Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-10-09
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER V.
Yorke soon found himself out OF
his depth and almost as quickly dis
covered what the young lady meant
by shouting "The- current" But he
was good swimmer-there was
scarcely anything Yorke Auchester
, could not do, except earn his living
and, though he found his boots and
clothes very much in the way, he got
through the waves at fair rate, and
reached the black-and-tan. Saving a
fellow-creature is hard work enough,
burt it is almost as bad to rescue a
dog, even a small one as Dick, from a
watery grave.
When Yorke had succeeded in get.
ting hold of him with one hand, Dick
commenced to struggle and claw-no
doubt under the impree ssion that the
great big man had come to hasten
his death rather than preserve it
and Yorke was compelled to swim on
his back, and hold the clawing, strug-
Cling little terrier pressed HARD
against his chest.
1t was hard work getting back, but
he found himself touching the sand at
last, and, scrambling to his feet,
waled through what remained OF the
water, and set Dick upon his four
legs at Leslie's feet. Of course, the
little imp, after shaking the water off
I, lii
ly at his preserver.
Now, the handsomest manor, for
that matter, the prettiest woman
either-is not improved in appearance
by a bath-that is, before he has
dried himself and brushed his hair.
The salt water was running Off
Yorke's tall figure at all points; his
short hair was stuck to his forehead;
his mustache dropped; his eyes were
blinking, an his clothes adhered to
him as if they loved him better than
a brother. He didn't look in the
least heroic, burt extremely comic,
and Leslie's first impulse was to
laugh.
But the laugh did not, indeed, could
not come, and she picked up the damp
over his still snarling countenance at
his rescuer, with Sudden shyness in
her eyes and a heighteni color in her
face
She looked SO supremely lovely as
she stood there that Yorke forgot his
sensation of sickness, and gazed at
her with a sudden thrill agitating his
heart.
Leslie found her voice at last. but
there came softly, shyly, only the
commonplace Thank YOU" 1t seem
ed SO terribly commonplace that she
made an effort, and added: 1T was
very kind Of you to take SO much
trouble. How wet you must be. You
must not stand about"
Yorke smiled, and knocked the hair
from his forehead and wrung his
shirt sleeves.
"st's all right" he said, ut was
my fault If l hadn't chucked the
piece of wood he wouldn't have gone
in He hasn't come to any harm APP
parently."
ooh, no, no! He is all right" said
Leslie. "He can swim very well when
the tide is coming in, but when it is
going out it is too strong for him, and
and he would have been drowned ir
you had not gone after him." and her
eyes dropped.
Poor little chap" said Yorke,
putting on his coat. THAT woulo
never have done, would it, doggie"
cit is a very dangerous place for
bathing" said Leslie. 1.-THE current Is
very strong and-and that is why
called out"
"Yes-thanks,' he said, to spare her
the embarrassment of explaining that
sudden freightend cry of hers. q
could feel that Burt / have to thank
Dick for an enjoyable bath all the
same. suppose he will never forgive
me; the person whose life you save
never does"
He sat down On the break-water and
began to empty his pockets. There
were several bills-reduceo
to semi-pulp. Yorke did not sorrow
over them. His watch had stopped;
his cigars and cigar-case were ire
treivable ruined. He held them up
! with a laugh and laid them on the
top of the break-water in the sun:
then suddenly his happy-go-lucEy ex.