Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19


AT first sight 1t suggests a piratical
pumpkin said Warden.
But I have been watching it quite a
long time, and / am certain it is black
on the other side. There! Surely I am
not mistaken. And the people on that
yacht have seen it. too"
The girls face flushed with excitement.
The thing had really startled her, and the
two men were ready to agree that 1t now
presented a masklike, visage. more than
half submerged, as it swirled about in a
chance eddy. That some loungers on a
yacht close at hand had also noticed it
was made evident by their haste to run
down gangway into boat fastened
alongside.
After it, Peter" cried Warden. "It Is
the lady's trover by the law Of the high
the Nancy. Port bit-port. Steady all.
Keep her there
In her eagerness the girl tried to rise
to her feet.
ing nightly. Judging by the position
of that other craft, an from wot / know
of Mr.. Warden, therell be a devil of a
bump in art tick"
Starboard point, cooed Warden, on
his knees in the bows. STEADY as she
goes
Suddenly he sprang upright.
Hard a-starboard.' he shouted and
leaped overheard.
yell from the opposing boat scream
from the girl, sharp crack as an oar
blade snapped against the sturdy ribs of
the dinghy. and the two boats shot past
each other, Peters prompt obedience to
orders ..ss having averted collision
jump for it. But don't you worry, miss
e can swim like a herrin."
Nevertheless. the girl did worry as her
white face and straining eyes we'll
showed Peter swung the dinghy about
SO nimbly that She lost all sense of d.
rection. 1t seemed as if the laughing
Solent had swallowed Warden, and she
gazed affrightedly on every side but the
right one.
"Oh, how could he do it?'' she walled.
az shall never forgive myself"
Then she heard deep breath from the
water behind her and she turned to see
Warden, with blood streaming from a
cash across his forehead. swimming cas-
fly with one hand. She whisked round
and knelt on the seat.
Quick she cried. "Come close. ]
can hold YOU"
Please do not be alarmed on my &C.
count" he said. coolly. II fear look
rather CHASTITY but the injury is nothing.
mere glancing blow from an oar
Even III her unnerved condition she
could not fail to realize that he was in
frightened, and grasped his wrist tenac-
iously when his fingers rested on the
stern rail. Yet. even under such trying
circumstances, she was helpful. Though
half sobbing and utterly distressed, she
dipped her handkerchief in the water and
stopped until she could wash the wound
sufficiently to reveal it's extent. He was
right. The skin was broken. but the cut
had no depth.
why did you behave SO madly?" she
asked, with Quivering lips.
1T was method. not madness. fair
maid he said. smiling up at her. "Oul
opponents had four oars and a light skiff
against Peters two and dinghy that Is
broad as ii is long. To equalize the
handicap l had to jump. else you would
have lost your trophy. By the way, here
il isl
With his disengaged hand he gave heI
a smooth. highly polished oval object
which proved to be a good deal larger
than it looked when afoat. The CIR
threw it into the bottom OF the boat
without paying the least heed to it. She
was greatly hurried. and, womanlike
wanted to box Warden's ears for his alb.
surd action.
you have terrified me out Of my Wits -
she gasped. Can you manage to climb
on board?'
THAT would be difficult-perhaps dan
gerous. Peter, pull up to the nearest