Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-11-26

CHAPrER 1I.-(ContInued.)


/ followed. There's quite a rise Of
tide. It's nearly full, and then It will
turin about an hour, should say"
She looked at the little chatelaine
watch she wore and gave a cry Of dis
may.
"But that will be Z 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 a trife imperiously to-
wards me. "Still, that Is the hour, and
must be getting back. What answers
to the problem have your frequent studies
broughtT
'@The first is to wait until the cause
way is dry" 1 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
the cliff beyond my house. You should
see that some evening when you're not
afraid of missing dinner"
She looked me over while kept my
face away, and l 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," supplied her, though
I'd much rather you stayed here, Miss
-" and 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
trationl If you will, promise some day
to 60 without dinner and come to see the
sunset from your Cliff"
''It's a bargain" 1 said. and strobe res
elutely across the deck to the side where
the causeway ran.
'But howl What are you doing to
dot" 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, 30 there's only one way
left"
"And what Is thatr she asked.
"Eor me to carry you ashore"
happened to be looking at her, and
her face went pink Of second, pink
over the brown Of the sun.
But" she stammersd, II don't think
that would do"
"It'S the only alternatives" said,
positively.
~Ars You sure she said, ''that you
are strong enoughr
/ looked at her slender figure and
laughed. II have not lived out Of doors
for nothing" 1 answered. II could car
~ you from here to the Shifting Shoal
yonder without firing"
ARaIn came the infectious laugh, ap.
parently at the thrill Of the adventure,
end I found It impossible to keep from
Joining her.
"But It's time made the boast good,
/ answered, and, leaning towards her
picked her UP In my arms, careful to
kesp the little slippers and her skirts
clear Of the waves.
''YOu must put your arms about my
nacA to keep the balance" said, "oI
I'm not guarantee the consequences"
'.Must II" she said quite demurely, and
did a. ] commanded.
Feeling my way cautiously, started
to cross the causeway. false step anc
I should have slipped into the deeper
water. 10 went slowly, feeling for safI
footing a. took each step. Once
glanced momentarily at the face which
was 10 close to mine. but Miss Graham
avAa were hxsd on the shore ahead, ant
would not look at me.
we reached the sand at the foot Of thu
eliR and put the girl down. She looked
q her clippers.
asplendidly DONE" she said. "Not 4
Arop Of water touched me. You're quit
a. strong as you said"
sRemember the cause" / answered.
sBut you're trightfully wet" she OBJ
Iected. looking at my heavy riding breech
e and leggings, which were soaked
through. "You must run back to the cot
tage as fast as you can, to save yourself
q cold"
II must see you to the club flrst,"
answered. 81 know a short cut back o.
the cliff and through the woods"
HHurry. then" she said. "I1l no
have YOU catching cold on my account
We scrambled up the headland ant
struck into the pine woods, leading, sh'
following close behind. We went alonl
at a dog trot, and. although l Otter
stopped to insure against her firing,
found that she was a strong runner ant
wanted no rest. At last we came to {
clearing Just this side Of the club en-
trance.
..Pn say good-by here" she said, "ant
spare you the sight Of civilization tina
you dislike" She held out her hand.
Then 1 remembered our bargain. "YoV
said that If set you ashore you woulC
come to see the sunset from my cliff
You haven't forgotten thatT
"No; but 1 must think out way
They dine here at such a stupid hour. Blu
l promise you that some afternoon you'll
see me strolling down the beach, anC
then If there's sunset I'll let you show
It to me. You deserve that much, a
least, for coming to my rescue"
She gave me her hand second time
and turned into the grounds of the Pen
gum Club / looked at my watch; Ght
would be Just in time fOE dinner.