Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-04-07

says I. Miss -" And 1 yelled her
name and how she'd gone abroad with
his folks, and all.
"'Shut up he whispers, waving his
hands, frantic. Don't stop to lie.
Hurry up
"'Tain't a lie. Oh, l know about
It! l hollers, as if he was def. l
meant to be h%eard-by him and any
body else that might be interested. l
give a whole lot more particulars too.
He fairly showed me into the skiff
after a spell.
Now he says. so mad he could
hardly speak. stop your lying and row,
will you?'
Il was willing to row then. 1 cal
lated I'd done some missionary work
by this time. Allies guns was spiked.
if 1 knew Barbara Saunders. 1 p'inted
the skiff the way she'd ought to go and
laid to the oars.
MY plan had been to get him aboard
the skiff and row somewheres-ashore
if 1 could. But twas otherwise laid
out for me. The wind was blowing
pretty fresh, and the skiff was down
by the stern, SOS the waves kept knock
ing her nose round. Twas darker N
a pocket too. | couldn't tell where 1
was going.
allie got more fidgety every minute.
Amt we most there?' he asks. And
then he gives a screech. What's that
ahead?'
Il turned to see, and as l done it the
skiff's bow slid up on something, and
the next thing I knew me and Allie
and the skiff was under water, bound
for the bottom. We'd run acrost one
Of the guy ropes of my fish weir.
When l got my head out l see a water
wheel doing business close alongside
Of me. 1t was Allie.
"'Help!' he bowls. Help! Pm
drowning"
II got him by the collar, took one
stroke and bumped against the weir
nets. You know what a fish weir's
like, don't you, Mr.. Brown?-a kind
Of pound made Of nets hung on ropes
between poles.
"'Help! yells Allie, clawing the nets.
I can't swim in rough water!!'
"You might have known he couldn't.
1t looked sort of dubious for a jiffy.
Then l had an idee. I dragged him to
the highest weir pole. Climb! I hol-
lers in his ear. Climb that poler
"He done it somehow, digging his
toes into the net and going up like a
cat up a tree. When he got to the
top he hung acrost the rope and
shook.
"'Hang on therev says 1. Pm 60
ing after the boat And 1 struck out.
He yelled to me not to leave him, but
the weir had give m my bearings, and
1 was bound for my power boat: 'Fwas
a tough swim, but l made it and
climbed aboard, not feeling any too
happy. Losing h good skiT wa more Ii
I'd fggered on.
"Soon 8 l got some breath 1 hauled
anchor, started my engine and head
ed back for the weir. l run alongside
Of it, keeping a good lookout for guy
ropes, and when I got abreast Of that
particular pole 1 looked for Allie. He
was setting on the rope, a straddle of
the pole, and hanging on to the top Of
it like it owed him money. He looked
a good deal more comfortable than
I was when he and Prince had freed
me. And the remembrance of that
time come back to me, and one Of them
things they call inspiration come with
it. He was four feet above water,
twas full tide then, and if he set still
he was safe as a church.
$50 instead Of running in after him
I slowed way down and backed off.
"'Come here!!' he yells. Come here,
you fool, and take me aboard!'
ooh, I don't know says 1. You're
safe there, and ven if the yacht folks
don't come hunting for you by and by.
which I callate they will, the tide III be
low enough in five hours or so SOS you
car walk ashore
"'What-what do you mean?' he
says. Amt you going to take me OFF,
"I was says I, but I've changed
my plans. And, Mr.. Allie Wander
what's-your-name Davidson. there's