The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-07-09
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

buIwark on the other side. 1.-THE waters
getting quite deep
I followed. There's quite q rise of
tide. It's nearly full, and then it will
turn-in about an hour, l should say"
She looked at the little chatelaine
watch she wore, and gave a cry of dis
may.
But that will be I o'clock, and then
dine at the club at that time, and my
aunt will be worried half out Of her poor
old head"
"They dine too early; they miss the
best part of the day
She turned trife imperiously to-
wards me. "Still, that is the hour, and
| must be getting back. What answers
to the problem have your frequent studies
BROUGHT"
''The first is to wait until the cause
way is dry" l answered. avoiding her
eyes and looking out to sea.
but that is out of the question: she
said with the faint hint of tapping
foot upon the deck. The touch OF au-
thority made me stubborn.
There's a fine view of the sunset
from here. though not so fine as from
see that some evening when you're not
afraid of missing dinner
She looked me over while [ kept my
face away. and | could feel the struggle
whether resentment or amusement should
have the upper hand. The latter finally
won please help me to get home, Mr..
-" she began.
Felix Seldom 1 supplied her. though
I'd much rather you stayed here. Miss
-" and l in my turn hung question
ing.
Barbara Graham" she answered quite
frankly. Then suddenly she laughed, and
/ was forced to join her. Come, Mr..
Pirate, now that are properly known to
each other. and | have thanked you for
your compliment, will you think of way
to save my poor aunt from nervous pros
tration? If you will, l promise some day
to go without dinner and come to see the
sunset from your cliff"
ITS a bargain" | said. and strobe res
clutely across the deck to the side where
the causeway ran.
"But how? What are you doing to
do?" came in surprised accents from Miss
Graham.
l stopped and turned. "You will not
wait for the tide, and you must not wet
the slippers, so there's only one way
left"
''And what is that?' she asked.
-'For me to carry you ashore"
1 happened to be looking at her, and
her face went pink of a second, pink
over the brown of the sun.
Svnv~
that would do"
Its the only alternatives" l said,
positively.
"Are you sure she said, "that you
are strong enough?'
l looked at her slender figure and
laughed Il have not lived out of doors
for nothing" l answered. Il could car
ry you from here to the Shifting Shoal
yonder without firing"
Again came the infectious laugh, ap-
parently at the thrill of the adventure,
and | found it impossible to keep from
joining her.
''But it's time 1 made the boast good"
l answered, aud, leaning towards her,
picked her up in my arms, careful to
keep the little slippers and her skirts
clear of the waves.
"You must put your arms about my
neck to keep the balance" l said. "or
I'll not guarantee the consequences"
Must II" she said quite demurely, and
did as l commanded.
Feeling my way cautiously, l started
to cross the causeway. A false step and
/ should have slipped into the deeper
water, so / went slowly, feeling for safe
footing as / took each step. Once
glanced momentarily at the face which
was so close to mine, but Miss Graham's
eyes were fixed on the shore ahead, and
would not look at me.
We reached the sand at the foot of the
cliff and l put the girl down. She looked
her slippers.
"Splendidly DONE" she said. "Not a
drop of water touched me. You're quite
as strong as you said
Remember the cause l answered.
but you're frightfully wet" she OBJ
jected, looking at my heavy riding breech-
es and leggings. which were soaked
through You must run back to the cot
tage as fast as you can, to save yourself
a cold"
IL must see you to the club first" I
answered Il know short cut back of
the cliff and through the woods
Hurry, them" she said. 'I'u not
have you catching cold on my account. "
We scrambled up the headland and
struck into the pine woods, | leading she
following close behind. We went alon,
at a dog trot, and. although l often
stopped to insure against her firing 7
found that she was a strong runner and
wanted no rest. At last we came TO q
clearing just this side of the club on.
trance.
IN say good-by here" she said. sand
spare you the sight of a civilization that
you dislike" She held out her hand.
Then l remembered our bargain. "You
said that if | set you ashore you would
come to see the sunset from nv cliff
Aou haven't forgotten that?"
No; but | must think out wav
Ihey dine here at such stupid hour Ru,
l promise you that some afternoon von,l
see me strolling down the beach. and
then if there's a sunset I'll let Won show
II TO me. You deserve that much. a,
least. for coming to my rescue"
Sne gave me her hand a second t;r,.
and turned into the grounds of n. D.