The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-10-11

!he . hammock or cake Il ioeI.
srowled Hanscombe. 60 on"
But l don't believe you'd make Q
good captain in rough weather. ana
We get lot Of that sort through life.
don't you know IL You're . GOOD
pal to talk to. and all that, but"
she stopped suddenly and stood
up. He saw in a moment what had
happened. Drifting rapidly out "a
the open sea was their motor boat
couple Of miles across the bay
was the little summer camp on the
point. And they were on An island
In midchannel, with NO chance Of q
steamer passing before the city boat
In the morning. Hanscombe kicked
OF his shoes.
You're not going to try and
swi matter IT." Nan demanded In
crsdulously.
I'm going to the point" hs r..
tortsd deliberately. "Tn get Halls
boat and come after you. Don't ret
ratified now. won't be long"
There are cross currents out
80 there are here" he said,
erimly. Better take my match
box and ct some driftwood togeth-
q for . hre In case l give out Hal
WIZ So 1t, and know there's trouble.
Qoodby." Z
why don't you wait and see II
We aren't missed3"
"Just to show I can be q rough
weather captain, guess" hs
laughed. Rustic after the drift
wood. mate. have to get into
swimming gear"
Slowly she turned and went back
over the winding shore, through the
little path Of sword grass and white
clover. Once. at the top Of a hum.
mock, she turned and looked out to
ssa. It was . shadowy violet
base. His head looked like brown
ssawssd floating with the tide. far OF
from the shreo. Nan watched it with
keen. half-clossd eyes until 1t dis
appeared. the little silver matchbox
pressed to her cheek unconsciously.
All her life she had lived at the
Point. She knew every swirling cur.
rent out In midstrsam beyond the
island. Night after night she had
gone out with Hal while he hung .
red lantern Of warning on the pill
ing that marked the steamer channel.
And now Hanscombe. careless, in
dolent. city-bred Hanscombe. was
out there fighting the sea just to
make good in her eyes that he was
no coward.
She gathered the driftwood into .
heap. and set lire to 1t. not to warn
Hal. but to give some cheer to the
man out in the water in the darkness.
She knew In her heart she had cared
for him from his first few days at the
Point. Hal was dear, but he was
just big brother. The very faults
Of Hanscombe made her indignant
against him because she reasoned he
was too idle to put up his own good
Tight with fate and fortune. And
she had made up her mind to let him
20.
Once she put her hands to her lips
and called him to come back, but
there was no answer, and 40 the
night closed in, she sat on one Of
the tall sand dunes. her face buried
on her arms and sobbing until sud-
denly she felt Hanscombe's arms close
about her.
Dear, don't do that" he said with
. new, masterful touch in his tone.
Hal started after us-saw the fire.
think. When I caught sight Of his
boat pulling out. turned and came
back. What's the matter?"
Nan kept her face hidden against
his cheek.
why didn't you come right awayf"
II had to dress and put out the flrs
20 It wouldn't spread in this wind,
Mani" He forced her to face him
there in the ssmi-darkness. MAN.
you didn't care . rap. did you, on
the level, whether came back or
notf'
Nan hssitatsd. and whispered very
softly.
II didn't want the ship left without
. captain"