Smyrna times., 1906-01-10
Her

Ey ANNA WHEELING
Copyright, 1905, sv p. c. Eastment

line. running between green fields, q
tOiliDg wagon spoke of passengers for
the ferry, and she swung herself lightly
into abe launch and busted herself with
starting the motor.
1t was hard work for a girl, but some
thing had to be done, and the Mile NJ. |
was her only resource. 1t had been |
fun, in her SUMMER vacations. to play |
about the boat and help her father at |
the wheel. but now that he was i'll she !
must take his work and every day, in |
fair weather or wet. make the hourly |
trips across the four mile stretch of |
wafer WHICH lay between the two |
states.
Could she have finished her course at
college she might have found some
other way of supporting herself and
her father, but there was an Opportu-
nifty here TO continue her studies, and
when rheumatism had laid her father
fiat upon his back she had given up the
last term and had come home to be
both captain and engineer of the little
ferry.
Between December and April the
lake was frozen over, and if business
was brisk this summer there might be
a chance to take half year. 1t would
delay her graduation at least a year.
perhaps two. but her chief duty was
toward her father, who since her baby
hood. had striven so hard TO replace
that mother she had lost. He lavished
upon her the affection q child naturally
would expect from both parents.
When Captain Blake had been COM
PEELED to take to his bed his first
thought was for his daughter, the Sec
Ond for the ferry line. If he gave it up
some one else would start line, and
when he should be better he would find
his means Of livelihood gone.
But even at that he would not hear
of Miles giving up the term. ard the
girl settled the matter herself by calm
ly coming home and putting the launch
in commission as soon as the ice went
out.
1t had been busy season, for after
hours the patrons of the big hotel on
the bluff were wont to hire the boat
for excursions, and the entries on the
credit side of the bank book cheered
| Mile when at times it seemed that
| she, too, would have to give in.
| There were eight in the party that
wanted to cross the lake. but only the
strapping sheriff attracted her atten-
ton as he dropped into the launch and
climbed over the partition separating
the engines from the space reserved
for passengers.
Most ready to give in, Miller he
asked as the girl made room for him
on the seat beside her.
Not yet" She answered as she reach
cd for the wheel. Il won't let them
say that married you so as to be able
to complete my course"
81 guess they know well enough that
we have been engaged ever since
went into long trousers he urged
Besides, if you really love me you
will not care what people say"
Cant you understand how | feelp
she demanded. 81 do love you, Dick
but they must not say that l married
you Just because you had the money
needed. They must realize that l mar
ried you because / wanted you. YOU
have your spurs as sheriff to win;
have my diploma to work for. Thel
/ we can be married"
And live happy ever after" he com
pleted. "Iust wait until capture tn
Mayville bank robbers, and I'll vii
your consent in spite of you
who are they?' she asked curiously
TTs laid a slip of paper OH the sea-
but Just then the last of the passenger
settled themselves and the boat glide
cut into the lake, Miles hands a
steady upon the wheel as though til
man she loved were not sitting besid
I her
1 She thought no more of the paper III
I til she came down to the dock aft
J supper to get the launch ready for
I trip down the lake with a party fro
I the hotel. Then she glanced over Il
I printed slip, offering an aggregate r
4 ward Of $4,000 for the three me
( whose robbery of the Mayville bar
I was the latest of a daring series.
I So engrossed did she become that 81
: had to hurry at the last and just
I she looked up from her task, ready
I pull out and run down to the hot
4 dock, she faced an exceedingly bu
4 nessIfl5e revolver held by determin
\ looking man.
1--WE want to cross the lake." he So
\ roughly, land you can't get across a
: too quick either"
4 This boat is engaged for the eve
/ ing" she said calmly. though her he;
1 beat high as she realized that the
4 were three in the party--the very 10
at whose portraits she had been lo'
y ing.
"You bet it's engaged" was
! rough response, land you want
; make start mighty prompt"
~ Her quick ear caught the beat
hoofs down the road, and she sought
make delay, but there was sol
thing in the leaders face that me-
business and, with no comment,
turned to the motor and the boat g
"a ont info fba lake