The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-09
THE EVENING TINES GRAND FORKS, N. D.

stared straight ahead and did not ~
knowledge his existence by 30 much 40
the flicker Of an eyclash. She showed
no disposition to leave the waters be-
cause he was there, but padded about
for nearly an hour to get an appetite
for breakfast. The first time Mr.. Smith
addressed her he said:
Your pardon, ] am sure. but you sit
too far forward in your canoe. The
bow of the craft should rest on the sur
face, instead Of pushing the water In
front Of it,
There was no response, except that
perhaps she moved an inch or two far
Their forward, and ten minutes later he
tried again.
III may make so bold I would say
that you grip your paddle altogether
too high"
She let her hands slide up to grip it
higher and turned the bow Of the canoe
toward camp. Mr.. Smith hoped the
girl would return to the race that after
noon to fish. and he was ncfdisappoint-
ed. She appeared at half past 2 O'Clock
and went right to business. He gave
her friendly nod as she appeared, but
her eyes were on her fish line.
The club man saw that he had a flint
hearted girl to deal with and he did
not, know how to act with her. The
best he could hope for was that she
might fall into the race from her inse-
cure position, and it was this hope that
had caused him to tie his canoe Mt
convenient spot. If he could have the
luck to save her life she must unbend.
The thing that Mr.. Smith wanted to
happen did happen. The girl was play
Ing big fish when she suddenly lost
her balance and went into the water
with great splash. While Mr.. Smith
was hoping for and half expecting it,
he wasn't prepared for the event. He
had to secure his fish pole and then I'M
tie it. 1t was all of minute and
half before he was afoat Then the
girl was out Of sight. He drove the
canoe down the race, but fate was
against him. 1t struck a snag and
turned over, and he had hard swim
to reach the bank. When he had shak-
M oAS NstICA lIOlA ClOGlCS 0uu look
ed around the first thing he saw was
the girl. She was fishing in her old
place.
"Ba Jove, but thought you drown
ed!' called Mr.. Smith when he had
walked UP the stream to his old place.
The girl lifted her hook and renewed
the bait, but that was all. Mr.. Smith
and his canoe withdrew for the rest of
the afternoon, but that night he took a
terrible resolve. That girl should rec
ognize his presence on earth or he
would run her down and drown her.
He had fully made up his mind to that
when he fell asleep and he was firm
in the resolve when he turned out at
sunrise.
he was hardly afloat when he caught
sight Of the other canoeist. Something
In her attitude expressed defiance. She
padded up the bay, and he followed.
When a good half mile above the dam
she turned her canoe and stiffened up.
1t was plain challenge to race, and
Mr.. Smith accepted it.
The girl had start Of thirty feet,
and the man generously allowed her to
keep it for half the distance. Then, to
his surprise, though he put forth every
effort he could to close the gap, he could
only do so inch by inch. Soon he saw
that she was making for the center of
the dam. Had he been offered 500 to
send his canoe over that fall he would
have refused it. He wanted to refuse
now, but the figure in the canoe ahead
was defying him. He was canoeist,
and, If he dared not follow where girl
led, what would become Of his reputa-
ton?
He hoped until the last moment that
1t was only bluff and that before the
canoe approached too closely it would
sheer of, but the girl held her way and
the barks were not ten feet apart when
they took the long leap.
An hour later Pillsbury Smith opened
his eyes. He was in his bed in the
hotel.
"How do you feel?" asked the doctor.
"Say, did save her life?" was asked.
mo, you Ounce. She swan to the
bank with you and afterward saved
both Canoes
"Ba Jove, doctor; ba Jove!