The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-29
TIE EVENING STORY
Six Sailors.
(By Jane T,ndI11no T.aaN

hiring this launch by the hour. SIC for
each hour. and as she has already been
here for thirty minute s we have vast
ed 50. Como along"
Were coming. Jack. coming. Won
are a regular old Sllylcck to ask a man
up mere as your guest en- q li:tle blow
out anc then throw the cos. OF it il
MS teeth The rest of US have been
ready Tor some time, but Leigh can't
tear himself away from the ladies' and
you would make this stag
very well, then, let Leigh stay with
the girls, for I'm not going to have
them aboard. Here comes Leigh now"
Just at that moment three big fell
lows appeared in the doorway OF the
mouse carrying another being who
seemed to be all legs and arms which
were flying in all directions. At the
top of their voice. and each man on
a different key. they were shouting
How can bear to leave thee?" Car
rying their burden down to the land
ing, they deposited Leigh and all
Joined hands and started an Indian
war dance around him. while passers-
by slowed up to see six strapplng lei
lows. clad only in their bathing SUITS
doing a wild dance around their VIC
tim. Jack broke the spell by yelling:
THAT parade won't wait, boys. for
any one except Roosevelt, ana he does
not happen to be one of our party, SO
all aboard and some one sit on Leigh
Leigh's tenor voice squawked
Goodbye, ladies'" but he was imme-
diateiy jumped on by about six nun
dred pounds Of humanity and ne
Quieted down.
NOW. skipper. for Oyster Bay in the
best time you can make it," said Jack
The Aphrodfte puffed and kicked for
a moment, then started out and soon
Bei1eview was only speck In the DIS
lance. 1t was a rainy, misty morn
inc hut he mind.
and Alice had a dear old house at
Belleview and had filed it over Sun
day with their best friends: Jack had
hired this launch to take the boys for
a sail and Alice had agreed 10 stay at
home and give the girls dove lunch
con.
Leigh" said Jack, eff you don't
watch out the next dance you do will
be to the tune of the wedding march.
Better go easy"
"Jack. old man. Your hand on it.
You, being a married man, must
know the symptoms, and I don't mind
saving that ever since last summer at
the lake I've had an uneasy feeling
in my heart, but up at your house I'm
Just making myself useful amusing
the ladies'
Bryan Macgregor, the basso of the
party, saw fit to interrupt the boys
here. and taking his old meerschaum
pipe out of his mouth drawled:
ct say, fellows. you two better quit.
It's too early in the morning to get
twitting on facts and it's mean
thing to do at any time of day. Jack,
you give an imitation of gentleman
and don't talk back, and Leigh, for
love of Mike, shut up that howl.
Granting that your Bonnie lies over
the ocean, I do not blame her for
staying there IL she ever heard that
voice of yours
Finally the six men seated them
selves in comfortable positions, and
snatches of songs, bits of stories,
much laughter and general good fell
the floor in the midst of story about
six sailors who were shipwrecked and
had no food.
mo food" he reiterated. mo
food-just the same as we are fellows
no food"
Jack took the hint and soon bas-
kets came forth heavily ladened with
delicious food that the girls had
packed for them. They sat down and
began to eat like the proverbial hun
cry sailors. and Leigh was comment
ing on women in the capacity of
cooks when a queer, gurgling sound
was heard. Then another-the
Aphrodite was evidently in trouble.
maybe she's hungry, skipper. Give
her some gasoline or a bit of oil"
The Aphrodite, as if an answer to
the suggestion. began splitting oil ov-
er the floor of the boat.
to overlooking" commented Leigh.
The Aphrodite suddenly stopped
and all efforts on the part of the
skipper and the six men were futile.
They drifted and drifted until it be-
came a serious problem. What was
to be done and who was to do it :? By
this time the launch had drifted into
cove about miles from land, and
after much discussion Leigh volun-
teered to swim to the land and get
help. The others, knowing he was a
famous swimmer. agreed to the plan,
and without much delay he was over
board and with long, steady strokes
was covering the distance. When he
finally reached the shore he rested
awhile, and then started to walk
towards a handsome residence at the
top of the cliff.
Suddenly from the bushes near him
came a clear soprano voice. Leigh
stopped and listened and looked. Not
far from where he stood there was a
little rustic summer house. and lean
ing against the side of it was a young
girl dressed all in white. He crept a
little nearer to make quite sure that
he was not dreaming. SO near that as
the girl stopped singing. she breathed
a heavy sigh, and Leigh could hear it.
He longed for a sight of her face and
wondered if it were half as sweet as
the voice he had heard, and he made
brave to creep little nearer. The
rustic of the bushes made her turn,
ana seeing him she cried:
"'Leigh--Mr.~ Rihcards! Is It really
your"
''It is really Leigh Richards, Miss Ap-
pletou, and I apologize for startling
you so. but I was climbing up the cliff
and heard your voice. so stopped to lis
ten. am on an errand OF mercy and
perhaps you can help me out"
IAN errand of mercy-in bathing
suit! Why, I do not quite understand.
Where is the rest of your party?'
Leigh soon explained to her the plight
OF the boys, and finished by saving,
Your father dislikes me so that I ex-
pect If he knows who's in the party he'll
never let one Of his men go to our help,
will he?"