Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-06-29

!. THE BELL ON THE PIER. !
Z A Fourth Of July Romance. :
BY Margaret Pulling.

They called Jack a dock hand. And a
dock hand he was.
All day long he stood upon the pier
and rams the bell as the boats came and
went. IL was not a difficult task. put
Jack did it well, n stood high In the
opinion OF his employers.
Little did they know the thoughts
that were surging through the MIND OF
the Young man who stood all day long
al his humbia position Mt the bell rope.
But they know That he was prompt,
md, never In tho history OF the com
hany had there been so little delay upon
the pier.
Yes, Jack rang the bell well!
On Fourth OF July. when he was pull
ing the cord to~cnll tho people down,
and the silycry tongue OF the big swing
ing globe was singing out It's lay, n young
girl came tripping along the pier. she
was alone and seemed much disturbed.
First she walked very fast, then she
slowed up, then walked fast again. BY
the time she reached Jack she stood still
and looked around in n dazed nimless
way.
"I-I really don't see them anywhere"
said she.
Jack took off his hat. Can | be Of
assistance, Missi" asked he politely.
"Oh, thank you said the young lady,
al would be so much Obliged to you, IL
you could tell me what has become of my
mother and sister. | was to meet them
here at 3 o'clock; and now | do not see
them"
Now 1t happened that Jack had seen
two ladies n few minutes before upon
tho pier, looking up and down for some
one, In the crowd. Finally they had
stepped upon the boat, the whistle blew
and away the boat had sailed-down the
bay, with its burden of merry-makers.
WAS the young lady very short
and"
And very pretty smiled the girl,
helping him out. Eyes, and the other
lady was slender with grey hair. She
wore q bonnet with pansies in front"
Jack remembered the pansies well.
They had reminded him OF his mothers
garden; and he also remembered the
pretty girl, so he said:
Yes, miss, l saw them and they have
gone. They are on that boat that sailed
out Just now. I guess they waited as
long as they could for you. Maybe they
thought you were aboard"
"Oh, dear; III, dear" said the girl,
how very disappointing. Is there an
other boatT'
mo" said Jack, 'therc is not. But
Tomorrow, at this same time, the boat
goes down again, and every day all sum-
mer."
disappointed! | think will go home.
Thank you again, ever so much
Away she tripped down the pier and
I,alx uatrhnl har ont nf EiUht. How
sweet and modest she looked in a neat
shirt waist with a little blue jacket to
match her skirt. Jack watched her until
she was gone; and when she got to the
end of the pier she looked back and he
gave the bell a little tinkle by way of
friendliness.
1t was late when the mother and sister
returned on the boat; and when they
stepped off the gang plank they began
looking around. I'VE must have missed
Grace here, mother said the girl. How
| wonder whnt became of her."
Ihc mothers face looked so anxious
that again Jack decided to give his as
sistance.
II beg your pardon, madame" said he,
but are you looking for n young lady
who came down here this afternoon, just
after the boat left?'
The lady nodded. "Hav you seen
herr" she asked quickly.
YES" said Jack, 'she arrived here
just after the boat was out of sight,
and when she heard that you had gone
she deciued to return.
The lady smiled and held out her hand
to Jack. 'Thank you ever so much,
said she, "for relieving our anxiety, and
some day l hope somebody will do as
much lor your mother and slster-if you
have any!
81 have, madame" said Jack, and, lift
ing his hat, he bowed to the aides WIZ
took their departure.
That is a very civil man for a deck
hand" said the girl, as they walked
away.
Yes said the mother, IL almost wish
| had given him one Of these flowers
he looked ut them longingly, | thought
The next day Miss Grace Kane and