Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-20

SHORE OIL tue ldAc-
/ There were several bungalows about
the beautiful little lake. and here and
| there jutted forth a narrow pier around
which clustered gayly painted canoes or
| brass fitted motorboats ano 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 I'D there in June for brief
visit and hastily turned the key in
his door and departed-to return again
late in September when his neighbors
had fiitted cityward. On this brilliant
morning, when the sky seemed newly
washed in blue and the little lake gayly
reflected azure heaven and green earth,
Lewis took from his Japanese servant
q basket of lunch and went down to
his own pier The lunch, together with
fishing rod and basket, was tossed into
the bottom OF a canoe, and Lewis step
ped in and padded slowly over to the
island.
To have a whole month to himself In
the most glorious season of the year,
when every day is golden and the
nights are cool and made for sweet.
sound sleep, seemed too good to be true,
and at last, haunted by the fear that
there might be some cottager lurking
near by who might suddenly start his
monograph bIaring into the delicious
silence, Lewis started on a tour or the
island skirting the beach in his walk.
Then all at once he stopped short
and fastened his gaze on the damp
sand at the waters edge.
well. I'll be hanged" he calculated
in an injured tone Il had a feeling
that somebody was around. Can't lose
me on that premouition business"
There under his very nose was i'm
pressed a footprint, the mark of
small bare foot evidently that of
boy, and close beside it was another
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 the sandy
slope and were lost among the brown
needles that strewed the ground.
somebody left those footprints on
the sand. and that not so very long
ago. / suppose the rascal is hiding In
the trees up yonder. l may IS well fol-
low this trail among the spruces."
The trail was soon lost among the
needles. and as there were a dozen lit
tie paths winding among the spruces
# 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 to his canoe
and the neglected fishing.
He had just landed a shining lake
trout when a distant splash attracted
his attention. He turned his canoe and
padded around to the southern shore
Just In time to see a small dark head
bobbing above the surface of the water,
with now and then the fash of a bare
foot as the swimmer drew nearer the
mainland
Lewis Chuckled softly to himself.
amused at the lads hasty flight he
doesn's know he's my man Friday"
he grinned as he padded back once
more.
The day had been badly broken up
by his uneasy wanderings. 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 day and enjoy the
full measure Of lazy day.
Another glorious day dawned. He
made his usual landing, fastening
his craft to 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 a
diversion he had been obliged to forego
the past year on account OF a severe
attack Of rheumatism. which gripped
him cruelty at the first impact of cold
water
Suddenly there bobbed into his range
OF vision a green canoe, untenanted
and idly floating toward the mainland |
Il was several moments before it oc-
CURED 10 him that his own craft might !
have gone adrift. and when he went |
10 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.
"NO use yelling TO Taku. He'd only /
get excited and tumble in the soup .
kettle. He can't help me, and l can't /
help myself Here / must stay until /
| am rescued, and / wouldn't be bit .
TO see that man Friday! /
Wish l hadn't scared him observes
me right"
Shortly afterward stone rolling /
down into the water startled him 10
sitting posture just in time TO see
IA Of 10 70 Faat 1fco .