Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-18
CALL 1T SQUARE"

1 III Is ftulufhdDic lWndt blLuDlc To-
mances small bits Of territory are ca
pable Of producing under favorable con
ditions. Though containing but six on
eight acres, Rattlesnake island forms
the scene Of quite an interesting episode
along this line. The island lies about
two miles TO the northeast of Putin-B Bay.
From its peculiar formation the island
is generally supposed 70 have derived its
name, though some assert that the ap-
| pellation was bestowed in consequence
| OF the illimitable quantities Of the rattle
| tailed species which rendezvoused In and
among the creviced and caverned rocks.
| From these Businesses they were won't TO
| wriggle forth into aggressive promi-
nence, Kissing and clicking their spite
and whipping the surrounding vegeta-
ton until everything looked blue.
An able accessory in the dispersion Of
this reptile host was undoubtedly vested
in the Drawn and muscle Of old Hank
Hammond, who, with his family, locat-
ed on tho island. Old Hank wasn't
afraid Of rattlesnakes, evidently, and
prided himself manifestly upon owning
and occupying with his household Gods
a whole island, which, il not very big,
was at least far enough removed from
adjacent isles TO afford ample seclusion
So at least he imagined, and so in reali-
tyit might have proven but for the single
obtrusive fact that the old codger was
possessed of several comely daughters,
and since "love laughs at locksmiths, I"
scales heights inaccessible. traverses dis
tances immeasurable and achieves i'm
possibilities Of all sorts, this blind but
active imp was not long in finding his
way 10 Rattlesnalse island.
Sadie, the oldest, was an attractive
maiden Of twenty years, with eyes that
matched the color of sea and sky and
hair Cuff of golden brown. She was
1.-THE and active, free and fearless, and
reveling In adventure, too, on the water
like duck. She was an expert at fish
ing and fowling, could manipulate q pair
Of oars with admirable skill. and with q
light skiff was accustomed TO cross fire.
quently, sometimes alone, the two mile
stretch Of water which intervened be-
tween Rattlesnake and Put-in-B Bay
At the latter place she speedily be-
came tho attraction Of q youthful fish
erman, who inadvertently crossed her
path-one Tom Taylor. After this de-
velopment there was no moro peace for
Rattlesnake. From time TO time its
vicinity was haunted by spectral sail
which circled about the island, cdging
nearer and nearer at each cruise; until
one day it lay beached close by the
"grout" house of Hank Hammond. At
beck Of the little winged god Tom Tay-
lor and his boat had followed the charm
CT TO her rocky retreat. This being his
first experience in courtship, however,
Tom proved bit fresh, and his bashful-
ness was excruciating. His feeble ad-
vances were regarded with apparent dis
favor. the coy maiden turning q deaf
ear 10 MS opportunities, until IN blank
despair he shook the dust Of Rattle
snake from his feet.
One early spring day, some months
following the collapse Of Toms love af-
fair, terrific squall, such as sometimes
swoops down upon the islands unan-
nounced, struck Put-in-Bay with force
that wrenched limbs from trees and sent
the troubled seas sporting up the rocks
in binding showers. Looking from her
window an old woman who occupied
cottage on East Point thought she espied
a small boat far out on the Lake driving
eastward before the gale. From n shelf
she snatched pair Of field glasses,
through which she took q second obser-
vation. Yes, the boat was evidently
drifting at the mercy of the wind and
current. Not an oar was in motion.
Only single occupant could be dis
cerned, and that a female. With breath
less haste the old woman rushed along
the shore to little cove, where among
the trees stood fish shanty. Within
an angle Of the L-shaped dock several
boats lay moored, and two fishermen
dressed In yellow oilers and sou'westcrs
were coal tarring twine over q smoking
kettle on the shore One Of these indi-
viduals proved to be our friend, Tom
Taylor. Tom took the field glasses prof
fered by the scared old lady, and through
them examined the drifting boat
BLAST my buttons if it amt wom-
anl' he exclaimed. With two or three
long strides he reached the dock and be-
gan unfastening boat.
What you goin to dor demanded his
companion.
"Goin to pick up that skiff. Como on,
jim"
Jim demurred, urging that no boat
could live long in such sea and that it
was just foolhardy to venture.
Tom, however, would take no denials,
and with serious misgivings Jim was
finally persuaded to take hand at the
oars. Under the double pull the boat
plunged outward into the boiling surf
and spray dashed over the two rowers.
1t was a hard struggle, and many times
the boat barely escaped swamping in
the heavy seas that struck her; but at
last the castaway was overhauled. As
they approached the woman stretched
appealing hands toward them and Tom
turned in his seat to get square look at
her. "Great Scottl"
The beaded perspiration on his brow
began streaming down his checklist
was Sadie, she who had so cruelty Tilted
him. But all differences were forgotten
when life and death hung so nicely
poised in the balance. The drifting
boat was nearly filled with water and it
seemed as IL every sea would submerge
it; but the boat and Sadie were both