Daily camera., 1901-10-04


tops. So faithful. so stanch q craft
to 20 back on her sol But there was
nothing for her but to make land az
quickly a. possible, and from that
point the shore seemed perilously far
away. Ethelinda would have fallen
Dat in three feet OF water. but the
professor could. II need were. swim
like duck. and now there was ur-
gent call for all his science.
BY stuffing his soft hat into the
rent at the bottom Of the boat eth.
elinda profered hers) the river was
held in allegiance, but this was clear
ly only q makeshift. Any moment
their frail vehicle might fail them.
and then what3 Why. the swift cur
rent Of the remorseless stream. which
would snatch them away from life
and light forever. and bury them
fathoms deep In sand and unsightly
debris.
Ethelinda thought Of this for one
dreadful. agonizing moment, then she
became aware Of the professor speak
ing. and she made desperate effort
to listen to what he was saying.
He was telling her in calm. even
tones that there was no immediate
danger, that even II the worst came
to the worst he could swim with her
to shore, provided she remained calm,
and did exactly as he told her TO do
White and rigid, she promised, though
In her heart she saw very little hope.
The professor was. on the contrary
almost gay. He piled the oars vigor-
ously. humminR lively tune, though
the water in the boat continued to
increase alarmingly. To Ethelinda II
seemed an eternity before the mid
die current had been cleared and shall
lower space reached.
Then, without a moments warning
the boat hlled. and they were up to
their waists in the river. Ethelinda
forgetting her resolution, screamed
and clung to the professor. but that
gentleman. having had the presence
Of mind to seize an oar as he went
overheard, steadied himself by 1t,
begging Miss Grayson to trust to him,
for he would save her II he himself
perished In the attempt.
Fortunately at that point the river
bottom was Arm: some good genius
had surely directed their course. and
after the hrst shock Miss Grayson re.
covered her courage somewhat. There
was danger. TO be sure. but the seren-
ity with which the professor faced i,
shamed her fears. and she let him put
his left arm around her waist to sup.
port her. while with his right he as
sisted their struggling steps toward
the shore. Ry mcrcst chance Jack
Melvin had taken a spin on the water
that morning. and while the professor
and Ethelinda were rescuing them
selves from shipwrcck WAS watching
them from . clunp of bushes on the
banks. A four-oared boat was moored
near by. though what he might want
with four oars, going up stream. too.
WAS not clear.
Hello. professor. ."he shouted. what
are you and Miss Grayson doing out
there? You'll Get wet II you don't
mind"
rs that you, Jack7" shouted the
professor In turn. Fetch out your
boat il you have one and help us out
Of this beas,ly Ak. Upon my honor.
we've had a close call"
Ten minutes later the four-oared
boat had justified its presence and
Ethelinda. seated in the stern. was
wringing the water from her drenchcd
skirts and warmly thanking Jack Mel
vim for his timely assistance.
Don't mention it," said Jack, 'the
professor had already rescued you
when appeared on the scene"
"Yes." replied Miss Grayson, blush
ing crimso ~ owe my life to the pro-
fessor. and I shall always be grateful
to him for the favor"
At the wedding q month later Jack
Melvin was best man. and after the
ceremony he kissed the bride. shook
hands with all the guests in defiance
Of etiquette and otherwise distin-
guished himself. And while eoncen-
tration WAS concentrated upon Miss
orayson that was, he held . short
conference with the professor. in
which he seemed to allude TO
certain dark and mysterious trans-
actions known only TO those two.
These transactions must have been Of
. peculiar nature. for neither Jack nor
the professor smiled. though their
eyes danced. and the warm hand
clasp Of both In good-by. and the pro-
fessor's hearty 'God bless you. my
boy" gave no clew TO their meaning.