The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-17
A REWARD
BY AINswoRTH RHODES
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

the seashore. Aunt Charlotte. my sis
ter Ruth and | were enjoying the sea
air. and | especially was enjoying the
sea water. My aunt had charge Of rs
girls and considered herself responsi
BILE for us. She used to sit on the beach
watching us.
was wading one day in water up
to my waist. wore a little gold
cross about my neck and had lost 1t.
While looking for It'll could have seen
lt on the bottom-l went down into
deep water.
had been swimming good deal
and was tired They say that swim.
ming Is the hardest exercise one can
take. At any rate, In trying to swiE
back to shallow water l found that
didn't move at all. ! got frightened
and this made matters worse. The
tide was settling down to the south
and was moving me with it--not far.
but proximity makes little difference
when one Is powerless. l called to my
aunt, but she did not hear me or was
not aware Of my condition. for she
made no move to help or call on any
one to help me.
What an awful thing 1t Is to be In
danger of drowning and see some one
looking at you. thinking that you are
enjoying Yourself!
But there was one of more expe-
rlence In such matters who did see
me. Near by was pier extending
out into the ocean, and on that pier
was a man He was standing over
deep water some twenty feet above
the surface. He was In shirt waist
costume saw him jump feet fore
most and swim for me. | went down
before be reached me, but only for
moment. | felt his hand under my
arm We rose to the surface. and q
few strokes carried us TO shallow wa
ter
One would suppose that my first feel
ings would be gratitude to the man
who had helped me. Slngularly enough.
what | thought about was my lost
cross, a little gold trlnket not worth
So AS soon as got my breath said:
"Oh. my crossl fear shall never
see II again"
"Your crossT
Eyes. dropped It near here. l was
looking for 1t when stepped beyond
my depth"
He cast his eye about him and, sud
denly thrusting his hand down for
an object glistening In the sunlight
picked up my cross and handed It to
me.
1t was impossible for me, dressed as
. the man was. TO tell to what class he
: belonged. He might be boatman OF
: fisherman or follow any calling per
tanning to the water. He certainly
: swan like n duck. hesitated mo-
l ment about offering him money fol
r having helped me out Of deep water
r but finally as we walked up on TO the
, beach / said. III you viii call at the
: Arlington hotel | shall have something
: for you"
. at what hourr he asked.
"well, say directly after luncheon
7 He took Off his hat TO me and walked
3 away, doubtless to get on dry clothes
Q After luncheon | went TO my room
for a rest. which greatly needed.
was falling Into doze when n waltel
raped at the door and said that /;
: man was below who said had asked
+ him to CALL went to my trunk
I where kept my money. took out
Q ten dollar bill and told the waiter e
p give It to the man below. The waite
I went downstairs. but soon returne,
D with the bill.
b "He says It isn't enough. miss"
o was rather taken aback; but, golnl
: again 10 my trunk. got out anothe
: ten dollar bill and sent Il with tn
l. irst. But the waiter came back. as be
fore, with the message. mot enough.
kept sending additional bills until
had sent $50. but they all came bacl
n with the same message. At last tol,
: the waiter to ask the man what woul
b satisfy him. The reply came back.
1.-THE little gold cross"
NV surprise at this was greater thai
Z before. The man had declined s.
and asked for a gold cross which. as
have said. was not worth So | ha
no especial attachment TO the trinke
so handed II to the waiter and toll
v him to give Il TO the man below.
may have been stupid about II, bu
couldn't understand the matter a
t. all. Why n man who would take a r,
3 ward for saving n life should dcclin
y substantial one for n girls ornamer
~ I couldn't imagine. but I was yer
4. tired and went 10 sleep thinking abor
" H.
lie Well. didn't see the man any MOI
rs on the beach. nor anywhere else Z,
r that matter one evening we wcr
&c over 10 the Bellevue for the dane
~ there One Of the girls said that
" yachting party Of young men were
A. be there. and we all got our prcttlc'
10 costumes. When we reached the Bell
pr vue the hop was In full swing, bt
ID the yachtsmen had not appcarc'
is Presently they came In.
ar "well. declare" exclaimed. turn
B. ing red as a beet on seeing one OF thcl
70 there. ~ that isn't the man who too
" my cross "a n reward for saving me.
p. That" said lady standing nea
n. is the yachts owner. he's triple mi
m llonalrc"
Y. Gle saw me and came right up
n. me tried TO slip away. Tor m
ut checks were flaming. but be was "a
n sury for me. Holding out my eros