The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-04-29
THE NEW SKIPPER O.
a. OF THE NANCY.
She is a beauty. Joe. and no mis-

"She is a beauty, Joe, and no mis-
take.'
"Yes, and fast, too"
That's her best point, in my estima-
ton"
With a skillful turn Of the wheel, that
was so little as to seem almost a toy,
Joe Parsons brought the trim steam
launch gracefully around the end OF
the pier and up beside the floating
stage, with a maneuver so clever that
the paint on the side of the little craft
was not scraped.
Fred Allen Sprang out upon the
stage, and then, running his eye along
the lines Of the boat, repeated his re-
mark:
She's a beauty, and, as you say, fast.
Jove, she cuts the air at such a rate
that she carries a cool breeze with
her on the hottest night"
Then. with a cordial Good night"
Allen lightly climbed the ladder that
led to the pier, while Parsons. after a
preliminary foot of the little steam
whistle, backed slowly out into the
stream, and then kept up the North
river at full speed.
"A beauty. indeed" he kept repeat
ing to himself. thrilling with a strange
pride at the thought of being owner,
master and crew of such a saucy little
marine creature.
For the Nancy seemed almost alive
to him. He was a bOOkkeeper in a
downtown bank, a sober. industrious,
loyal, and good-hearted fellow; who
preferred the pleasures that do not
appeal to the general Il of young men.
Two years before he had conceived
the idea that for at least six months in
the year it would give him great pleas
ure to spend his evenings and holidays
in just such a craft as he now possess
ed.
The Nancy had consumed $1,000 of
his by no means extensive savings. but
Joe was happy, and what is money
compared to happiness.
First the launch spurted ahead at
her best speed, then slowed down to
hardly more than half speed. all the
while her shrill whistle footed much
more frequently than is required by
the laws of navigation. Joe was play
ing with his boat as some men do with
a fine horse. as a woman does with her
laughing first born.
In and out among the larger river
craft the Nancy glided. Several times
he all but got in the way of tugs and
ferryboats, but these experiences only
made his miniature voyage the more
exciting.
One of the maneuvers carried him
close to the piers on the New York
side of the river.
Suddenly Joe looked ahead just in
time to see a human figure shoot from
the end of a pier and strike the water
with a splash.
At that moment the Nancy was not
more than twenty yards away.
"A suicider.' burst from Joe's lips.
Then: But I'll spoil the game"
The launch sped quickly to the spot.
then hesitated and almost stood still
under the influence Of a sudden re-
versal Of the engine.
In that pause of an instant Joe lean
ed over the side and found himself
g%rasping a young woman
The next moment the Nancy began
to go backward through the water. but
Joe had lifted the sylph-like form into
the boat, and now the young lady lay
between him and the engine.
Her wide open eyes stared at him in q
peculiar fashion.
do you do this often?" he queried.
not knowing what else to say.
A sigh was the only answer
Il must scold her." thought Joe.
So he began:
Miss. don't you know that suicide
is one of the wickedest things in the
world?"
The expression on her face changed
to one of relief.
YES" she answered.
'Then why did you jump into the
water?"
80 you didn't see me'-she began
but stopped in sudden confusion.
Il saw you just as you struck the
water" he answered.
A sigh-this time one of unmiStaka
BILE relief-escaped her.
why did you try to-" he went on
sternly.
"Don't-don't ask me-" she pleaded
Don't ask you what?"
Don't ask me anything. please!
shall be greatly obliged to you, if vol
will humor me-"
well, you are a queer girl" h
commented. "You reach the poin
where life has no further charms TO
you, and then Immediately begin t
ask fayors."
Under pretense of working at tn
engine. he managed to turn the littl
lantern so that it shed a fuller ligh
upon her face.
The cheeks were pallid-naturally