Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-02

Il 4 bullctin-hoard. e the forthcoming annual
regatta of the Squam Yacht Club. The
particular thing that caught his eye was
the second money prize Of fifteen dollars for sailing
dories offered by The commodore. There were other
prizes Of course: the mrch-covetcd silve" called
"tho Commodore's Cup, for knockabouts. ponnants
for the raccabouts and haliaters. and frs money
prize of twenty-five dollars for he ishcrn'. al2or
But the one he stared at lonsingy that see
ond prize For he felt certain tia. tie Wanlcrer his
sailing -dory could hca anything in hc Cove or up
Suuam River. The trouble was to e.. tine entrance
fee Of two dollars. The commodore was very gen
erous man as every in sqUam knew; but he
believed that it was only fair that ho local fishermen
should pay to enter the Two dollars, however,
stood between Lon and the prize
lie shifted his crutch and was about 20 stump away
on it and his ono leg, when familia: voice called
ont cheerily "Good-mornng, Lon What's the trou-
bic now?"
It was Commodore Black who spoke to him, and
at the sound Lon whipped around and said quickly:
"Good-morning sir, was trying to think Of some
way make two dollars.
Two dollars" echoed his companion. What for?
Want to see the circus?
NO. sir" Lon replied emphatically. 81 want
chance to win that dory prize, that's all
isn't clustering paying this season Lon?'
pretty we'll sir; hut Alice and Dan have been sick,
and it takes all that mother and l can make to pay
the doctors bills and keep them comfortable That
fifteen dollars would come in mighty handy now"
"IIum." calculated the commodore. Then Lon
turned away and walked up the road He cudgel-
ing his brains think up some plan whereby he
might raise the much-dcsirod two dollars. lie had
enough Holsters in the car down the dock to be
worth that if The cottage.s would only buy them.
But his rounds that morning very few seemed to
want Holsters at all
Ion Marshall fifteen years old and the loss OF
his right leg had occurred two years before through
his being thrown from trOlley-car. That happened
the winter his father died; and as soon as Lon was
able to get about the rough crutch he had made
himself he worked as hard lie could helping his
mother in keeping Il home for Alice and Dan
His father had left him a fast sailing-dOry, and
however much Lon haupcrad on land by the
loss of his leg, he as good as the next one on
board boat The villagers took pride in his ability
as a boat-saer and the cottasers liked him for his
cheerfulncss and the way hc worked But both as a
lohsterman and as boa,-sailer he Lad very &C
tive rival This was Bob Richards, the postmasters
Lon and his mother discussed the situation while
they were eating dinner, and Mrs Marshall suggested
that he should make another tour OF the hotels and
cottages that afternoon and remind the people that
the morrow was "Squam Day" and more Holsters
would be needed 20 feed the crowd Of visitors at
tracted by the boa-races. Lon started out as soon
as dinner was over but before he had reached the
first cottage, Mrs. Black the commodores Wife called
to him from her phaGton.
"Oh. Lon" she cried as she refined in her horse,
have you any Holsters on hand?'
Yes ma'am," replied Lon And to his wonder and
delight she ordered ten from him, to be delivered at
once Then she paid him the amount Of his bill "
which was three dollars and half Lon went baci;
to the cottage with as near to his leg
would allow
Mother" he crioG, he burst into the kitchen,
1--WE got it," And he threw the money down on the
table,
80 you have my boy. BIZ do YOU really thnl, You
ought to 90 into that race? Isn't it kind Of gam
bling
Lon brushed her doubts aside BY saying no guessed
III it were gambling Commodore Black wouldn't pat
the prize up" Mrs. Marshall had no arguments to
advance against the statement, for in Squam every
thing the commodore did was considered just right.
Lon took the two dollars, went down to The club
house and entered his dory for the race
Hope you'll win, Lon" said the steward as he
wrote, "Aonzo Marshall, Wandercr Paid on the lis
of entries You want TO look out for Bob Richards
though. That ere Gory of his is right smart"
oh think can beat him, jim, unless he outwit
me with some surprise. He's good sailor bu ! n
not afraid of Bob or the Arrow
The race set for the next day, the start being
at ten o'clock But race or no race, Ion had 10 g
out in the bay to overhaul his lobster-pots and take
up his nights catch. SO he left home before day
break the next morning rowed out TO the Ledge
and after taking one set OF pots baad and droppc'
the second set overheard
Before o'clock he had transferred his cacl
to the car in which he kept them and then started
to haul the Wanderer The beach to give the bot
tom scrubbng off. When he had finished his ant
had overhaued the rigging of his spritsail and jih
it was time to make his way out to the starting
point off the lighthouse.
1t was beautiful morning, with just the kind of
breeze Lon liked. 1t coming out of the southWes
in heavy puffs that were dangerous to a craft no
sailed by skilled hands. Lon liked it, not because h
was fearless, but because he knew just how hard
blow the Wanderer would stand And he knew
Bob Richards nervous the water, he counted