Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1912-09-20

Jack helped me into a deserted row.
boat which lay on the sands and seat
"a himself before me.
This h good, to be alone with you.
Man." be was beginning when a man
who bad passed rs retraced mis- steps.
slack Meads.' be cried. ignoring my
presence. what luck! The boys from
the office are out here today. and we
are trying to make up a baseball nine.
AT we lack IL a RoOd pitcher. n we
know your fame In that line. It's GO
log to be a short game. Come ON over
and Join u.s."
Jack looked 6eidward. and bis eyes
shone "You wouldn't mind. would
you. Nang" be asked eagerly.
Certainly: l DO not mind" I an.
swered efTusively. but 1 prefer not 10
walk over TO the held."
He hurried away without one back
waHi gIHnce. Il was another numlliat-
Ing moment Following 40 Idle Inn
pulse. ! lifted the solitary oar which
lay in the boat and poied myself Out
into the water. Perhaps when Allison
rame back be might see IRE. He used
strongly to Object II I ventured to row
alone. | must ave drifted out pretty
far. for the automobile looked like a
speck In the road. while the baseball
ield WAS just n green blur With a
splash my one oar slipped from my
grasp and quickly tioated Just beyond
each. II you'd have been useless to
cali for assistance. for no one appeared
upon the beach. I was really bet'Om-
ing frightened when a rance came
gliding toward me. Its occupant stood
! up and waved his arms wildly.
AUNT Nam ne cried. Aunt Nan!'
II was Robbie. / could scarcely believe
my eyes.
"Save me. Aunt Han.' be eDtreated.
II never thought when ! climbed Into
the canoe that it'wOuld float away"
There WIS u soft thud as the boats
came alongside. ! had a confused VI
sion OF my %nephew's white fare an
~outreaching arms, and then we wer
both struggling IN the water. Blind.
| caught al the upturned boat as Bob
bic chung to me In desperation. And
surely 1t was hours afterward that
some one snHtched MIN roughly from
my grasp; then two strOng arms also
lifted me TO safety. / don't know just
what I had been expecting. but II was
rather disappointing to see a weather
beaten face looking a~nxiOusly into my
own, while q grun voice muttpred some
thing about 'lunatics sailin' about in
BOATS without no Oars." Ana when our
rescuer's bOat reached the shore there
stood Jim and Moliie. who regarded
my wet n shrinking self with STERN,
accusing gaze. Jim carried his whim.
pering sun back to the shelter OF the
tires. while MoIlie fingered only long
enough to say:
III you did not care about risking
your own ife. Nan. you might at least
have left Robbie safe on land"
l stood still In bewiiderment. 1'hPr
a prolonged wall In Dots shrill treb
attracted my attention. and | hastent
In its direction.
ION. Aunt Nan" she gurgled, you
do look 80 funny! Your halr Is NJ
sleek. ike the senrs at the ZOO
The thought OF my own ridiculous
appearance had not occurred TO ma.
Now / rocked fearfully down the road
to where the stalled auto could still be
seen.
"Dot." | faltered. where's Mfr. Arm
strongT' j
My young niece OWNED by anxiety.
"Don't you worry" she said. lie Is
hammering away under his car"
FAnd Allison. Dot where Is hep
he won't see you" she answered
comrOrtingly. He is back in the
woods getting flowers for Aunt Nell
Then Dottie turned to her own griev-
ances. "Daddie kindled IA fire 10 make
some coffee" she cOntded. land when
they went away / put some corn 10 to
cool and burned my hand. But It's
better now. because | tore the front
This nice thin cloth tears easy" she
added. with satisfaction.
Like Dot. I returned to my W trou-
blea what shall / doT' l deliberated
aloud
90 aud SIT in the sand and get dry"
my niece wisely suggested. and I fol-
lowed her advice. Little lavender
streams were trickllng from every part
Of my new frOck. and the wOman who
sold It had assured me that the cOlOr
would not run She might nave traced
me now by the violet drops along the
sand. | sank down miSerably. How
could | go home 10 this plight
Nells ringing laugh aroused me.
"Oh. Man." she cried. what in the
world nave you been doing2 You look
like a purple poster glri."
One horritipd glance showed me Al
liROn's tall figure. This vas truly the
last straw. ! buried my face 10 my
wet purple arms and wept. Then Al
llsOn turned to Nell.
"DOt is alone" he said. Had you
not better see that she doesn't get into
more mischiefY And-.and. Nan. dear.
you may take cold. will fetch my
warm auto coat IN a ne ana wrap
II around you" He did 80. very ten
derry. and as we sat there long In the
sands he snid- But what Allison said
is not for pubiica ! am glad that
my hair dries out all Huny aud curly.