The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15


lie stirred uneasily.
81 must get back to shore" he said.
The girl studied the sky and shook hel
head.
"You can't get back until this off
shore wind changes" she said. At least
l can't row you there"
He looked up eagerly.
Cant you signal the people ashore
Pm sure they would send for me-"
eve are too far west of the bluff to
be seen from the landing place."
The old man groaned.
"This is too bad" he muttered. II was
fool to get myself in this predica-
ment."
81 am going about" said the girl
"Steady. Perhaps you can help trim the
boat"
The firm hands grasped the oars, the
rounded arms swelled. With tine dis
play of skill the girl turned the boat
and, while it listed dangerously for
moment, she brought it al out safely and
let it run with the wind"
"Where are you going?" demanded the
old man. "Out 20 sea?"
She looked up at him and smiled.
"No," she answered. "Not if l can
help it. There is an island off the point
yonder. You will see it presently. 1t is
directly in our pathway.
'But you must not blame me for this
predicament. You came to the dock and
looked at my boat longingly. You asked
me some questions in very friendly
way. Out of the goodness of my heart
invited you to enjoy ride. You ac-
cepted the invitation readily. You
seemed much pleased"
eco on" he said. ri admit it all. l
was pleased" y,
81 rowed you out little ways and
along the Shore" the girl continued.
sThen was about to turn back, but you
said you wanted to go out farther.
called attention to the time, and you
said. Bother the time. My man can
watt I rowed out farther. No doubt
I went too far Then the land breeze
suddenly sprang up and soon increased to
a lively wind"
"And you couldn't row back?"
"And I couldn't row back"
And as her face came up she threw
him a nod and smile-a beautiful en-
couracing smile. He tried to smile back,
but lust then the boat staggered under a
heavy puff of wind and the water poured
in close beside him. His feet were COW
cred by the water now, and it splashed
about him as the boat rose and fell.
Suddenly the girl glanced over her
shoulder. Then with mighty pull she
drove the boat up OH the sandy beach.
Come" she said, "let's run"
| Half dragging him up the little slope
and across a level space, the girl paused
before the door of bungalow that stood
| in a grove of naples. She pushed on the
door and it opened and she drew the old
man in. The room they entered was sim
ply furnished, with big fireplace at one
side There was wood in the fireplace
and after putting the old man in an easy
chair the girl found matches On the man.
tel and lighted the fire which fiared up
merrily.
"Youll be hot and steaming in a few
minutes" she said. "And I'll try to find
you pair of Capt. Toms slippers. Capt.
Tom is a sort of caretaker here, you
know. I'll be back in a moment"
"What would you have done If the
boat had gone over?" he presently asked.
| "T can SWIM" she said, with a quick
smile. "And I would have got you up
on the overturned boat and held you
there until help came"
The old man nodded.
Guess you'd have done it, said the
old man, "but I fancy it's better just
as it is. Where are wee"
you're in a. bungalow" the girl re-
Piled. cts bungalow | built with the
help of Cap'n Tom. It's comfortable,
even if the comfort is a homely sort"
"Say," said the old man, "this is a
l. 1.,e1 L.
this for a good many dollars. That's
tip top jam. A little while ago l prom
ised myself that would give you any
thing YOU desired. will admit that the
stress of fear was heavy on me at the
moment, but I'm not he sort of man who
gets well and then plans to cheat the
doctor. What can do for your"
| She locked at him thoughtfully.
"Does this mean that you are rich p
"Yes,' he answered. Don't be afraid
give had scheme in my mind for
some time," she said, perhaps this is
the chance to work it out"
"Go ahead" he cried.
"Pretty soon I will show you an old
wooden building on the north shore 1t
| is home for incorrigible boys. They
are sent there from the eastern part of
the state. They are not all bad boys.
| Some of them are only unfortunate.
The building is not fit home for them.
1t is more like a prison. Every little
while some of them break out and run
away. They need better building, they
need surroundings that will uplift them.
l know about this, because once week
l visit there and sing and play for them.
Now my scheme is this-to put a mod
ern building on this island, building
that isn't at all like prison, and I would
give the boys the run of the place. There
are seven acres of land here and pretty
grove, and the waters of the bay would
offer much better form of restraint
than stone walls and barbed wire. The
island is mine."
"You are a very strange GIRL" said the
old man. Then he drew memorandum
book from his pocket and penciled q few
words. ''There is my acceptance of the
conditions" he said, as he tore the leaf
from the book,
She took it eagerly and glanced it over.
Then her face flushed and she drew a
quick breath.
"Are you Amos Crandall?" she half
whispered.
"Why, yes" he answered as he held
his pencil poised. "And now, what is
your name?'
She suddenly raised her hand.
| "Hark!" she said. Someone is COM
! ing to our relief. That was launch