The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1905-09-08

zone day a sudden squall came up,
and a little while after it had blown
over Molly Milford come to me white
as a sheet and says:
Uncle Phir-she called me uncle,
though | was no relation-'Uncle PHIL
she said, Paul Ruddock's boat has been
blown over by the squall and sunkp
Il ran into the house, grabbed my
glass and, going to the beach. only a
few hundred yards away, brought the
glass to bear on the ocean. l could
make out man nearly two miles out
swimming for his life. / watched him
for q minute or two and made up my
mind that he was laboring hard and
would never get to the shore unless
some one helped him. Tossing the
glass to Molly, l ran down to the
shore, where lifeboat was kept. The
only person / met was Rufe Scott. l
told him of Paul Ruddock's fix and
asked him to help me get the boat be-
yond the breakers. He hesitated q
moment, but couldn't stand the look
gave him, and. taking hold of the boat.
together we got her nose down into
the surf
"'Get in said III shove her out
"This meant for him to go with me.
He was about to make Some ugly re-
ply, refusing to do so, when he caught
sight of Molly coming Then he got
into the bow and took up an oar.
watching my chance to run the boat
out when the waves came In lower, |
jumped in at the stern, seized my oar,
and together we pulled beyond the
foam into deep water.
"Rufe being for'ad and l aft. it
wasn't necessary for him to pull as
hard as l. But I noticed that he was
doing good work, which relieved my
mind, for l was afraid he would shirk.
But soon found by looking ahead that
the scoundrel was pulling me around.
Indeed, Rufe having the port oar,
could look over my left shoulder and
see Paul-that is, whenever he rode the
crest of a wave. / stopped rowing,
turned around, stood up and, raising
my oar. said:
"'You miserable dog. if you do that
again I'll brain you and throw your
carcass overheard" Then l sat down
and kept my eye on the stern of the
boat and Molly at the same time,
keeping the two in line. Then sudden
~ Rufe stopped rowing. / turned on
him again, and he had his oar up,
ready to fight.
- haven't any call to help Paul
Ruddock, and won't. That is all there
is about it.
"'YOu won't, eh"
Il dropped my oar. caught his on my
arm. got at him, and before he could
get grip on me tumbled him over
board.
"'There, said. Swim back to the
girl you're trying to get even with
Heading the boat toward Paul, /
took both oars and pulled ahead, max
ing big squirt Having my face to-
ward Rufe, I saw him swim for a
point below Molly, and ii was evident
be didn't want to meet her. She was
too intent to see whether | would sue
coed or not to notice him. and, land
ing quarter of mile away from her,
ne skunk up the beach and disappeared
behind a dam. That's the last he
was ever seen in the town. He knew
well enough that it would not be best
to show his face there after the story
| would tell.
Il reached Paul when he was pretty
well tuckered out got him into the
boat and pulled him ashore, Molly help
Ing me when l beached the boat and
happy at seeing her lover alive, though
we, needed to get him home aud wrap
him in hot blankets. He soon righted
and married Molly the following au
tumn''
And the man who just came in,"
I asked, lis Paul RuddOck?"
That's right. | could have any
thing in the world he's got except his
wife" T. EDWARD MILLS.