The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-10
THE EVENING STORY
Lucy's Bravery.
(Bx Franz ii. WiIliams.

u
Strong as he waved his hand and shot
out into the lake in his swift motor
boat When Strong was well out in the
lake, he stood up in the boat and
threw kiss to Lucy.
The girl turned to Shaw with q MT
tie laugh. There was q heiRhtened
color in her cheeks
Hes always doing something fool
ish like that" she exclaimed
Shaw scowled a little as he looked
after the retreating boat. He turned
to Lucy suddenly.
Il believe you're in love with
Strong" he declared.
Lucy exclaimed Indignantly at this.
How many times have told you"
she cried. "that I'm not in love with
any man? I think both you and
Mr.. Strong are fine, splendid young
fellows and I like both of you Inn
pshaw, that's another matter en-
tirely!"
I'm Internally Jealous" Shaw re-
piled with relief in his tone. land 1
know that haven't any right to be.
But I'm head over heels in love with
you, Lucy, and 1 hate to think of any
other man winning you.'
They had turned and were walking
toward the hotel which stood q short
distance back on the bluff overlooking
the lake. Surely, Lucy thought, moth
ing could be franker than Shaw's
avowal and yet the avowal did not
particularly thrill her. Instinctly she
felt that she would have been more
in this manner.
From this point Lucy firmly guided
Shaw'R conversation into other chan
nels. They reached the hotel veranda.
ed by business into the hotel and Lucy
was left alone. Half abstractedly. she
watched the clouds forming in the
West for storm. Her thoughts were
on the two men. She did not realize
how long she had been sitting there
until. with start, she was brought
to a sense of the situation by a sud-
den spasmodic falling Of rain.
Lucy jumped to her feet. 1t be-
came pitch dark with surprising sud-
for the hotel entrance the sound of
someone talking in the hotel near the
open window by which she was stand
ing caught her attention.
you're sure there's no one out
there-hadn't we better put down the
Window" came a voice-that of
Shaw.
mo" said another man. 1.-The
storm has driven everone in and it's
sitting here as it is"
"AIl right then" said the other.
my men on the other side Of the lake
will see to it that no boats are in con-
dition to cross the lake tonight, and
telephone communication is cut. Con-
can't vote his proxies at the directors
meeting tonight. and we have every
thing our own way. Cad, but III be
glad to crush him!''
Lucy, shivering in the rain that
dashed in upon her, caught the con-
versation before the resembling thun-
der peals made 1t impossible for her
to hear everything above the storm.
In a flash she understood that Shaw,
the man whom she had thought she
lob nj nO-han
ned to injure Strong. Evidently 1t
was imperative for Strong to attend
directors meeting in that hotel that
night If he wished to save himself.
and Shaw had seemingly made it I'm
possible for him to be there. ..
In a moment Lucy's mind was
made up as to her course of action.
Needless of her unprotected condition.
she ran, guided by tightening flashes,
down the wooden steps from the hotel
to the landing pier. There her own
launch was moored. She cranked it
quickly. The sound of someone tear
ing down the steps toward her made
her work the faster. AS she cast OFF
was Shaw. He cried to her frantically
Don't go! Don't go!" he cried.
But Lucy merely smiled. In a few
minutes she was out in the wave-toss-
ed lake. She did not fear pursuit
No other launch on that side OF the
lake was as big as hers and none. she
knew, could possibly overtake her.
She revolved the situation in her
mind. Evidently Shaw had glanced
out of the hotel window at q time
when the landscape was illumined
by lightning, and had seen her maxi
ing for the boat house, had surmised
that she had overheard the CONVEX
sation and then attempted to stop
her.
Lucy turned on the electric search
light. Powerful as it was, it pierced
only a short distance through the
gloom. By little pocket compass
she guided her course for the oppo-
site landing. The waves buffeted her
frightfully; the wind and rain tore
her and dashed her cheeks but still
she kept on.
When about half way across she
began to ring the submarine signal
ing bell attached to the boat. Almost
instantly she received an answer from
the landing for which she was maxi
Ing. A few signals showed her that
It was Strong and that he understood
the situation. Then, monotonously
he began repeating three words, 81
love you. love you"
Even in the frightful gloom, in the
heart Of the storm, Lucy felt the
blood course in her cheeks. Never
before had Strong said these words
to her.
stop you must not say it." Lucy
signaled.
az will say it," came the answer
al love you, I love you"
In a few moments Strong's signal
changed.
1T can see your searchlight," he
signaled. go slow"
Soon Lucy was able to make out
the lights on the landing. A few mo-
ments more and she was almost up to
the boat-house. She saw Strong
standing on the extreme edge of the
pier. Three husky men were
standing idly near him, in attitudes
which presaged action. Frantically
Strong waved at her. Lucy under
stood him, and instead of making for
the landing threw the steering wheel