Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-08
Honorable Mentionl

''Take the oars and row to the shore" p"
Mary tried this but in the attempt
nearly. upset the boat and lost one of
the oars, so the two girls sat with their
arms around each other awaiting their
fate. They fioated on and presently
they saw first ahead an island, they
thought perhaps the boat might strike
it but it followed the current and swept
round the island out of sight of the
side from which they had left. AS the
girls sat wondering what would hap
pen, the boat glided under low hang
ing branch. The girls both hung onto
it and in that way pulled the boat to
the island. Then the girls jumped
out, and while Jessie held the boat
Mary got things out, but gust as Mary
leaped out it gave the boat push and
it glided away, but the girls were so
happy to again be on dry land that
they did not think much about the
boat
Their brother in the meantime had
pulled off his hat and coat and started
running down the shore. He knew
there was a fall down the river about
two miles and just as he got to the
falls he saw a dark object which he
supposed to be the boat with the girls
in it go dashing over the falls.
When he saw il down below without
the girls in it he hurried back to get
aid and tell his terrible story. But in
the meantime the girls had crossed the
island and hailed their friends, and
when Jack came running up they told
him the joyful news. He was very
happy and he went and got another
boat and rowed them all over to the
island, for this was where they were
to have their picnic. After their great
an dinner
greatly and they all thought they had
spent a very enjoyable day, with the
exception of the accident
The writer of this did not attach
her name and address 20 her story and
1t became lost. 1t think it is by
Glover Fanshier, Alb West Fifty-fifth
street.
Presently they came in sight of their
party of friends, and everybody cried
to them to sit still until Jack went for
help.
The current was very strong and the
boat was drifting very fast. Presently
two men came from among the trees
on the opposite side Of the stream, got
in a boat and rowed toward the girls
Mary thought they were coming to
help them. The men asked them to
get in their boat, but instead of rowing
toward the picnic party they rowed
toward the opposite shore and took
them in among the trees.
In the meantime Jack ran back
among the trees to get a rope. When
he returned the girls told him what
had happened. He sent some one for
help and others to notify his parents
while he got a boat from the boat
house. He and the men quickly
crossed the stream and searched for
the girls, They looked for long time
but could not find them.
The next day Mary's mother re-
ceive6 a letter saying that her children
were safe and If they would leave $500
under a certain stone their children
would be returned. But If this letter
was reported to a policeman, or IL the
place watched their children would be
tortured.
Mary's parents sent the money to
the place with five policemen from
neighboring towns, and they stayed
and watched. When the men came to
the place late at night to Get the
money the policemen followed them tc
an old dugout which had a secret en-
trance. Before the men entered the
policemen surrounded and captured
them.
The little girls were returned to their
parents and friends who were over
ioyed to see them EDN.A MURPHY.
Eighth grade, Carroll Park school
Long Beach, Cal.
This was excellent, but not received
in time to be considered among the
prize winners. Try and get your next
letter in earlier in the week.