El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-10
The HeraId's
Daily Shsrt Story
The Pot and the Kettle

across the cabin to the portfolio. In an
instant leaped upon the table,
thrusting my head out The deck ran
below me, and a staunchion was OppO-
site me caught 1t, dragging my
shoulders with difficulty through the
opening Then I ran. amazed at her
eoOlness, furious at my imbecility, to
the place where she had landed. The
canoe had vanished I had given her
a minute or SOS start, but / guessed
I could geep her in hearing if / fol-
lowed in the skiff which Sam had
pointed out to me tied up at the
stern I raced to the other end OF
the boat, tumbling over mats and col
uding with staunchions. The moon
was coming up, and a sickly light
flickered on the water BY ii I saw
her and the canoe sWay1ng py the
skiffs side. caught hold of the
painter, but even as i drew it in she
cut it and it hung loose in my hand.
I heard her pant as she made fast the
two rocking boats and picked up her
paddle.
find I was quite so easily fooled Then
] dived in.
She was padding swiftly down
stream. but she turned her head as ]
splashed in. and a little cry burst
from her lips. I'm fairly strong
swimmer and fl wasn't long before i
drew level She raised the paddle IN
the air and I laughed, trudgeOning n
TO the bows Of the skiff and climbing
in there out Of her reach
Turn back I commanded.
She dropped the paddle and put her
hands before her face Then, before
could divine her intention, I heard
a snap. the pearl rope flickered in
the light as it hung pendant from her
shaking fingers, and then she dropped
1T overheard.
marked the spOt-it was under
fork in a certain tree branch and
caught up the paddle which lay in the
skiff Then, stern foremost, we went
slowly back.
Go on board, please" I said.
Let me go please-pleasel she inn
plOred me suddenly. Take anything
you like but do-dO let me go. You've
terrified me"
and gave her my hand. L guessed she
was -hysterical and din't know
what she was saying Then / drew
her into the drawing room.
You lied to me-" I said sternly.
They weren't yours; they belonged
to the owner Of this hOuseboat - -
They didn't-indeed they didn't T."
she cried, shaking her head and hold
ing out her hands implOringly. "D'yOu
think any thing Of mine or fathers Is
valuable enough to make me face a.
a-yOu to save 1tE If they had been
mine, you should have had them-in-
deed. indeed you shouldl But 7 ought
not left them here. They aren't mine!
7 was so careless-so wickedly care
-less-so wickedly careless Of me!
had to come back
stood before her in my dripping
clothes, set chill and shivering by her
words.
TO make you face a-'you'r' / re-
peated slowly Nv hat d'you mean
"You-you aren't a friend Of ours.
she said. Aren't YOU al thought
you were-I saw a light. I knew the
houseboat would be empty; we were
b. nnHn
remembered the pearls. Mr.. Kent said
might wear them just one day; he's
an old friend Of fathers. 1 thought
you were"
"A burglar" said for her this
time, as again she hesitated. "I m
not Miss Warrington Ny name
PaxtOn-TEe come down for a week
end to see Bob
Then why are you here?' she asked
looking at me in bewilderment.
"Old SAM / began, landed me
Hes always drunk" she cried vehe-
mently. Mr.. Kent had this boat last
year. But Why-why did you behave
in such extraordinary fashion,
II overheard a private CONVEX
sation between you and your brother,
I said awl1wardly. 1T was about a
very upset-a Itle-Tm sorry-a
little desperate. I saw you slip on
board saw the pearls I guessed
they were BOb's-"
1Ar came 1ALd-AAA Up " me- anu
her eyes flashed
so YOU thought me a thief?' she
said bluntly.
/ nodded miserably.
She only stared at met seemed
like an age. I felt like half-drcwned
cur. shivering in my sodden clothes.
with a widening pool Of water round
me on the carpet.
You may borrow the skiff, she
said. and swept past me TO the other
door, and disappeared.
scuued off. shouting to another
housebOat lower down, and inquiring
for Bob. They sung out directions,
which I followed, and 7 found him
smoking cigar and listening to
gramophone on boat about mile
down stream.
"Lor, old chap-no coatr' he ex-
claimed. Cad, it's not so hot as all
that"
eXplained-partly explained, and
partly prevaricated. Then / borrowed
q suit of his, accepted a hot toddy,
and began about the pearls.
"Ill buy en-, I said. swallowing his
stiff concoctlOn and sitter prices.
Good" he commented. Miss War
niugtOn has EN- now. A dear kid You
ought to know her"
81 do" I said shortly. Besides, I've
got the pearls, She handed EN-
A boat came alongside in the dark
ness, and young man made her fast