Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-09-21


sistance, he tossed his pipe and hat
beside his coat, and plunged into the
cool waves, and struck out for the
spot where she had gone under. Accus-
toned as he was to fresh water swim
ming. he found it easy enough to
make speed here, and by the time she
had come to the surface again, he was
beside her. Slipping one arm beneath
hers, he turned upon his back and
swan back to the beach, in that mat
ter-of-fact way in which he was wont
to do everything. Once there, he car
ried the dripping little figure to dry
spot and laid her down. The girl was
unconscious and Van Holden turned to
pick up his coat to throw over her,
when a sight met his gaze that took
away what breath he had had left.
Heavens alive!" he muttered, ct
have rescued mermaid, not mortal.
Either that, or l am clear crazyi" She
lay on her side, her hair, shimmering
with water, her eyes closed, the upper
part of her trim body clothed in a reg
uIation bathing suit; but at the waist
line reality stopped and romance be-
gan. A delicately shaped, tapering
extremity like that of great noun
tain trout, dotted with spangles of
gold and red, finished the uncanny
picture that Van Holden beheld. For
a moment he could only stare; then,
recovering himself somewhat, he pick
ed up his coat and spread it gently
over her. Recovering his pipe also,
he walked dazedly to the rock from
| which he had first seen her.
So rapidly had the remarkable Incl
dent occurred that he found the tobac-
| co still alight, and for the space of a
| minute he smoked fast and furiously.
| trying to think what he could say or
| do. At the end of that time he turned
and looked at the pathetic little heap
| and saw her stir.
What an idiot 1 am" he cried
| springing to his feet Mermaid or
| girl, she needs attention, instead of
| foolish gazing at-where's my flask ?"
| He found it, still uninjured in his
| hip pocket, and STOPPING, he gently
| forced the pretty lips apart and poured
| few drops of brandy into her mouth.
| Where am 70" she said, pressing
| her hands to her ears, and making
| that time honored remark in excellent
| English. Did go under AGAIN." An
| embarrassed expression came across
| her face, as she added. And you had
to go after me? 1t is too bad-but I
am very grateful, sir"
| Sir? Van Holden looked again. She
was a mere child, not over fifteen or
| sixteen at the most, and-Gracious
Heaven, she was stripping off that
| remarkable extremity, as. if it were
| made of rubber,
AS she shook herself free from it and
| stood up in a very fetching bathing
suit and stockings. he smiled-and
took a swallow of the brandy himself.
IF you'll excuse me-" he said apollo
getically, "I-your appearance rather
upset me-" A rare, but strangely pa
thetic smile answered him.
Il don't wonder" she said; "you
must be colder than l." Shaking her
self free of the sand which chung tc
her dress, she gathered up the remark
able covering and rolled 1T into a bun
die which she tucked under one arm
ST am very grateful % you," she said
again, .'and hope you have not worr
yourself out"
"No," he interrupted. "but before
you go will you kindly tell me why
| you are out so early in the morning
alone, and with that most peculia.-
| peculiar costume on?"
The girls pretty face grew seriousl,
wistful. my father" she said, ant
then went on in a lower tone, "Yor
must not breathe a word of this, for h.
would punish me if you did: but b,
makes me learn to swim so. Nj
mother died last winter. Then m,
father, whom / had never seen before
came and took me away. and / an
learning to swim with that tail. 1t i.
like swimming without your feet-ans
that wouldn't be very easy Would ii p