engaged to save human life on this coast? Inspector Calvin's son is lying there in peril of death. How did he come by this plight? Did you try to Mil him?"
The life-saver paled under the girl's pointed inquiries, then hung his head.
"Get the rope," she commanded. "Hurry, or I shall believe that you are a coward at heart."
Taunted into action, Ronald dashed away to the station, while Jessica returned to a spot where she could look down at the helpless man and call out to him to reserve his strength until help came.
Jessica was brave until Ronald came with a rope fastened round his waist and secured it to a huge boulder. Then, at last, it became apparent that she was asking one man to risk his life in order to save that of another he had ceased to value. It was not a great height — that of the headland — but mere contemplation of the dangers to be encountered was enough to turn the girl dizzy and sick at heart. "When Ronald disappeared over the clLT's edge, she sank down, pale and unnerved, only to be aroused by the appearance of her father and other men from the station.
Jack had summoned aid, but had taken the full burden of risk on his own shoulders. He descended in safety and worked with all the great strength at his command until Calvin was released from what looked like a death sentence. It was he who fastened the life-belt to Calvin's waist and waited until the anxious group above raised the injured man to a place of safety. Calvin was not seriously injured when drawn over the cliff's edge, but Jessica was sent to aid him en his way to the house.
"I will take care of Jack," her father called out, "Never fear!"
There was small need of apprehension about Ronald's physical safety, but the expression of Jessica's face told the storv of a secret in her heart.
JACK DASHES THE PROFFERED MONEY TO THE FLOOR
Calvin had come down to the station for the purpose of renewing pleasant relations with her ; Jack had seen him follow to the headland, and -closed upon the city man in a struggle that had the dark appearance of attempted murder. What would be the result? In view of the rescue, the inspector's son might not openly denounce the life-saver, but his secret enmity might be as dangerous, and the shame cf Jack's situation would be unbearable. For the present, Calvin was too much engrossed by his possible injuries of a physical nature to reveal the true state of his mind. Jessica watched him closely after they reached the house — he was much worried over wounds undiscovered and positively distressed about the disordered state of his attire. When, at last, it was found that he was suffering from a few bruises and a bad shaking up, and his equanimity had been restored by some changes of costume that enabled him to appear at his accustomed advantage, Calvin began to assume a jaunty air and affected to treat the entire episode as an interesting adventure, one which had brought him in clcser touch with new friends by making him the sole object of their profound solicitude. He was the center of attention and engaged in receiving congratulations upon his prompt and complete recovery, when