The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-26
ny EVERETT HOL1ROOk.
rcOpyrIgh,. 1896. by the Bachelor syndieass.l

i made out the boat at that instant.
She was Of the natural color of the
wood and did not show plainly on the
water, but tho occupant was waving
something white, and il was that which
first caught my eye. We were swoop-
Ing down on her like bird. In a mo-
ment l could make out the girls figure
plainly. She was alone. The boat was
N the trough of the sea, but the waves
we're not dangerously high at so short
distance from the shore.
whats the matter with herp" l
asked.
"Blown off shore" replied Steve.
Cant row back against this wind"
At that momont the girl called out
to va, asking IL we would help her get
hack TO land She did not seem to be
very much frightened, though without
help her situation would have been
pcrilous TO the last degree, for there was
nothing to prevent her drifting out into
the middle of the bay among the little
islands where there are ledges enough
10 knock the bottoms out Of all the
boats in the world.
'By Jovc, / know that voice." said
Steve, then raising his voice:
"IIello, Miss Woodward! Don't be
alarmed. And don't stand upl" he add
ed, earnestly. Just sit down and keep
still, and we'll run alongside YOU"
We all knew Alice Woodward. She
was n very pretty and bright girl whose
home was In New York. She and her
mother had spent two summers in our
town. At present they were with some
friends at the Spruce Head hotel Shir-'
ley and Steve had been desperate rivals
for her favor, and their maneuvers had
been observed with great interest by
Harry and me. One of us, at least,
considered himself very hardly used By
fate, in that he had been born about
two years too late to enter the compe-
tition.
Frank put his helm down; we rushed
up into the wind. 1t seemed TO me that
we were going to miss her.
Frank, what's the matter with your"
cried Steve.
The next Instant we ran past the little
boat like a shot out Of gun.
"All right, Alice" Frank called ont,
well be with you in a second"
The Laura filled away, and immedi-
,tely we were out of bearing.
"Who's going in that boat?" inquired
Frank.
"Aren't VIC going to tow her 2" asked
innocently.
Probably not" said Shirley, in a Pc
culiar tone. she's one of the hotel
boats. Somebody had better SET
aboard, and row Miss Woodward home.
Then he can walk back TO camp"
"Well, thought I'd just naturally do
that myself" remarked Steve.
"What's the matter with me?" was
the immediate rejoinder.
"We haven't much time to discuss tho
question:" said Steve. "Odd or even?",
He thrust some coins into my hand.
"Odd!" said Frank, as he put his
helm hard n Ice.
/ subsidized into the bottom of the,
boat, and counted the coins. There;
we're six of them; and 10 declared. /
'That settles IT," remarked Steve,
with infinite satisfaction. II take the
rowboat back"
"Blast my blasted luck" growled
Frank.
We were flying down toward the row.
boat again; but this time Frank took
more leeway. Once more we rounded
to. We should have run alongside her
without breaking an egg" as the
phrase goes, but, unhappily, our pre-
sious error had impressed Miss Wood
u,ord With do,,,>t 80 <,,,r aa IN m, n n el,iy, ,
She tried to help US; and everybody
knows what happens when girl tries
to help matters on the briny deep. We
had headway enough, but Miss Wood
ward thought that we weren't going to