The Island School — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

; Nt, bea ee be A : ‘fi i) ake B, thee ra Naat Cit ave PA Ey 1 eae mL, “MORSE ENLIGHTENS TERRY. PRONG Sa TIAL IR. VUE aaa 1 aa Le RO) a: Ua AON Mena etka | Bit iy. Ge ey heard Mr. ey speaking about some iron “T think,” he said, “ that you Brow vel kes and fae yt ah bars,” said Jim, modestly ignoring the compliment. stronger every day.” aes oe eit ie Yes, he wants a lot, Old NE ap seems to have got “IT am getting on,” returned Jim, laughing. ie i tnto a nervous state about something.” \ “You have no idea what it is ?” “No more than the man in the moon, sone doesn’t _ know much, I reckon.” . “Well, he wants a lot of bars! p” _ “Yes, for both doors and windows, and some Spa strong ones for Miss Eveline’s room.” Jim’s face flushed rosy red for a moment, and the colour dying 3 away, left him pale. 4“ Why her room more than the rest 2” he asked, in . a] low voice. _ “T haven’t the least idea, but he isa man of fads. Hei is also as nervous as a kitten when the least thing - goes wrong.” A dispute in the game now took place. An outside umpire was wanted to decide a knotty question, and _ Martin was called to the office. Jim Gordon walked away, and seeing Morse seated apart from the rest _of the noisy youngsters, went up to him. The young _ chemist, born to that line of study, was busy making _ some fae calculations on a piece of paper. He did * not hear the footsteps of Jim, who stood behind him quietly, and said nothing until he had apparently got _ through his task. cs | os “Morse,” he said. _ The other looked up startled, But seeing who it was; Eid Jim sat down beside him. -“T have got another bit of evidence,” he said, “to lead us to a knowledge of what is the matter.” He told Morse about the bars of extra strength for Eveline’s room—or rather rooms, for she had two, one serving for sleeping and the other as a studio and boudoir in one. Eveline painted in’ water and oils remarkably well for one so young and comparatively aes -untutored. “TE think,” said Morse, after he au thought over _ the communication, “that Nap is threatened with an _ Invasion of the original owners of the island. It is + only natural that a father should take precautions for his only ey ey oe Nee a glance at Jim—“ one so remarkably pretty.” “As her mother was before her,” said Jim, , “But her mother has not her brains. In that respect Eveline is a decided improvement on the original article.” “ You are all for brains,” said Jim. “T believe in them,” replied Morse, “And I am an advocate for muscle,” said Jim, he Daraniine his arm so as to make the most of the biceps f _ that stood up— under the sleeve of his Jacket like a m7) small cocoanut. i ins Robert Morse laid his Wats on the tase part of - dix ean and er itically examined its Nam iy HG Tt Hf a ( ty 2 ra bi P he A OR a d by wey i mh veh side hs. at ify ought to do something. — execute. age,’ answered Jim. “Together,” said Morse, dreamily, “you and | | Ican devise and you can” ye Not but what I could help youin the active ‘ part at a pinch, for I am not a chicken.” ark a “You are a good average specimen of boys of your ie “T imagine you have a very i) bs clever father.” afm he “Not a bit of it. He is one of the simplest men. re going. His chief hobby'is gardening, and even inthat he has to trust to books to do the right thing.” 4 ae “A clever mother, then ?” vh 4 he “No; good, but not clever,” y: ie | a: Where did you get your head from, then?” Morse laughed, and elanced towards the aol : much like to work out. : from? All round us is a problem. And oan it aK is better so. For, suppose we knew everything, — how ‘ Oye miserable we should be! There would absolutely be : nothing to live for.” Ws Jim, ‘‘ but you are a good fellow, sto I think 1 we likes i each other.” en “4 “ Jim, I have no brother except you.” | ed ae “ And you are my only one, Bob. I like a socd: ee many fellows here, but the feeling : have for ae: is different from that I have for you.” | “Same here, old fellow. . Now, what do you shi T ae have been calculating P” ‘ ag ' 1 Ma PH: “Goodness and yourself alone know.” Ha, a “T have been estimating how much of the explosive ine I have invented—it is an improvement on melenite— i it would take to blow away yonder line of rocks and throw the lagoon open to the sea. It would then become asmall but very useful harbour.” . 8 “Well, Pll be bothered !” exclaimed Ji im, bre lessly. ‘ What next will you get into that cranium of — 7 yours ?” ie “The thing I lack,” said Morse, “is a knowledge ; of sapper-work. If ever I get that—and I mean to u study it—I could with a few men manage the job. Ke 4 He dived his hand into the breast-pocket of his chatty Bs: and brought out a small book. “nent fy “ Now here,” he went on, “I have a small compact 08) work on earth fortifications, with maps and plans in ~ outline. Now, suppose we had need to defend sens place.” ““Yes, yes,’ exclaimed Ji im, anual a6 Suppose we s had such need ” Ah “Where would you build a fort ?” h pec _ “Why, in front of the house, of course,” aie My tia) ATT Pa ihre With i i» ; a - Yh) Ete cece <S ’ Ke boo eo) n Halal suai RNR i, ‘i