The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29


bulletin board of 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 much-coveted silver cup called
"the Commodore's Cup" for knockabouts, remnants
for the raceabouts and halfraters and first money
prize of twenty-five dollars for the fshermens sloops
But the one he stared at longingy was that sec
ond prize For he felt certain that the Wanderer, his
sailing-dory could beat anything in the Cove up
Souam River The trouble was to get the 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 the local fishermen
should pay to enter the race. Two dollars however
stood between Lon and the prize.
He shifted his crutch and was about to stump away
on if and his one leg when familiar voice called
ont cheerily "Good-morning, Lon! What's the trou-
BILE now?'
1t was Commodore Black who spoke to him, and
at the sound Lon whipped around and said quickly;
"Good-morning sir! trying to think of some
way to make two dollars"
1.-TWO dollars" echoed his companion. What Tor!
Want to see the circus?"
mo sir" Lon replied emphatically. i want
chance to win that dory prize, that's ALL"
Isn't clustering paying this season, Lon?"
Pretty we'll sir; but Alice and Dan have been sick,
and il takes all that mother and 1 make to pay
the doctors bills and keep them comfortable That
fifteen dollars would come in mighty handy now
"Hum!" calculated the commodore. Then Lon
turned away and walked up the road He was cudgel-
ing his brains to think up plan whereby he
might raise the much-desred two dollars. He had
enough Holsters in the car down at the dock to be
worth that if the cottagers would only buy them
But on his rounds that morning very few seemed to
want Holsters at ALL
Lon Marshall was fifteen years DID, and the loss of
hofOr fhrouo
his being thrown from troey-car. That happened
the winter his father died. and soon as Lon was
able to get about the rough crutch he had made
himself he worked hard as he could helping his
mother in keeping home for Alice and Dan.
His father had left him a fast saiing-dory, and,
however much Lon hampered on land by the
loss of his leg he good as the next one on
board boat. The villagers took pride in his ability
as boat-sailer and the cottagers liked him for his
cheerfulness and the way he worked. But both
lobsterman and as boat-saier he had one very ac-
tive rival This was Bob Richards the posmaster's
son.
Lon and his mother discussed the situation while
they were eating dinner and Mrs. Marshall suggested
that he should 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 to feed the crowd of visitors at
tracted by the boat-races. Lon started out as soon
as dinner was over, but before he had reached the
first cottage Mrs Black the commodore's wife, called
to him from her phaeton.
"Oh, Lon," she cried, as she refined in her horse,
have you any Holsters on hand?"
Eyes, 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 back
to the cottage with to run as his one leg
would allow.
Mother" he cried as he burst into the kitchen,
Tho
table.
$50 you have my boy But do you really think you
ought to go into that race? Isn't it kind of gam
bling"
Lon brushed her doubts aside by saying he guessed
eff it gambling Commodore Black wouldn't put
the prize up" Mrs. Marshall had no arguments to
advance against the statement for in Squam every
thing the commodore did considered just right
Lon took the two dollars, went down to the club
house. and entered his dory for the
Hope you'll win, Lon,'' said the steward as he
wrote "Alonzo Marshall Wanderer Paid" on the list
of entries. "You want look out for Bob Richards,
though. That ere dory of his is right smart"
"Oh, think can beat him, Jim, unless he outwits
me with surprise He's a good sailor but I'm
not afraid of Bob the Arrow"
The set for the next day, the start being
at ten O'Clock. But, race or no race, Lon had to go
out in the bay to overhaul his obster-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 up set of pots baed and dropped
the second set overheard
Before seven o'clock he had transferred his catch
to the car in which he kept them, and then started
to haul the Wanderer up the beach to give the bot
tom scrubbing off. When he had finished this and
had overhauled the rigging Of his spritsail and jb,
Il time to make his way out to the starting
point oft the lighthouse
1t was beautiful morning, with just the kind of
breeze Lon liked 1t coming out of the southwest
in heavy puffs that were dangerous to a craft not
sailed by skilled hands Lon liked It, not because ne
blow the Wanderer would stand. And he knew
Bob Richards was nervous on the water, he counted