The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-11-10
that Win7'

A#@t ~ HA4E AA EAAAE4AN NaAAE
island aAd you must play my aecompan-
But don't want to-I-Jackl''
30 reply, only q click over the wires
that told the girl be had rung off. She
sfarea helplessly 81 the i~rresponsive
telephone. annoyed at her inability to
have the last word,
aAud IN have to 60, now that be is
counting on mel she soolded, glancins
at tue aloeh Only am hour to get
dressed and down there and it looks
IKE rain. tool Bother the boyl"
But Aaeks Radiant smile Of greeting
aa she same hurrying up Just as the
Boy blew the last whistle, mol-
tifed her.
ou are a bricSls he cried. II was
afrsid you would play me the mean
3rick Of staying at home
'sY0u deserved It'll" she retorted.
what possessed you to sing at such an
outotthe way place as dale Brook, any
way and Why didn't you send me word
sooner m
because those country people never
asked me till this afternoon-iust
before Iteleploned you. A struggling
artist' can't afford to stick at tribes,
though-it's only the successful that
can indulge in the luxury Of being dis
agreeable-so I swallowed my pride
and my dignity and hustled!"
Winnifred surveyed him critically.
"You found time to get into your
very best clothes and oh! that haiti"
Jack grinned; 81 spent the pro
seeds of five concerts on that haiti"
you were a goose to wear it to-
night" asserted practical Win, view
ing the sky,
Couldn't help it," declared he.
when a man gets a new hat he can't
let e GO out of his sight. Odd, isn'titl'
"Oh, no" she answered, with a shrug.
That's the only little way you men
haYe-as soon as the newness OF a
thing wears of you lose interest in 1t,
but while there IS novelty in the pos
session you can't get too much Of it
-ohl"
"A violent jolt threw her against the
boat rail, abruptly ending her philo-
sophicaI observations.
That an accident Of some sort had
occurred was evident, for the ferry
BOAT lay on one side, webbing foolishly
Is III ma rtaEGutilsRe1aggfsn
misconduct.
Rudder chain parted, p cried a deck
hand, wrenehing himself free from
Jacks OBTAINING grip ana vanishing
through a hatchway.
Jack glanced at his watch. "It,l
take them hours to fix the confounded
thing he cried, n~ervously. eWhat
can wesdo2' Win wanted to laugh, but
nus tragic expression prevented her.
isn't there some sort of boat we
could manage 70 paddle ashore inc" she
suggested
Q counsel Wait till shall see what
can be had" he cried, disappearing
around the corner and the vanishing
vision Of his tall hat and Tapping coat
tails brought the unuttered laugh
sparkling into the quiet gray eyes Of
the girl
Many a mad excursion had they talk
en- together since he had deserted the
d%rudgery Of desk work TO follow the
winding and thorny path which, he
hoped, would lead him at last to fame;
but this bid fair to be even more EVENT.
&ul than usual and a spirit Of adventure
rose within her as she followed in his
wake. She found him helping to
launch a roomy old punt, painless and
seamy, that had evidently not been
used for years.
IT'S the only thing they have on
board, Win, he explained, as the bait
tered veteran dropped splashing into
the water. You won't be afraid, will
you-it2s only q few rods to shore and
this is our last chance Of getting to the
concert tonight
Her eyes danced. "Afraid?, she
cried, and led the way to the impro-
HEed gang plank they lowered to the
boat. Jack perehed himself in the bow.
while she settled herself on the roomv
stern seat, tucdng her skirts about
her with the forlorn hope Of keepinp
clean. The water was beginning to
seep 81 through the half rotten sides
and, to their consternation, two men
were next lowered into the punt, alean
parson and a fat cattle raiser, who in
sisted upon taking with him his crate
Of pigs
TINS added weight sank the bat-l
red old boat So deep that little
cams began to gurgle through the
lcaulked seams. but Jacks protesta-
sions were q no avail and the tub was
pushed Of to an unknown fate.
The pigs lurched from side to side in
frantic terror squealing as only fright
Fned pigs can squeal while each fresh
apurt Of water increased their excite
ment and the noisel Slowly the punf
forged ahead, propelled by unmatched
ears, and steadily filling with water.
Win drew her feet up on the seat and
Jack elevated his to the side Of tbe
boat.
The rural preacher blanched and im-
plpred the oarsman to return to the
terry, but Pat was set in his ways and
having started out for shore was not to
b turned back.
8hure en- 10 amt so awful deep
eHa ony bout tree Ia four feet deep.
M ainin &c reassured them, but