The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-08

IF Crandall wins, | don't care where
we go. All, Nelly, Nelly, Nell"
Let me gol Are you going stark,
staring mad?"
Then it is Crandall," groaned
George. dropping hand and hope APP
parently together. "Crandall and this
internal auto. l wish he was in it and
we were out of it and il was taking
him where we seem to be going"
He gazed alphabetically at the sea
while Miss Hearst, seriously alarmed,
watched their progress towards the
kissing wavelets crawling up the
sands. Right and left the broad beach
opened grandly out, with, here and
there a cottage along the dunes and a
distant hotel fronting a long iron pier
outlined against the horizon. There
were sundry sails far out at sea; a
few bathers and an occasional prom.
enader dotted the sands here and
/ there.
why don't you help me?" urged
Helen, imploringly.
What's the use? Call on Gran.
dali"
"If he were here he would help.
Something must be wrong"
Everything is wrong" This gloom
ily. IF Crandall really were here now
would you-er-"
"No, l wouldn't. Help me to stop IL,
please dol"
The last low sand ridge had been
passed and they were gliding over the
smooth, hard, wet beach toward the
water. Eskridge furtively did some
thing with his foot, unseen by Helen,
and the auto stopped.
Have | really no hope?" he asked,
lugubriously, as she sighed in relief.
AFTER all my months of devotion"
"Months!" Her rosy lips curled in
credulously. "Six weeks ago I hardly
knew you-oh, Georgel-why don't it
turn as we'll as stop?"
Perhaps it needs Crandall, being a
Crandall machine"
You're just dreadful to-day!" Hell
en-, indignant, was about to leap out
when Esl1ridge again made furtive
move and the auto again started for
ward IKE thing of life.
She was thrown back into his arms
and her eyes sparkled angrily; but
fear once more became dominant, for
the machine sped toward the sea as
if determined to drown them both.
Tin going to jump" she cried,
nervously.
And break your pretty neck? No;
let's drown. It's easier"
Eskridge folded his arms as IL to
await the inevitable. "Crandall will
hypnotize another girl, and"
Il wish he was here to manage this
auto"
II don't. If you won't have me, you
shall not have him." The hiss of the
incoming tide mingled with his tones.
1--WE will die together"
Miss Hearst shuddered; yet, had she
been afoot, clad in her latest love of
bathing gown, she might have en-
ioyed the liquid swirl that now licked
the pneumatic tires. Why she did not
boldly leap out she hardly knew. Did
fear restrain her-or George?
AS the water deepened the mobile
moved more slowly, yet it neither
stopped nor turned. An incoming
wave, curling upward in a greenish,
graceful, menacing way, made her
breathe quickly and she looked at
Eskridge. Ye godsl He was, or
seemed to be, preparing to light a
cigarette. Was this despair, idiocy or
sheer bravado? Handsome he GER
tainly was, though she had hardly con-
sidered him so before. Perhaps his
indomitabie composure at such a
crisis forced a sudden admiration
upon her and banished the image of
Crandall forever.
AT any rate, as the whitening roarer
in front poised itself over the dash
board, Helen uttered a faint shrek
and threw her arms around George,
scattering his cigarettes.
"Saye mel" she implored.
"Then you do love me, even though
don't run an auto?"
"Y-ye-s!" The shower bath was de-
scending and she closed her eyes.
"Ugh-owi"
"And you don't care for Crandall?r
pursued George, inexorably.
'No-ohl Isn't this horrible?'
Its blissful, ecstatic. One kiss
dear. Now-open your eyes"
The auto was turning, the wave was
receding, and Eskridge, with hand and
foot deftly employed, was guiding her
back to dry land and safety.
"Why-you do know how?" che
screamed, whereat the impudent dog
actually grinned; yet she could not
again grow angry, try as she might.
George, somehow, seemed better in
spite of it all, though they were half
drenched and had doubtless shocked
more than one distant onlooker by
these proceedings. As they scorched
back up the avenue, whom should they
see but Crandall himself on his way
from the railroad depot. George
looked at her inquiringly.
Don't stop" she whispered. 81
know I'm sight to behold"
81 believe you were expecting him, .
said Eslridge, as Crandall looked aft
er them obviously.
She pinched his arm and they
laughed like children laugh.
The HaIos Were Conspicuous.
One of the young women connect.
II NTH Hull Ho1tca wac ,...x-.1..