The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-04-05

the sun.
do you think We'll make it," she
asked quietly.
We'll try" he answered, with equal
repression. Their eyes met in the I'M
Outstanding of a common peril. There
was much against them, but wind and
tide were with them, and when the
Cults Wing sank it was within a few
feet of the islands shore.
Peyton stepped out and carried Miss
Ainsley to land. Then he pulled IN the
boat as far as he could and made 1t
fast.
"Marooned!' cried Miss Ainsley
lightly. She did not refer to their past
danger, nor did he, save to say solicit
tously, "Miss Ainsley, you're soaking
wet"
$50 are you! But the suns strong
end hot on this little beach, and We'll
soon dry. When do you think they'll
come for U.S."
"I'm afraid we won't be missed till
nightfall, and it's only 3 o'clock now.
Thank heaven my matches aren't
damp, and we can build a f1rew
"Crusoe the second!" laughed Miss
Ainslcy. ado you think the wreck will
yield us anything? 1t should, accord
ing to the best story books"
Nothing but the bailing pail and q
stern locker"
"Get Them" she besought. well
use them to cook with"
"Cook what?"
Miss .Ainsley's eyes danced. "Oh,
Crusoe, Crusoe! Haven't you any i'm
agination? Don't you know there's al
ways food on q desert island-sea
gulls' eggs and things like that? Come
along and let's explore"
"Therc! 1 told you'll" she exclaimed
as their wanderings brought them to
a little spring. isn't that pretty, the
way it bubbles up between the moss
and ferns? And 1 do believe there's
been Il picnic here. Look at that bit
Of orange peel"
eyes, and see this!" cried Peyton,
| emerging from a tllicket with a brown
paper parcel in his hand.
"Something the picnickers forgot!'
cried Miss .Ainsley ecstatically. "Open
it. quick.'
Peyton caught the fire Of her en-
thusiasm. ''Tea and sugar and a loaf
Of bread" he laughed.
"Bread.' exclaimed Miss Ainsley.
"Do YOU think that it's stale:' She
pulled Il bit from the heel Of the loaf
and nibbled it furtively. mo! It's
| fresh. There must have been a picnic
here this morning. Well have a feast.
a regular feast"
Time went swiftly in preparing it.
Peyton found ONE blackberries, and
Miss Ainslie made plates of leaves.
| They built a fire of driftwood on the
beach, and over a pile of stones the
coffeepot sang pleasantly. 1t was
sunset when they seated themselves
luxuriOusly on the sand and ate What
Viola Ainslie called the fruits Of their
toll.
"This tea is the best I ever tasted"
Peyton declared.
"You didn't know 1 was such a good
cook, did you" Miss Ainslie inquired
as she sat opposite him poking at the
fire.
"They will be coming for us soon,"
said Peyton. land then our day will be
over"
eyes," said Miss -Ainslie with some
thing strangely like a sigh.
Behind them the woods of the little
island were deepening into the shad-
ow; the waves broke softly on the
beach; the rosy flames of the fire shone
brightly out into the gathering dusk.
"Listen,' she added. In the distance
could be heard the faint, steady puff
ing of a steam launch. They've seen
the fire." she exclaimed, shielding her
eyes with her hand.
"There's McNugget," cried Peyton
almost savagely, land I suppose you're
glad" He was kneeling on the sand
picking up the tin cups.
Miss Ainsley smiled. "Oh, Robinson
Crusoe," she said softly, show very
blind you are!"
Peyton dropped the cups and stared
at her. "You mean he breathed.
II mean that-this afternoon when 1
thought that perhaps we've wouldn't
reach the shore-it didn't seem as II
the other things mattered at all. l
knew then what really counted most.
I knew that wealth was nothing and
that l only wanted you you you"
The last words were almost inaudfble,
and Peyton had to lean very near to
catch them. Then the voice Of the mil
lionaire McNugget reached them
through the megaphone.
"Coming!" cried Miss Ainslie in an
swer. "Hurry up, Crusoe. Why on
earth are you carrying that old coffee
pot under your arm?"
cts a trophy" said Peyton, "of a
shipwreck that has made me the hap.
piest man on earth"