Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-24

The girls hand lay quietly iii tue
strong. brown palm.
rs there no response in your hearth"
Queried the young fellow, tightening
his clasp as he gazed into the brown
eyes that gave him back the look of n
troubled child
Il am afraid not, Ned" answered
the girl reluctantly; mot any more
than there is there" She nodded her
golden head toward the imprisoned
fingers. by all acceptedsrules should
feel q thrill ut your touch if / loved
you. and don't-not Il bit of one"
Ned dropped the hand that did not
thrill promptly and dug holes in the
sand with his bare heel strenuously as
he said, with Il huge sigh, You are
absolutely heartless. do believe, Pol
|, ly"
Not So replied the girl. combing
up some straying lovelocks and set
Ting her bathing cap at a more be-
witching angle. Il am only young and
well satisfied with this good old world
just as it Is at present" And Polly
nonchalantly piled the wet sand in Il
circle and watched an imprisoned sand
jumpers Intellectual attempts at es-
cape.
That's just the way you've got me-"
remarked Ned gloomily as he gazed at
the little creature.
Nonsense answered Polly as with
4 long. flying leap the jumper got away.
II couldn't keep him, you see"-anu
mischief twinEled in her eyes as she
sprang to her feet-"but I'll promise
you one thing, Ned"-Polly extended
her firm white hand. full of sand. to-
ward the young man-'If ever this
does thrill I'll tell you first of any
one Come on and don't be so tragic.
I'll race you TO the raft once more
| Ned ducked just in time to escape
the sand she aimed nj him and Stun
blcd after the flying figure in its trim
black suit
Folly was the best girl swimmer at
| the beach. and Ned had his work cut
out for him. They landed ut the raft
side by side. to the delight of two
| half grown lads who were eagerly
| watching the race.
You're n dandy. miss" SAID the
Younger boy admirirglv as he extend
ed his band To help her on the raft
with the freemasonry of bathers.
My. but they are fierce today"
painted Polly. grnspinS Ned's arm to
keep from sliding rs an extra big wave
tilted the heavy raft at an alarming
angle
we had better get back before the
| 4
to be Il big undertow with such q sea
on. AS soon as you are rested, Polly,
we had better start What is it. Jim?''
he asked as the boy drew near.
"Wish you'd show me friend" jerk
ing his thumb at the heavy built lad OF
seventeen. that double back dive
seen you do the other day. the boy
said. with grin parting his freckles.
Sure thing" replied Ned obligingly
Jim was the lobster mans boy.
lit pays to stand in with the pow
ers that be-" murmurcd polly "Think
, Of our lunches. Ned. and put on your
best FORM
Ned had. a 'corking physique" as
the girl phrased it. and as he left the
springboard. turning his two somer
saults and cleaving the wafer neatly
Polly gloried in his muscular strength
and beauty of line rs she would II
that of Il Thoroughbred horse.
| Il feel the undertow. The tide ha:
turned" said Ned as he came VI
| spluttering at the corner of the raft
| He caught held of the big iron rim!
| on the side of the wood to pull him
self up just rs 4 huge wave strucl
him fair and square between the shout
ders. AS it receded his chin cam
down sharply on the ring. In f1asl
the man disappeared like pluminet
| Polly gasped when no dark head re
a!rDeared. Quick. quick" she cried
"Hc Is stunned. Oh, Nedr'
II One agonized glance at the slende
boy and the Iout of fisher lad show
ed her how much help they would be.