Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-29
CHAPTER II.-(cont,nuaa, ,

v tO.I
She walked away and leaned on the
ouiwark on the other side. ''The waters
getting quite deep"
l followed. There's quite rise of
tiue' Its nearly full, and then il will
turn-in about an hour, 1 should say"
She looked at the little chatelaine
watch she wore, and gave cry of dis
may.
But that will be I o'clock. and then
dine at the club at that time. and NV
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 a trihe 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 a 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
the cliff beyond my house. You should
see that some evening when you're not
afraid of missing dinner"
She looked me over while l 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 Selden," l 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
l was forced to join her. "Come, Mr..
Pirate, now that are properly known to
each other, and l have thanked you for
your compliment, will you think of a 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 bargain" said. and strode 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.
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"
l happened to be looking at her, and
her face went pink of a second, pink
over the brown of the sun.
But" she stammered, II don't think
that would do"
"Its the only alternativce," l said
positively.
"Are you sure she said, "that you
are strong enough?"
l looked at her slender figure and
laughed. 81 have not lived out of doors
for nothing" / answered. Il could car
ry you from here to the Shifting Shoal
yonder without tiring."
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 I made the boast good,
answered, aud, leaning towards her
picked her up In my arms, careful tc
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, "ol
I'u not guarantee the consequences"
"Must II" she said quite demurely, ant
did as commanded.
Feeling my way cautiously, l startet
TO cross the causeway. A false step ant
I should have slipped into the deeper
wafer. so went slowly, feeling for saf'
footing as / took each step. Once
glanced momentarily at the face whici
was so close to mine but Miss Grahami
ewes were fixed on the shore ahead, an'
would not look at me.
We reached the sand at the foot of th'
cliff and / put the girl down. She looked
her slippers. Az.
"Splendidly DONE" she said. Not
drop of water touched me. You're quit
as strong as you SAID
"Remember the cause" l answered.
"Put you're frightfully wet" she OBJ
;octed looking at my heavy riding breech
ss and leggings, which were soake'
through. "You must run back to the cot
tape as fast as you can, to save yoursel
cold"
~ must see you to the club first"
answered.. 81 know a short cut back o
tbe cliff and through the woods"
"Hurry. then," she said. "11l no
have YOU catching cold on my account
We scrambled up the headland an
struck into the pine woods, leading, sh
following close behind. We went alon
ot dog trot, and, although l oftel
stonned to insure against her firing,
found that she was strong runner an
wanted no rest. At last we came to
clearing lust this side Of the club en-
trance.
'.T'll say good-by here" she said, AN
snare you the sight of civilization tha
Won dislike" She held out her hand.
Then remembered our bargain. "Yo
said that If / set you ashore you woul
come to see the sunset from my ciin
You haven't forgotten that?"
mo: but 1 must think out a way
They dine here at such a stupid hour. Blu
I promise you that some afternoon YOU
see me strolling down the beach, an