Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-02-03
Al The WHEEL
By SUSANNA GLENN

Eula Gardiner stood on the hotel
veranda in a trig brown linen frock
and a white felt hat
DO you mean to say that you are
going on the water this morning?"
asked a dozen girls
Il most assuredly am" answered
Eula. glancing out to where crisp lit
tie waves flashed saucily on the sur
face Of the bay.
But considerable great Kenmore
has arrived; we beheld him with our
own eyes And, oh. Eula, but he is
fine to look att"
Glad to hear It," she replied bright
ly, but what can be gained by sitting
out day like this on this veranda?"
Think Of your complexion, careless
child How will you look in the par
lors this evening to the critical eye Of
an artist, with your face sunburned
and your golden curls wind-rough-
ened?"
"One day will not suffice to restore
to me my former beauty. I therefore
generously leave the coast clear for
the rest of you, and continue to en-
Joy myself"
With laugh, she ran down to the
pier where her tiny motor boat was
tied ready for her.
She is certainly a wonder with a
boat" observed the girls who watched
her puff iauntily away.
She is right when she says she
leaves the coast clear for the rest of
us, though. These capable, iDdepen-
dent sort of girls are never popular
with men of artistic Compartments"
And each girl began secretly to
wonder in which particular gown she
would most resemble the wonderful
creations of the great Fenmore's mag
&c brush.
The little white boat with the girl at
the wheel sped from one favorite
point of the bay to another.
There's something wrong this
morning" said Eula. listening to the
beat of the engine.
She headed out into the center of
the bay, which CHANGED to be clear of
boats at that hour, and knelt down
with her back toward the box to find
the trouble
The skipping became more and more
frequent, and the girls brows were
pressed into wrinkles of annoyance.
Suddenly crash and cry brought
her to her feet. She was headed to-
ward shore, and little astern lay an
overturned skiff. with a man clinging
to it.
"Oh." cried the girl, motionless with
horror, what can do? Hang on,
hang on!" she screamed, her presence
of mind returning, and she swept back
in big curve toward him.
"Oh," she sobbed, ut is all my fault!
If the engine only holds outl"
AS she ran up close on the opposite
side of the skiff she flung out life
preserver.
"Can you swim ?" she called.
"Yes-yes," he nodded back
She took another circle while the
man put on the jacket with one hand,
clinging to the boat with the other.
She did not dare stop the engine for
fear she could not start it again In its
present condition.
Il must tow him ashore" she
thought. There is no use In attempt
ing to get him into the boat am too
weak, and the boat is too SMALL"
When she came up the second time
she flung out the tow rope, and slowed
down the engine as much as she dared.
The man caught the rope with diff
Guilty All his motions were strangely
slow and labored.
With the utmost difficulty she drew
him to the side of her craft.
do you think you can hang on until
we get ashore?" she asked anxiously.
'T'll try" he smiled with look that
made Eula sob.
With one hand she chung to his coat.
The other outsretched as far as pos
sible, just reached the wheel. They en-
tered quiet water under shelter of the
point. and Eula loosening her grasp
upon the exhausted man. turned OF
the switch.
As the little Doat grounded upon the
beach the girl was out over the side.
helping the staggering man to dry
land.
He sank senseless upon the warm
sand.
"oh. don't know what to do" the
poor girl cried. frantically removing
the cork Jacket and his water-alled
coat and shoes.
The grating OF the boats bow 70
minded her TO secure IT, and also TO
get the flask abe always kept In tho
locker.
did l faintr' he asked in da1ed
way.
Il thought you were dead" she
sobbed.
why. don't worry like this. child:
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