Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-28
His
Man Friday
lie Blunders Into His
Happiness
By cLARIssA MAcNE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

perched on pine covered Knoll on tne
shore Of the lake
There were several bungalows about
the beautiful little lake. and here and
there jutted fsrth narrow pier around
which clustered gayly painted canoes or
hrass fitted motorboats sno from June
until September the little summer
colony fished and boated and bathed
and then, suddenly, when the first
week in September came the cottages
would be closed and there would be no
sign of life except the little wild
animals that came to drink at the
waters edge and the birds fitting
among the pines.
Lewis Warren had built the bunga-
low for a retreat wherein to spend
solitary days that would restore the
energy he had lost during busy weeks
down in the heart of the big city.
He went up there in June for Drler
visit and hastily turned the key ID
his door and departed-to return again
late in September when his neighbors
had fitted cityward. On this brilliant
morning, when the sky seemed newly
washed in blue and the little lake gayly
reflected azure heaven and green eartn'
Lewis took from his Japanese servant
basket OF lunch and went down 10
his own pier The lunch, together with
fishing rod and basket, was tossed into
the bottom Of q canoe, and Lewis step
ned in and padded slowly over to the
island.
To have q whole month to himself IN
the most glorious season of the year.
when every day IS golden and the
nights are cool Nnd made for sweet
sound sleep, seemed TOO good to be true,
and at last. haunted by the fear that
there might be some cottaSer lurking
near by who might suddenly start his
photograph blariug into the delicious
silence Lewis started on tour or the
island skirting the beach i'll his walk.
Then all at once he stopped short
md fastened his gaze on the damp
sand at the waters edge.
"Well, III be hangcd"' he calculated
IN an injured tone. Il had feeling
that somebody VIZ: around. Can't lose
me on that premonition business
There under his very nose was I'M
pressed footprint. the mark or a
small bare foot. evidently that OF a
n I
and another and still another of the
same feet. Some Of the footprints ap-
peared to lead straight into the water.
and others evidently climbed tie sandy
slope and were lost among the brown
needles that strewcd the ground.
somebody left those footprints on
the sand. and that not so very long
ago. suppose the rascal is hiding II
the trees up yonder. may as well FOL
low this trail among the spruces.'
The trail was soon lost among the
needles. and as there We're Il dozen 1T
tie paths winding among the spruces
It was no easy matter to decide which
one to follow. Lewis soon tired OF
hunting for the trespasser and con-
Guiding that. whoever he was. the boy
would probably not disturb him now
that his presence had been discovered,
the young man returned 60 his canoe
and the neglected fishing.
He had just landed a shining lake
trout when Il distant splash attracted
bis attention. He turned his canoe and
puddlcd around TO the southern shor''
lust In time to see small! dark bead
bobbing above the surface of the water.
with now and then the fash OF 4 parA
foot as the swimmer drew nearer the
mainland.
Lewis chlcklcd softly 10 himself.
amused at :he lads hasty fight. He
doesn't know he's my man Friday,
he grinned as he padded back once
more.
The day had been badly broken up
by his uneasy wanderinSs. and now.
after his luncheon was disposed of and
he had spent an hour with pipe and
book. he returned home resolved to
come back the next dag and enjoy the
full measure of lazy day.
Another glorious day dawned. He
made his usual landing. fastening
his craft to a weather beaten stake
thrust In the sand. Then he carried
book and basket around to the sunny
southern shore and stretched himself
on the sand. The water looked cool
and inviting. but swimming was q
diversion he had been obliged 10 forego
the past year on account of severe
attack of rheumatism. which Sripped
him cruelty at the first impact of cold
water
Suddenly there bobbed into his range
Of vision green canoe. untenanted
and idly floating toward the mainland
It was several moments before it oc.
Cured to him that his own craft might
have gone adrift. and when he went
to look his fears were verified The
ancient stake had snapped asunder at
the water line. and now he could see
it floating along in the wake OF the
canoe.
mo use yelling to Taku. He'd only