Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-09

ind see Peary's ship!'
Betsy Cobb jumped at her brothers
words and gazed with sudden intent
ness out the window. She had come
up TO his Office for n few moments
chat, and, as she felt the blood pound.
ing into her cheeks and UP to her hair,
she wished pe!snantly that she had
stnyed away. To the Roosevelt, In.
deed!
ITS too cold" she objected, slmulat-
ing a SILVER. We'll freeze getting out
there"
/ "Bosh. Get on your gloves. It isn't
every day that one has chance to
climb over a vessel that's been within
haiing distance OF the north pole. I'll
Just cut my appointments. What's the
trouble?"
She had baked fatty at the gentle
urgency of her brothers hand on her
arm.
81 won't 60" she declared.
| The doctor laughed good hnmoredly.
whats up? Is some tickle admirer
who forgot for the FIRST time to send
you a box Of candy for your birthday
due out there this afternoon? Come
on. 1t isn't every day can RON of,
and it's no pleasure to go alone
Betsy's head swan with n perspec-
tive OF chnin Of horrors opening up
by her acquiesccnce; but, on the other
hand, her brothers curiosity was not
to be aroused too much. He had
| Ia hn1, 20
the bottom Of things
Well" she said reluctantly, "Tll
60" She laughed a bit Historically.
But I'd rather be hanged"
| Her brother remembered with some
uneasiness that Betsy had not been
herself of late. She was not so gay
and fun loving rs usual. and he often
caught her incoming. That was what
she was doing back at the Office Just
now. md IT decided him to run away
with her for awhile.
| Betsy, don't YOU feel well?' he
asked as they scrambled of n cross
town car Mt the ferry slip.
"Botheration, YES! What a silly
question" But though her words
were careless. she avoided his eyes and
looked of down the Hudson. You
can't get acrofs this day" she an
nounced, with perceptible relief. The
Ice is all caked up here on the New
York side. so that a launch couldn' {
possibly get through"
well hire n ferry, then" said her
brother cheerful One thing was GER
tain-the Roosevelt had something VI
tai to do with her state of sulks. Good.
He would probe further.
rs there any way N getting out to
the Peary ship he inquired Of a
policeman.
"Ice is pretty bad. No boats going
out Of here. but maybe if you walk
up to Forty-fourth street you can get
on bigger boat. They been out once
today. Guess You'd better 60 across
to Jersey, though, No ice over there,
and You can hire some one to take you
out to midstrenm. The Peary boat IS
nearer the Jersey shore anyhow" he
called after the determined looking
physician. who had seized his sister q
arm as the ferry gong sounded and
was hustling her on board.
Betsy looked furtively at the vessel
lying low and gray, with her nose up
stream, as the ferry passed. There
was much deep interest amounting
even to fascination in her glance, but
she feigned extreme Indifference. Sew
eral other people were evidently on
the same quest, and as the ferry near
| at 81, TIT
ment went UP. Not launch or row
boat in sight. 1t looked very much a
though those who were not good swim
mers would have to content themselves
with ferry glimpses Of the famed ship
and cameras began swapping industri
ously
Again Betsy's manner became more
spontaneous
You will get out To the Roosevelt
will youi" she twittcd her brother Joy.
ously. "Well, don't envy you the
swim in this temperature Fortunate
ly I'm girl ami SO exempt"
"IIo, don't know, Plenty of row
boats around here somewhere. You'll
handle the oars all right. You are tho
most interchangeable croaker I ever saw >
Following the directions Of a long
shoreman, he guided Betsys tagging
footsteps for five minutes across the
bridge, down interminablc flights of
stairs. across the road to the wood
pile" and brought mp before rotten
log enmeshed in ice cakes that led out
to n row of decrepit old canalboats
lying out of commission along the
shore. A man appeared around the
corner Of the little turret on top OF
one Of the boats ana asked II they
could row.
well. should say" the doctor
shouted.
And Betsy was forced TO scramble
up the perpendicular old ladder on t.
the boat thence across md down q
ladder into n nat bottomed old fishing
boat at the other end. Her brother
took of his overcoat and wrapped II
about her carefully before he seized
the oars md fell in with the stroke OF
the old river man
The doctor was studying Betsy
closely. II looked TO him very much
Nike case Of the heart, he speculated
MS they drew near the ship. When she
, weakly made excuse to remain in the
rowboat while her brother clambereG
! over the ship, he was certain that the
masculine reason lurked on shipboard
So Betsy, perforce, boarded the Roose
welt.
, | Tho shin WAS In gala 0rooe u,tt