Evening journal., 1910-09-12
A REWARD
By AINswoRTH RHODES
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


sea water. My aunt had charge Of us
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 aud had lost II. |
While looking for It'll could have seen |
It on the bottom-I went down into
deep water.
had been swimming a good deal
and was tired. They say that swim
ming Is the hardest exercise one can
take At any rate. in trying to swim
back TO shallow water l found that
didn't move at all. l 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. called TO my
aunt, but she did not hear me or was
not aware OF my condition, for she
made mo move 70 help or call on any
one TO help me.
What an awful thing It is TO be in
danger OF drowning and see some one
looking at you. thinking that you are
enjoying yourselfl
But there was one Of more expe-
rience in such matters who did see
me. Near by was a 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. l went down
before he reached me. but only for
moment. felt his hand under my
arm. We rose to the surface. and a
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. Singularly enough,
what / thought about was my lost
cross. a little gold trinket not worth
So. AS soon as / got my breath ! said:
"Oh. my crossl fear I shall never
see 1t again"
"Your crossl"
"Yes. / dropped it near here. was
looking for it when i 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 1t to
me-
1t was impossible for me. dressed as
the man was. to tell to what class he
belonged. He might be q boatman OF
a fisherman or follow any calling per
tanning to the water. He certainly
swan like a duck. I hesitated a mo
ment about Offering him money fol
having helped me out of deep water
, but finally as we walked up on to tn
beach said. 'If you will call at tn
Arlington hotel shall have somethin
/ for you"
/ AT what hourg" he asked.
'wen, say directly after luncheon.
He took on his hat TO me and wake
: away. doubtless 10 get on dry clothe;
After luncheon ] went to my roor
for a rest. which ! greatly needed.
= was falling into a doze when a waite
raped at the door and said that (
man was below who said I had asked
him 10 call. went TO my trunk
where I kept my money, took out
ten dollar bill and told the waiter t.
give It to the man below. The waiter
went downstairs, but soon returned
with the bill.
''He says it isn't enough, miss
was rather taken aback; but. goinl
again TO my trunk. ! got out another
ten dollar bill and sent It with thu
first. 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
with the same message. At last tol'
the waiter TO ask the man what woul'
satisfy him. The reply came back;
THE little gold cross"
NV surprise at this was greater thar
before. The man had declined s.
and asked for a gold cross which. as
/ have said. was not worth 50. hal
no especial attachment to the trinke'
so I handed It to the waiter and toll
him to give II to the man below.
may have been stupid about 1t. bu
/ couldn't understand the matter a
all. Why a man who would take a re
\ ward for saving life should declin
: substantial one for girls ornamen
couldn't imagine. But was yer
4 tired and went TO sleep thinking abou
It.
Well. / didn't see the man any NOR
on the beach. nor anywhere else fc
- that matter. One evening we wer
: over to the Bellevue for the dane
I there One Of the girls said that
= yachting party of young men were
I be there. and we all got our preties
Il costumes. When we reached the Bell
;. vue the hop was in full swing. br
Il the yachtsmen had not appeare'
n Presently they came in.
"Wen, declare" exclaimed. turi
ing red as a beet on seeing one Of thel
there. 'ff that isn't the man who too
my cross as a reward for saving me. u
That" said a lady standing nea
els the yachts owner; he's a triple INF
lionaire."
"He saw me and came right up
me. tried TO slip away. for m
cheeks were flaming. but he was tc
- spry for me. Holding out my eros
he said:
81 won't keep it any longer as a r