The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-11-04

carried q stick in her hand.
HAS the boat gone" she cried In
despair. 81 started up so quickly that
l wrenched my ankle. called for
help, but no one seemed to hear"
81 was at the other end of the Is
land" explained Sam, who seemed to
think that the reproach was directed
against him. II took nap and didn't
realize how long l slept. l took a
swim after that, and some kids
'chawed' my clothes. I just got here
myself. They'll miss us at the dock
and send back for us. Can ] fix your
ankle?"
'I'm afraid l shall have to ask your
assistance, Mr.. Hastings" said Kitty,
suddenly mindful of the fact that she
was speaking to Sam.
He helped her to rock and care
fully cut away the shoe. Then with
the sleeves of his shirt he improvised
bandage that brought relief and
noted with satisfaction that the sprain
seemed to be slight, since there was
little swelling.
"That will have to do until we can
get to town. he said as he rose to his
feet. "Does 1t feel any easier Miss
Norwood?"
"Very much, thank you, Mr.. Has
tings."
Sam gritted his teeth and mentally
assured himself that when n fellow
takes the trouble to bind up a girls
ankle and sacrifices his very newest
and handsomcst shirt for n bandage
the least she might do would be to call
him SAM" as of old. He moved stiff
y away and took a seat on bowlder
behind her. If she was lonesome she
could call him.
But kitty, though she was dreadful
ly lonesome and little bit afraid, was
too proud to call. Even the faint scent
of tobacco that now and then drifted
past her on some vagrant breeze was
comforting, since 1t was an indication
Of Sans presence, but she would not
speak.
Sam gloomily regarded her eloquent
shoulders and longed to take her in his
arms and comfort her, but he assured
himself that 1t was her place to make
the overture. 1t looked as though the
deadlock would continue unbroken
when the serpent entered this lone
some Eden.
1t was only tiny gartersnake scarce
ly twelve inches long, and It was
hurrying away from the human in
truders as rapidly as possible when
Sam spied it. With long switch he
turned Its course and headed 1t past
the rock where Kitty was sitting.
The rustling in the grass caught her
attention, and, looking down, she spied
the wriggling length of green.
With n shrill scream of "Samw she
struggled to her feet and the next in
slant was sobbing In her terror, with
her arms about his neck.
With cruel ingratitude Sam dispatch
ed his benefactor and lifted the girl In
his arms.
"We'll go sit on the dock, Kitty" he
suggested. "There are no snakes there.
Pretty soon, If help doesn't come, I'll
swim over to shore and get small
boat somewhere"
Some one will come, SAM" she de-
clared. anyhow, it's nice here-for
awhile"
"You bet 1t is, Kitty" assented Sam
as the girl crept close to the protecting
circle of his arm.
Then in torrent of words they had
their explanation. 1t cleared the air
wonderfully, and presently Kitty pat
ted the hand that clasped her waist.
"You say you didn't like to take
Belle riding" she whispered, "just as
though you had all the trouble. / bet
you wouldn't like it any better to let
Mr.. Saunders pretend to make love to
you"
"No, wouldn't" assented Sam hon
estly as he bent his head to claim an
other kiss. "Kitty, I'm sorry killed
that snake"
"But it was a snake" explained Kit
ty, as though that were sufficient rea-
son, even though it was very nice-for
snake.