Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-18


sea to be seen we concluded to go and
find il. There were flats enough, and
they were covered with shells and sea-
weed, but no water. We sauntered
along until we met n man, whom we
asked which way was the bay, then
passed on in the direction he pointed.
He called to us:
You're not going there?
Certainly. Why not?'
Its n little late in the day.
"'Late in the day? Why. man, it's
not 10 in the morning.
But the tide will be coming in
soon.'
That's exactly what we want to
See
The man looked at me with puZ-
Zled expression, then turned and went
his way. Miss Underwood wondered
what he could mean, and we walked
on. Later l stopped to examine some
seaweed, and in facing the direction
from which we had come l saw that
the man was looking back at us.
That fellow seems to he nightly
interested in u.s. L remarked peevishly.
They talk about Yankees being Gu
rious,' observed Miss Underwood.
They're nothing to these Canadians
I'VE rambled on, shifting the deli
ciOuS air one gets on salt water coast,
making collection of shells and sea-
weed, but not getting n sight of the
sea. We must have gone a mile and n
half from the hotel over the damp red
sediment left by overlooking water
when we heard a sound like distant
thunder
els it going to Storm asked my
companion.
Not a cloud to be seem 1 replied,
sweeping the sky with my eyes.
There were some cattle back of us,
and we noticed that they all turned
and Travelled inland, some of the small
er ones Fastening their speed as they
proceeded till their gait reached Il gal
lOp.
~ wonder why that wagon is com
ing so furiously,' remarked Miss Tn
derwood.
AZ don't see anything to come for
replied. Nothing here but shells and
seaweed.'
1.-The wagon came on, making a bee
line for us. We stood watching the
driver lash his horses while a man
sat beside him who seemed to be beck
oning us.
"'Why, it's the man who was so in
terested in usr exclaimed Miss Under
wood.
so it is. 1 wonder if he's coming
to invite us to his house. l replied,
making an effort to be facetious.
Something must be the matter
lx- roe drax
seated wagon, swung around beside
us and stopped. Our interested friend
jumped out, opened the door and told
us to get in.
whats the hurry? asked, stand
ing stock still.
Hurry, you stupid ass! The tides
comingp
Il cast a glance seward and saw a
great white wall of tumbling water
moving like n twenty thousand dollar
automobile. 1 seized Miss Underwood,
lifted her bodily into the carriage and
rolled In after her, and with my legs
still sticking out of the door the horses
started shoreward. The driver dashed
his horses and shouted ut them, while
now and again l cast a glance behind,
and even now 1 want to put my hands
before my eyes to shut out that horri-
BILE pursuing monster. Miss Underwood
looked back once, but never AGAIN.
"She chung to you pretty close, didn't
she?' suggested the listener.
That's nothing to do with the sto-
ry," replied the narrator. Yes; it has,
too" he added, with a sudden burst of
confidence. "She was so terrified that
she didn't know what she was doing,
and, throwing her arms about my
neck, she nearly choked me. Well. by
this time the roar behind us was so
near that l expected any minute to
feel the cold water beating against my
back. The driver was making for a
rise in the ground, and it was neck
and neck between us and the surf
which should reach it first. The driver
swore, the man beside him sat with
folded arms and the corners of his
mouth drawn down, while 1 was en-
deavoring to calm Miss Underwood.
We reached the rise just as the outer
layer of foam was tossed against it.
Ibid Miss Underwood faint?"
mo; she sobbed."
ION your shoulder. of course"
1.-THE man who had come for MS had
supposed on meeting us that we knew
all about the tide. Fortunately, just
as they gave us up for lost, the wagon
came by, and he took possession of it,
81 suppose you said to Miss Under
wood: Like should mate with like.
Two fools would be good MATCH"
''How did you know that? It's ex-
actly what l did say. Singular that
you should have struck the IDENTICAL
words" f. A. Mitchell