The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-11

1 and made q mess of it. He merely sue
 ceeded in showing the boat around
 Stuart saw they could never make | headway by that method, turned and
 shot back into the marsh
 Get 0ut.' he shouted sternly You 1 can walk along the edge I can shove
 her alone"
 Bivens grumbled, but did as he was
 ordered.
 Don't you leave the edge of that
 marsh ten feet"' Stuart shouted cheer | fully ''I think we'll make it now" It was question whether one man 1 had the strength to shove the little l boat through the icy, roaring waters | and keep her off the shore. He did it 1 successfully for a hundred yards, and | the wind and sea became so fierce he was driven in and could make no | headway. He called Bivens, gave him 1 an oar and made him walk in the l edge of the water and hold the boat 1 off while he placed his oar on the i mud bottom and pushed. 1 It took two hours of desperate bat l ting to make half a mile through the white, blinding, freezing, roaring wa ters. The yacht now lay but 300 feet away from the edge of the marsh.
 Say, why do we stop so much?' Bivens growled. sI'm freezing to death. Let's get to that yacht | we'll do our best,'' Stuart answer ed gravely, "and if you know how to pray now's your time"
 sOh, tommyrotr' Bivens said con- i temptuously. q can throw a stone to her from here.''
 Get in,' Stuart commanded, "and 1 lie down again fat on your backI'' i Bivens oheyed, and the desperate fight began.
 Stuart made the first few strokes | with his oars successfully and cleared the shore, only to be driven back against it with a crash. A wave swept over the little craft.
 Stuart grasped Bivens' hand and found cake of ice on his wrist. He showed the boats nose again into the wind and pulled on his oars with a steady, desperate stroke, and she shot ahead. For five minutes he held her head into the sea and gained a few yards. He set his feet firmly against the oak timbers in the boats side and began to lengthen his quick, powerful stroke. He found to his joy he was making headway. He looked over his shoulder and saw that lie was half way He couldn't be more than 150 feet and yet he didn't seem to be getting any nearer. It was now or never He bent to his oars with the last ounce of reserve power in his tall sinewy frame, and the next mo- ment an oar snapped, the boat spun round like a top and in minute was hurled back helpless on the marsh.
 As the sea dashed over her again Bivens looked up stupidly and growled:
 .sWhy don't you keep her straight?r
 Stuart sprang out and pulled the numbed man to his feet, half dragged and lifted him ashore.
 .sHere, hers, wake upp' he shouted in his ear. Get a move on you, or you're a goner." He began to rub Bivens' ice clad wrists and hands, and the little man snatched them away angrily.
 "stop itY' he snarled. "My hands are not cold now.''
 ''No, they're freezing he answered as he started across the marsh in a dog trot, pulling Bivens after him. The little man stood it for a hundred yards, suddenly tore himself loose and angrily faced his companion
 Say, suppose you attend to your own hide-I can take care of my self,
 q tell you, you're frezing. You're getting numb. As soon as I can get your blood a little warm we've got to wade through that water for a hun dred yards and make the yacht
 s'TH do nothing of the sort" Bivens said. 'I1l stay here till the next tide and walk out when the waters ebbed off I'm not half as cold as I was.''
 "You're losing the power to feel. You've got to plunge into that water with me now, and we can fight our way to safety in five minutes. The water is only three feet deep, and can lift you over the big waves We'll be there in a jiffy. Come on?'
 He seized his arm again and dragged him to the edge of the water. Bfvens stopped short and tore himself from Stuart's grip.
 9TH see you to the bottom1ess pit be- fore I'll move another inch!'' he yelled savagely. "Go to the devil and let me alone. I'll take care of myself
 "An right Stuart said contemptu- ously as he turned and left him.
 He began to walk briskly along the marsh to keep warm. All he had to do tonight was to apply the law of self interest by which Bivens had lived and waxed mighty and tomorrow he could take the woman he loved in his arms, move into his palace its master and hers. There could be no mistake about Mans feelings. He had read the yearning of her heart with unerring insight. Visions of life of splendor, beauty and power with her by his side swept his imagination.
 "Shes mine, and Fll take herr' he cried. 'Let the little, scheming, oily, cunning scoundre1 die tonight by his own law Of self interest. I've done my part.''
 There came change; his heart was suddenly flooded with memories of his boyhood, it's dreams of heroic deeds; his mothers serene face his fathers