Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-10


fusion. "I didn't think you looked like
a painter"
I'm not" he answered her. IF you
could see that sketch you'd understand.
But, thank heaven, Providence has
washed it out"
The thunder pealed over the island,
and the lightning ripped across the
armament blindlngly.
"Oh!" cried Molly. They'll never
come in all this. Eilean will never have
got there. It's dreadful"
The young man frowned, as If he
were suddenly displeased with himself.
He rose.
| do you think you can manage to
hold this stick for a minute, or two?'
he asked. 1--WE got an idea"
Molly grasped the umbrella and
watched him interestedly. He stalked
out into the rain and made his way
to the waters edge, where he stood
contemplating the dismal scene. Then
he came back. II am dolt," he re-
marked without any feeling.
"I ought to have known, or, not
knowing, should have found out.
There's only four feet of water this
side"
Molly gazed at him. The statement
conveyed nothing to her.
Its ford" he explained. 1--WE need
no longer be prisoners"
| "Oh!" she gasped, as the heavens
opened overhead once more. Can we
can you get across?" she asked.
"Wade," he said, and gazed at her
doubtfully. "at least, 1 can wade, and
YOU"
"Oh, 1 couldn't" said Molly decisively.
"I should be afraid. 1t looks awful,
boiling along like that
"Of course it Is quite possible that I
could carry you,' he suggested, as If
weighing the chances. II couldn't very
we'll take you on my back, as the water
would come too high. But if 1 were to
hold you in my arms, like so. as one
carries a baby, 1 think you would be
above the stream. If you were to cling
round my neck"
Thank you, 1 have no intention of
being carried" said Molly, coldly.
He scrambled under the umbrella and
resumed possession of it.
Certainly. 1 might go down in mid
stream, with that heavy pull of water
on me-" he said. II suppose ,you
weigh
LAS I'm not going to cross that way
my weight doesn't matter" said Molly
loftily.
Then Id better go by myself and
bring help" he said.
He moved out again, and was half
way to the stream when voice stopped
him. But you don't know-it may be
more than four feet"
"Oh, no, it isn't. But if 1 find it is
can come back. AS you sensibly OBJ
served a little while ago, one may as
well be wet one way as another"
Molly had no reply at the moment,
and he resumed his path, but she called
out as he reached the bank:
st don't see any sense in it. You
won't get anywhere sooner than my
sisters have DONE"
He came back. That's true" he
said. "But perhaps they've been storm
bound"
There was that possibility to face,
but Molly bravely lodged it.
"As you can't swim," she remarked
cruelty, ''you would not be able to get
to the canoe. and you would only have
to trudge two miles to the Castle boat
house. Stubbs is sure to be on his way
here It's really abominable the way
he is delaying"
| The storm was passing, and in the
south CLEANS of the sun appeared. The
rain was like retreating phantom in
! the sky. AS he stood there so submis''
sively, Molly's spirits bettered with the
improvement of the weather. She rose
to her feet.
1T is clearing" she observed.
Its a pity we can't cheat this
dllatory rescue party" he said. II hate
being indebted to people, don't you?"
| He eyed her curiously, and Molly was
conscious that he had pulled her out
of the canoe. Yes. do" she snapped
VERY well, then" said he, What do
you say to an adventure? Here is a
splendid branch which is so heavily
anchored that it could not possibly cap
size. Shall we risk it?"
"I-I don't understand" answered the
girl in surprise.
He indicated fallen branch which
spread out from a huge central log
'If 1 launch this we can make the land.
Are you gamer"
Molly looked at it hesitatingly.
''Ye-es," she said, if you think it's
really safe"
Safe as shipboard,"' he said, cheer
lily. 1--WE can pole along beautifully
And when stubbs comes he will find the
prisoners flown"