Evening star., 1912-09-08

60 there nothing to be said; but good deal
- remained to be done and it was the middle of July
before Claude Waverton left his house 64h-st and
accompanied only by his English valet, took train for
\arragansett Pier.
He glanced casually through recent entries in the
hotel register before signing his own name. The hotel
did not appear to be crowded, and he found that he
could have his choice of several suites He selected
sitting and bedroom the first floor at the south
east corner and thereby marked himself who
could only discriminate but pay; yet the clerk
seemed to hesitate somewhat when he learned his
guests name Nothing was said, however, and Waver-
went out into the sunshine leaving his to make
the rooms habitable.
Filled with sudden longing to old love for
the clean, cold stee-gray Atlantic, which differs
greatly from the lazy that laps the Florida sand
dunes the prairie differs from trim lawn he made
straight for the seafront. The tide high, and
strong swell was breaking against the promenade; but
there boats out in plenty and few adventurous
He started walk along the shore, breathing in the
clea pure air few hundred yards from the hotel
great rocks that rise out of the sea- which, measure
take the place of the pier from which the resort got its
name. The pier was destroyed some thrty-odd years
ago.
On the rocks two women and Normandy
nurse, the latter holding in her delightful little
maid, who much interested in watching the
of little sloop that tackng back and forth
in lively fashion.
Something caused one of the to turn her head
at the very instant Waverton was passing Her face,
already highly colored, owing to the splendid breeze
a
which brought her companions eyes quickly round.
One of them, it never known which, moved involun
tarily and caught the nurses with her elbow; but
all that Waverton was the outward leap OF the cld
which fell into the
Nov Claude Waverton might be wicked man and
- libertine, but he had the quick eye and sure
Judgment of who had dwet far from cities. Even
while the first wild screams of all three women were
ringing in his ears he sped across to the rocks and with
of pose while he noted the whereabouts OF
the white rock in the depths of the churnng water had
leaped twenty feet down into the
He was SO prompt and fearless in acting that, in
the water he had further difficulty. Although prac
ticaly one-armed, being hampered by bandages he
seized the chds rock in his teeth thrust his lett arm
through buoy, and simply kicked out with his feet to
keep away from the rocks until the men in soop came
to the
1t the hour when all of Narragansett turns
toward the bathing beach The screams of the women
attracted crowd that seemed to spring from nowhere
and it eager for excitement. After dragging Waver
ton and the child board the sloop sailed to nearby
landing float The slipped ashore, carrying the
frightened and screaming but unharmed child in his
arms, to be met by cheering crowd that hurried to the
float So many hands were stretched out to help him
that he demanded with rather a scowl:
"Where is the childs mother, nurse?'
\ buxom bonne, wearing the Golf and cloak of her
calling struggled through the throng on the beach and
the little recognized her with loud cry of Nana!
"Oh Monsieur Claude, what is it that should say,
meos sobbed the in French, she received her
dripping charge with a reassurng hug.
Waverton taken aback by her recognition that
he could not answer; but he became that the
nurse Joined the he had the pier and
the trio hurried off, though of them walked
steadily that she had to be assisted by her friend.
"Wel did you see the like of that?' said an in
dignant girl in the crowd.
with never a word of thanks to the man who saved
her child" cried another.
"Such people not fit to be trusted with a baby,
declared third.
At last followed by an enthusiastic escort Waver-
reached the hotel and glad to gain its shelterng
porch.
THE manager met him in the hall "What wonder
full thing, Mr. Waverton!' he said his eyes kndlng