The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-11-24
CHAPTER XI.
Dan ~Laphsm.

Dan Laphsm.
"Play, Nelse."
No, it is Marks play,'
mo, no one will play. 1t lie every
body's drink. Men we will drink to
che memory of Dan Lsphaml"
"Then Dan is dead, Joef"
without any doubt" said q man who
had just entered the place, the rain
dripping from his hat and clothing.
I'VE secured the bay and river about
the rocks, but no trace of the boy could
be seen. We recovered his boat, which
drifted under the wharf At the life saw
ing station late in the afternoon, but
Marty q trace Of Dan, poor Dan, the re-
liable"
The fishermen had gathered at Hay
den's place the night after the storm
and were seated at the tables as usuai
plying cards for the drinks.
They had been interrupted by Joe
Golden, who had just arrived from the
life saving station. Joe was a utility
man about the bay. He was town
narshal when such an officer was need
cd. He was an extra at the life sta
tion, a fisherman, carpenter, bartender,
dierk, deliveryman, or whatever he was
called upon to dc.
He had been called to the life saving
station that day and had worked
throughout the storm. He had wit
messed all OF the disasters and came in
TO report them.
Dan Lapham was one of the most
popular men in the village. He was
young, strong, even-tempered, could
pull q boat with superior skill to any
other man, talked but little and WAS as
brave ~ . lion. He knew not the
meaning of fear. He was a boon COM
panion ON land or sea. He was q fav-
critic partner in the games and q good
player. He was missed tonight for
the first time in many weeks and the
boys at Hayden's arose to = man at the
invitation of Joe Golden to drink to his
memory. I,
The men resumed their games, but
they did not diop the lame Of Dan
from their conversation
First one would speak of some good I
Trait Of. 1.-The boy and then another would I
recall an incident in which Dan WAS
All of the fishermen knew t
II something good and none spoke i'll L
Of the young man. who single handed 4
rowed a boat and tended = tap for
moro than q year. b
"No one has ever been missed a. we '
hall miss Dan," said old Hayden. 1
Eho had broken bis rule and called f
lpon all present to drink at his ex- b
,enss. "Here's to Dan Lapham's b
,ealth-memoryI" said the veteran n
um seller as the crowd arose and drank Il
y rounds.
But old Hayden was wasting his p
lquor, 70 far ~ acri6cing it to the Il
.enory of . dead man was concerned. Il
md the fishermen, while growing Ren-
rous over the memory OF ~ they con- OF
dead, were extolling the viz
aes Of . man who was living at that
cry hour.
His life. however, was NOT at that
me assured and his position was not
of ease, but Dan Lapham still lived tt
nd was planning to live q great deal W,
'ngsr. &C
no W4b ~ tuat houh ciAn8iAB ZIG or
,cks near the dead line at the lower be
I'd Of the bay. His benumbed feet hs
ere set upon the slight shelving that DC
tied out Just above the waters edge III
that very moment, while his fingers co
ere deeply clinched in above. bo
Q had climbed to the highest point lol
could be reached, but he also re- 70
embered that the tide had reached its
nit. hi
He had dragged himself ahead Of it tt
re q half-drowned serpent throughout vi
Q afternoon and he now welcomed a.
Q fact that it was time for the water tn,
recede.
When he reached his trap that NOM me
z he found that he had missed San ce,
Ia and Ringwold on the way. He hi,
llized that the young girl would be Ds
lpless against the strong undertow
. started out to render such assist sb.