Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-05-06
THE NEW SKIPPER or THE NANCY.

one - Deuukys J0es auI no
mistake"
eyes, and fast, too"
''That's her best point in my es-
timation."
With q skillful turn of the wheel,
that was so little as to seem almost
q toy. Joe Parsons brought the
trim steam launch gracefully around
the end Of the pier and up beside
the floating stage. with 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 remarks
"She's a beauty, and, as you say,
fast. Jove, she cuts the air at such
q rate that she carries cool breeze
with her on the hottest night"
Then, with q cordial Good Night, >
Allen lightly climbed the ladder
that led to the pier, while Parsons,
after a preliminary toot of the lit
tie steam whistle, backed slowly
out into the stream, and then kept
mp the North river at full speed.
GA beauty, indeed" he kept re-
peating to himself, thrilling with q
strange pride at the thought Of be-
ing owner, master and crew of such
a saucy little marine creature.
For the Nancy seemed almost
alive to him. He was bookkeep-
er in downtown bank, sober,
industrious, loyal, and good-heart-
ed fellow; who preferred the pleas
ures that do not appeal to the gen.
eral run 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
pleasure to spend his evenings and
holidays in just such craft as he
now possessed.
The Nancy had consumed 81, 900
of his by no means extensive sav-
ings, 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 re-
quired by the laws of navigation.
Joe was playing with his boat as
some men do with a fine horse, as
q woman does with her laughing
first born.
In and ont among the larger riv-
er craft the Nancy glided. Several
times he all but got in the way of
tugs and ferryboats, but these ex-
periences 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 human figure shoot
from the end of q pier and strike
the water with q splash.
At that moment the Nancy was
not more than twenty yards away.
ga suicide % burst from Joe's
lips. Then: "But I'll spoil the
game"
The lauch sped quickly to the
spot, then hesitated and almost
stood still under the influence of Q
sudden reversal of the engine.
In that pause Of an instant Joe
leaned over the side and found him.
self grasping young woman.
The next moment the Nancy be-
gan to 60 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 a peculiar fashion.
DO you do this often p he que.
ried, 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 sui
eide 10 one Of the wickedest thing
in the world p
The expression on her face chang
ed to one of relief.
YES she answered.
Then why did you jump into tn,
water p
so you didn't see me !. she be
gan, but stopped in sudden confu
sion.
Il saw you Just rs you struck tn
water he answered.