The Delta independent., 1912-11-22

disturbed sky.
"Oh, Mr.. Bedight." she cried, with
the veriest trifle OF anxiety in her
voice, I'VE must be going. The sky
looks like a storm"
The mayor came over to Miss Nc
Connell and. standing beside her,
gazed analyticaliy into the west
II think we will be safer here" he
advised. quietly. THE storm will
break before we can reach the Inn"
But we cannot stay in this ruined
hut. 1t leaks and the doors are gone.-
objected Miss Mcconnell. "Cople on,
let's be on"
The man hesitated.
Don't you think 1t wiser to remain
here until the storm Is over? We are
a long ways from Squirrel Inn." coun.
seled the mayor.
But the wind will kick up the lakes
until We can't get across for hours"
cried the woman nervously.
Sometimes" said Bedight, looking
squarely at her. "a man is not az
dangerous after dark as . wind
storm by day"
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Miss McCon-
nell. Where's your sporting blood.
Let's make a try for it."
The mayor turned and walked down
to the boat. Tho girl followed and got
aboard. He rolled up the sleeves of
his light shirt and took the oars As
he did SO, . drop of rain fell into the
boat.
Really. Miss Mcconnell" he pro-
tested. this is unwise. You will not
H.
grave danger Of
Il am neither sugar nor a coward"
she said curtly. Go ahead"
Bedight fell to his oars but his in
spection OF the sky over the girls
head as she faced him was far from
reassuring. The clouds had taken
more definite form and in their center,
occupying the front OF the great stage
Of the sky. clung balloon-like mass
OF twisting matter. Bedight looked
at the girl apprehensively. as she sat
in the stern of the boat, taking the
splashing drops of rain like Spar
tan.
Miss Mcconnell, we are going to
have a bad storm presently. Don't you
think 1t would be better to go back?
Look at the sky behind you
She turned her head. An exclama-
ton of surprise broke from her lips.
IF you think best, Mr.. Bedight
am afraid i have been foolhardy-but
I'm still satisfied to go on II you are,"
proudly.
A terrific clap OF thunder directly
overhead. coupled with a roar in the
west. caused Bedight to hesitate. In
stead OF turning the boat. he headed
for the shore. Behind them the storm
was rushing with ten league wings
and the waves leaped into an action
that set the boat tossing like a speck
upon = boiling pot. The day became
as dark as night. save for the light
ming flashes.
In = moment the storm broke. Amid
the crash Of rending trees. the de-
moniacal shriekings of the wind the
terror of the lightning. the boat sped
onward along the shore. one oar gone.
the other useless in such 4 sea.
In the main channel no craft could
have lived. but along the shore down
which the two raced before the wind,
the shell new on the wings Of the
tempest.
full control Of her nerves. the CIR.
chung to the boat. Straight toward
the narrow neck OF Goose lake. the
craft bore like q wind-whipped ice
boat under a gale.
The mayor gritted his teeth. Once
outside the smaller lake the course OF
the craft would be directly across the
larger body OF water.
He studied the girl opposite. Did
she realize the danger?
'Mr. Bedight." she spoke regretfully.
with an effort at bravery. "I-if we
go through into Sylvan lake lin
sorry ] didn't take your advice. I.
won't help much now to know that
I've repented OF my decision-but I"
The mayor interrupted, shouting
against the wind:
II think we'll avoid II, and surely
this must pass quickly"
Her answer was lost in the musketry
and deluge that followed. The boat.
half filled with water. lurched perilous-
~, rolled like q cedar log and turned
turtle!
Bedight felt himself carried forward
with terrible speed and deposited
upon the shore. He shook the water
from his eyes. Beside him on the sand
lay the girl. and a rod down the shore
the boat hung upon the shingle.
She opened her eyes to the sound
Of his voice and the pressure OF his
hand upon her heart. Coughing. she
sat up on the beach and rubbed the
sand from her face and hands. Her
clothes hung closely upon her. show
ing the outlines of her body. The
rain still fell in torrents and ran down
their necks In tiny rivulets.