The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-02
THE EVENING STORY
In q Motorhoaf.
(By John Philip Orth. }

of his hobbies was to build a motor
boat that would run thirty miles an
hour. He couldn't satisfactorily ex-
plain to anybody why such a burden of
anxiety should be placed on the shout
ders of a motorboat, but he built and
equipped until sure he had struck it
at last.
AS the speed of a horse is in his
legs, so the speed of any sort of boat
is in the machinery that propels 1t.
The last and newest boat not only had
the latest improvements, but the
starting and stopping gear was used
for the first time on any body Of
water.
The boat was tried out on the bay
A flash of lightning could overtake
her, but had to hike right along to do
it. Eureka" was the general verdict
of the residents and transients Of
fleet reaching that placid bay rolled
off their shoulders and they slept once
more.
On a certain July day after the
Stingaree had made one of her Won
derful runs, she was brought back to
the dock and made fast, while her
owner went about some other bust
ness. Some one might climb aboard
for inspection, but the newly invented
would not start for them.
othy Benson and Miss Molly White
left the summer hotel for wander.
The young ladies wandered down the
shore. It was accidental and not pre-
meditated. Fate always works that
way The motorboat couldn't get
away, and after awhile the wander
ers stood looking down upon her and
softly exclaiming:
"Mollie, did you ever!"
Never. NeVerl"
isn't it darling?"
1T surely ISL
IT'S the new boat they are talking
SO much about, and I'm going aboard
to have a look. She must have been
left here for people to look at
In another minute both girls were
aboard and rummaging about. Their
praise was Of the highest, but after
they had Gained down bit Miss Dor
othy said:
"Mollie, last year at Lake Placid
dozen times. and I know 1 can run
this We will take a ride across the
bay and back. When we get opposite
the hotel We will wave our handker-
chiefs and cooee! We will be the
heroines of the hour
"Gracious, but none for me!' was
the reply. Mother would go into fits
at the idea of it,
IT didn't know you were a coward"
"Come on ashore. The owner may
come back any minutel"
IF he does l will introduce you as
The GirI-Afraid-o f-the- Water Go on,
then. I'm going to have a ride"
And then Miss Dorothy began hunt
ing about for the starting switch
Her finding it was a blunder, but
bIunders have brought about some of
the happiest marriages The Sting
aree had been berthed with her bow
to the bay. ready to run out. AS her
wheel began to revolve the fasts we're
from the girl left behind, and that
motorboat started out to fly. The
helm had been left dashed to port.
1t was well. The young LADY who had
run a boat on Lake Placid was help
less on this occasion. She yelled for
the police and fire departments, but
there was no gallant response. The
circus performance had opened.
With the helm dashed as it was, the
boat began to move In wide circle.
The circle took in the hotel, a num-
Der of sail and row boats and several
craft which were after oysters and
CLAIMS. The bareheaded Miss Dorothy
was generally mistaken for a bare
headed inventor and mechanical engi-
neer. It was only when she began
to scream that folks sat up and look
ed. And they hustled, too. The
Stingaree had route to follow, and
she followed it. She shaved an oar
off a row boat and upset the rover
in flannels; she smashed the bow of a
clammer and left the owner mutter-
ing "by thunder
She ran down and upset the "Bide-
A-Wee" sail boat just as its occupant
was making love to its other occupant
and Cupid had to turn his attention
to swimming and yelling.
Lake Placid wasn't in 1t. but Miss
Dorothy was, and she could not get
out of it. She yelled; she wrung her
hands; she entreated. She looked
for the switch to shut off the power,
but it could not be found.
Look outi Look Quit She's run
ming away!'
Two motorboats tried to overhaul
the Stingaree, but it was the race
of the hare and the turtle. Boats
cut off the circle here and there. and
their captains, mates and crews
shouted in stentorian voices to Miss
Dorothy to put her helm asia br'd-
to put it to porto put it any old
| way. but she only wept the more. One
captain more venturesome than the
rest tried to board her craft in the
good old piratical way as she came
along, but fell short by two feet and
went to the bottom Of the bay and
didn't come up again until time to
pay taxes.
BY the time the flyer had made
three grand circles of the grand bay
there was a trail of wreckage over all.
No one drowned for good but lots of
| folks were gasping for breath and
praying or swearing. The excite
ment had spread for a mile inland.
Rates at the hotel were not raised,
| but mine host stood on his veranda
and pointed a long arm over the bay
and exclaimed:
| Where, oh, where, ladies and
| gentlemen, can you find scenery tic
compare with this at my prices,''
Then Mr.. George Thorpe arrived.
He had come back from dinner to
| give the Stingaree another spin. He