The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-25
Mr.. PRICMCRE'S
ASSURANCE.

H'(s~'O--
of young men and women were taking
advantage Of it for skimmlng the icy
surface of one of those little bays w.
ing along the coast OF Long Island.
There were Harry MORO, Marjorie Kent
and Guthrie Prigmore. There were u
lot more, but these three are the only
ones who figure in this story. Prig-
more was rich, domineering and one
Of those reckless men whose reckless
ness is usually folly. With women he
counted for far more than he was In
trinsically worth. MORO was modest
and, though cool, had very keen ap-
probation Of danger, especially Of that
attending Ice boating Nevertheless he
was fond Of sports, and Of no sport
was he more fond than this same Gid
ing over ice on steel runners.
Prigmore had Joined the party at the
Bayside hotel, a stranger to most Of
them. He had not been there six
hours bef6Se every girl set her cap for
him. This didn't matter much for any
Of the men except MORO, who had
been attentive to Miss Kent, and they
were supposed to be on the eve Of an
engagement. When the party left the
hotel and went down to the ice boats
it was expected that each of the men
would take out girl and that Harry
MORO would take Marjorie Kent.
What did Prigmore do without consult
ing preferences but hand Marjorie on
to boat and get on himself. This as.
surance was just what captured the
girls, and Marjorie couldn't help cast
ing coquettish glance at her lover,
as much as to say, "Isn't 1t nice to be
preferred by this splendid fellow to all
the othersY Harry looked anxious.
"Have you ever run an ice boat, Mr..
PrigmoreT he asked.
IL was born on one," Prigmore re-
piled gayly, and. letting out the sail.
he started. as he was bound to do In
everything. to lead the party. He
hadn't gone hundred yards, however,
before his sail jibed, the boom just
grazing Marjorie's head.
"There'll be trouble there" mutter-
ed one of. the men. "He doesn't know
how to sail an ice boat"
Most of the couples stopped to watch
the favOrite. A strong wind was blow
ing from across the bay. Prigmore
and Miss Kent were well out on the
ice when they were observed trying
very hard to do something, but what
was not apparent.
'Great heavens" exclaimed MORO,
paling, "the sheets fouled the tiller!
He can't bring her up into the wind"
On the opposite shore the breakers
had broken up the ice and were rolling
In on the sand. II the occupants OF
the ice boat failed to release the sheet.
they could not bring the boat up into
the wind and they would go over the
edge of the hnrd ice and be pounded
with the broken pieces on the beach.
But with the wind pulling on the sail
they were not likely to get it back
to disengage the sheet. Moro jumped
into an ice boat and started after them.
Now began race between life and
death. Moro was an expert ice boat
man and knew how to get the best
speed out of his boat. He was watch
ed anxiously by the party on the shore,
who kept the chased boat in view as
well. From the start he gained. but
could he catch the couple before they
shot over the edge of hard ice? The
only advantage he had was that their
efforts somewhat retarded the speed
Of their boat.
In time Moro got within hundred
feet Of them, they being within some
GOO feet OF the breakers, both boats
going at terrific speed. The sight
before them was awful. The breakers
rolled In, throwing up the anchor ice,
dashing 1t down. then sucking 1t un-
der the foe for another break.
The party on the opposite shore stood
looking on in CHASTITY silence. Nearer
and nearer Moro approached the yacht
he chased, and at last they could sec
him, as they supposed. fouled with 1t.
Then the two boats began to spread
apart, the sheet of Morro's being eased
or and making sharp turn in which
only considerable weight over the
raised skate kept the boat from going
over.
Moro had steered his yacht along
side of the other. Prigmore. without
waiting for Marjorie to save herself.
made jump and caught a projection
on Morro's boat. Moro reached for
Marjorie and drew her safely over the
gap. Then. directing her and Prigrnore
to get on the windward side, he spun
his boat around sharply and put her
before the wind. A crack In the ice
like pistol shot beneath the runners
made every heart stand still, but the
headway saved them. and in ten sec
onds more they were out Of danger
The sight of the abandoned yacht
shooting over into the broken ice and
pounded with II gave them a shudder
and they drew deep sigh of relief.
Sailing before fresh wind, 1t was
not long before saver and saved ap
preached the party standing on the
shore. who gave one yell Of welcome
the men throwing up their hats. the
girls waving.
When they left the boat Marjorie
Kent fell on the neck Of one Of rhel
girl friends, hid her face and trem
bled. Prigihore's assurance had giver