The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-07-21

the ripping face of the river. After
that it was quick call to arms:
through the trees and rushes, flick
ering up the water, whistled the
wind; and, lastly, the rain, driving
diagonally, ratified upon the leaves and
Kissed into the water.
Above the din came suddenly a call:
"Wherry Vanity-ahoy!"
Immediately afterwards a Pickering
light was to be seen on the Puck, and
the lightning revealed Mainly crawl
ing about her deck fumbling for the
painter of the dingy
Then mufied, sobbing voice arose
from the Tapping. cracking tent on
the bank:
ARTHUR, Arthur, where are you?
Take me out! Something dreadfuls
happened-''
Here a crashing peal of thunder
drowned the words
DO brave, darling," reared Mainly:
''you most stay where you are; the
cabins half full of water, and there's
more osming in
Its worse here pleaded the
voice; ''everything's upside down, and
there's hole coming in the roof
and, oh! know l shall be struck by
lightning and killed. it walled.
Don't be absurd" shouted Mainly.
''Sit tight and shut your eyes; I'm
going for help"
Where to, Arthur" asked the
choking voice.
ITO the Vanity"
mo, no." Mrs. Ma;nly's voice be-
came suddenly determined ''Id rath-
er die; come back, Arthur, come
back"
But the lightning showed Mainly
pulling~with frantic strokes for the
opposite shore. In his haste, how
ever, he miscalculated the distance
and. second later, drove the dingy
into the side of the Vanity with an
impact that shot him FROM his seat,
and brought Laismere on dock, under
the impression that they had been run
down.
Now, then, what the DEVILS all
this?' bawled Laismere, in bullying
voice.
Its me- feebly responded Mainly,
picking himself up from the b6tJom
of the dingy.
What are you muttering about ."
roared Laismere, land what do you
mean by running us down at this time
of night. whoever you are?'
''I'm the Puck, and l haven't run
you down." shouted Mainly, recovering
his breath.
Il don't care who you are; what Go
you mean by it," retorted the owner
of the Vanity.
Just then a flash Of lightning re-
vealed Mainly's anxious face to Lais-
mere. Instantly his keen wits
jumped to the situation. and it's po-
tentialities arranged themselves be-
fore him. Bending to the men at his
side he spoke word or two, and they
disappeared down the forward hatch.
Then he turned and faced Mainly
as we'll as the circumstances permit
/ ted.
! Nov, then, sir he began, in 4
! hard voice, perhaps you will explain
what you mean by running me DOWN."
MY dear SIR protested Mainly, in
as conciliatory tone as the strain on
his lungs would permit, Il say | did
not run you down. Let me explain:
F.; there's not moment to lose; we're
over there. you know, in desperate
state. flooded out, and my wife-Mrs.
! Mainly
Here a clap of thunder Immediate
| ly overhead rendered him inaudible,
and he waved his hand toward the
heavens with an explanatory gesture.
Laismere advanced to the gunwale
of the Vanity.
Look here" he commenced, brutal
ly, let us put the thing in nutshell.
An hour ago you wouldn't have wiped
your boots on the cushions in my
wife's cabin; now you want me to
take your wife into that cabin because
you haven't got a dry one of your
own. An hour ago"
! Here the flaming skies revealed the
terrible fact that the tent which held
Mrs. Mainly had collapsed, and a
wriggling mass of canvas filled its
place. Laismere regarded the spec
tacle with serenity, while Mainly, in
his agony, danced in the bottom Of
the dingy until it rocked wildly.
"An hour ago. proceeded Lais-
mere, as calmly as if he was recalling
trivialities. you hated the very signt
of us, and now you'll condescend to
put up with our company until the
storms over. And he added. with a
snap of his jaws, good night to
you"
Every moment was becoming more
agonizing to Mainly. He was shiver-
ing with cold. and the limelight of the
heavens played horribly upon the
writhing tomb of his wife.
For Gods sake, say you'll take her
in he pleaded.
Laismere came to. the side OF the
wherry once more and peered down
at Mainly.
Your wife's kind regards to Mrs
Laismere-eh? Is that it," he sug-
gested, grimly.