The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-26
Caxt0n,
Life Guard
By June Gahan

(COpyrlght, lSl2. by Associated AateSaSy
Press.)
"Why don't you call her II you
want herr" Wally asked. digging
fresh tunnel In the wet sand where
the life guards heel had smashed
through Don't call Miss Ashton
Call her first name"
Caxton smiled modify down at the
little chubby figure lying fiat on the
sand.
Il don't know her first name.
Wally."
First names Dorothy. That's what
mother calls her. Kenneth does. too.
when she isn't around"
who's Kenneth"
My big brother. Maybe she's gone
with him some place. This was an
afterthought Wally sat up to con.
slider 1t, and swept the curving shore
line with his calm glance Back Of
the pine fringe above the beach the
great hotel nestled between tall
bluffs. Stretching from it like arms
were shore front cottages mile In
each direction. 1t was late afternoon
The air seemed heavy and tense. The
sea lay with hardly ripple. dull
gray, with long saffron high lights
from the low storm clouds.
You had better run up to the cot.
tage, kiddie," Caxton advised
There's thunder storm on its way"
Il don't want to yet" coaxed Wally,
i've got to finish this roller coaster.
If there's a storm will you have to
swim after any people?"
If there are any foolish enough to
stay out" CaXton returned.
Wally stared up at the tall, tanned
figure in the red and gray swimming
suit. There was 10 one else at the
beach that summer he admired so in
tensely as the life guard. Miss Ash.
ton liked him, too. They had talked
| 1t over between them often, and
every morning Wally would watch
for him to come along the long
stretch of beautiful firm silvery sand
on his coast patrol duty.
One morning he had waded In too
far after stray shells and strands Of
sea weed. Caxton came on a run and
gripped the drenched little figure
securely and bore It back to its gov.
erness. A white faced. girlish gov.
erness she was. too. Clad in white
from toe to throat. she had run down
into the water after her charge. and
Wally had sobbed SO. there had been
no chance then to talk. But he had
remembered her. and watched every
morning for the two.
She was Miss Ashton. governess to
Walter Devercux's boy. That much
he found out easily. The Devereux
cottage was most imposing. Wally
was the youngest hope. and tall Ken
meth. fresh home from his last col
lege year. was the eldest And the
cottage was to be closed In two days
Wally had told them, when the fam
lily left for Canadian trip. That
meant she would 60 out Of his life
forever.
He had tried to get chance t.
speak to her alone for the past three
days. but young Devereux was bel
shadow. And now. suddenly. Will,
he was giving up his last hope. sh'
came hurrying down the path from
the bluff.
I'VE forgot the camera, and left l
way up on the hill. had to 80 bacl
after It," she told him.
We thought you had run ava.
with Kenneth" Wally Informed he
gravely.
Kenneth is out on the bay. dear
In his knockabout."
b He'd better come in then" CaA
ton checked himself If the cub wa
y idiotic enough to venture out unde
such a gale what was it to him? II
o bent over her and spoke half rough
ly. Cant you send the boy In an
|. give me hall CnanCc.
For WHAT"
d ITO tell you what l want to. IL
my last chance Here, Wally, liste,
te IL you'll run up to the cottage. an
stay there on the veranda until Mis-
Ashton comes. I'll make you lit
boat"
e with life savers all sitting in
: rowing"
Run along. dear. won't be long
n Dorothy whispered. She watched III
II little figure stalk slowly up the broa
walk to the cottage. and turned h,
fact up to CaXton. Now. what